Troubleshooter

There are three distinct types of HP Cartridges that we stock; Original, Compatible and Remanufactured.  In order to answer this question it is important to determine which unit is being used.

 

Original Cartridges:
These are the cartridges produced by HP themselves.  On the assumption that the cartridge has been removed from any protective packaging (if applicable) and is of the same capacity as the cartridge which has just been removed from the machine then it should be the same size and shape as you are accustomed to.  If there is any discrepancy please check the product code to ensure you have received the correct unit.

 

Remanufactured Cartridges:
These are recycled alternatives to the HP original cartridges.  As the patented printer head is inside the cartridge itself a legal alternative cannot be created hence the old units are reused.  As they are recycled units they should by their very nature be the same size and shape as the HP originals on the assumption that the cartridge has been removed from any protective packaging (if applicable) and is of the same capacity as the cartridge which has just been removed from the machine. 

Sometimes the manufacturers do need to change the lid of the cartridge and as such this may look slightly different but if there are any other discrepancies please check the product code to ensure you have received the correct unit.

Compatible Cartridges
These cartridges are usually simple ink tanks (without an integrated printing mechanism) which are manufactured from scratch as a cheaper alternative to the HP original units.  For legal reasons the manufacturer will normally change the mouldings of the cartridge or even the colour plastic it is produced with. This is to avoid violating the original manufacturers’ patents and should not affect the end user at all.

Please do check that the part number of the cartridge is similar to that of the one you removed from your machine and if this is the case then the slight physical differences shouldn’t cause a problem when installing the cartridge into your printer.

 

 

If the cartridge has a completely different code or is radically different then it is possible we have supplied the incorrect item so please contact us to arrange a replacement.