Yep, time for a shameless business plug while still providing you with some useful info! If you’ve been buying compatible toner cartridges from a local retailer for more than a couple years, chances are you’ve had a bad cartridge. It’s like dating; you can only go on so many before you have a couple bad ones. If your retailer only has one supplier, you may be the one who bears the brunt of their decision.
Suppliers like being the only one for a retailer (see the HP-Staples article). However, if there is a problem with a shipment of cartridges, you can be left without toner until the defective cartridges are shipped back and the new ones arrive. Fortunately, all except the very cheapest (which should be avoided like Swine Flue) have good warranties, so any damage to your machine will be taken care of quickly. However, time can be lost…especially if your supplier doesn’t have access to compatibles from another supplier. If your reps are really dedicated and care about their reputation, they may cut into next months profit and purchase an OEM cartridge and deliver it personally to keep you happy. If this describes the service you get, you probably have a very good rep, or you’re overpaying, and they don’t want lose your account!
Before signing up for a long-term contract or even purchasing a trial cartridge, make sure your toner retailer has at least two suppliers. This assures that he’s getting compeditive pricing, and therefore, so are you! Feel free to check out our price list and give us a call with your questions.
