Inkjet Cartridges FAQ
Quick Answers To Your Most Frequent Questions :
Purchase Notice
How do I know which cartridges I need?
You can search for your ink cartridge by the type of printer you have or look on the ink cartridge itself for the model number. We have several brands and models on our product page, just click on “Ink cartridge” and choose the brand or model number of your printer.
I cannot find my machine listed. Do you sell supplies for it?
Most likely we do. Many of the machines on the market today are made by one of the larger manufacturers and just have different names. If you would like us to check for you simply mail to tess@linkyo.com and we will tell you what will work and how to find it.
What kind of guarantee do you provide for your products?
Your Ink/Toner orders at Supermediastore are always RISK FREE! We offer 30 days guarantee on all of our products. If you are not 100% satisfied with the performance of any product you buy from Supermediastore, you may return it within 30 days of the purchase date. Please just mail to RMA@SuperMediaStore.com for replacement or refund.
Product Info
What does OEM stand for?
OEM is "Original Equipment Manufacturer". OEM cartridges are referred to cartridges bearing the same brand names of the printers, such as Epson OEM, Canon OEM, HP OEM, Lexmark OEM, Brother OEM and others. These manufacturers are certified by Epson, Canon, HP, Lexmark, Brother and others. Except for OEM ink cartridge, there are also compatible and remanufactured ink cartridges in our store.
What is a compatible cartridge?
SuperMediaStore? compatible cartridges are designed to be the economical replacements for your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) inkjet cartridges. Our compatible cartridges are manufactured by a highly qualified (ISO 9001 certified) and respected manufacturer with strict quality control and innovative technology.
What is a remanufactured cartridge?
Remanufactured cartridges are manufactured from recycled empties after disassembling, inspecting, cleaning, reassembling, refilling, and testing. All our products are manufactured to meet or exceed the specifications and high-quality standards of OEM products.
Why should I use compatible cartridges, refills, or remanufactured cartridges? Are they safe to my printer?
There are a lot of reasons for using compatible, remanufactured cartridges or refills. You can enjoy huge savings on printer consumables while getting similar or the same results. Also by using remanufactured cartridges or refills, you help protect the environment. The key issue is to find a reliable supplier like us with high-quality products and supreme customer service to stand behind our products. Our products are safe to your printer. By choosing our products, you get best values - low prices but high quality products and most important of all, excellent customer services.
Will the use of compatible, remanufactured cartridges or refills void the warranty of my printer?
No, the use of compatible, remanufactured cartridges or refills will not void the warrant of you printer. It is stipulated in "MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY IMPROVEMENT ACT" passed by the US Congress. MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY IMPROVEMENT ACT United States Code Annotated Title 15 Commerce and Trade Chapter 50 Consumer Product Warranties 15 Section 2302 (c)
No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer's using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection be waived by the commission if:
- The warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product
- The Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest
What is a print head?
The print head is the most critical component in an inkjet printer - it is used to deliver the ink cartridge to the page that you are printing. Most desktop inkjet printers use cartridges that come with the print head attached; a few printers have separate print heads next to which the ink cartridge is inserted. Please don't touch the print head with your fingers. The print head is a consumable that can wear out over time, much like the brakes on your car. It requires proper installation and ongoing maintenance to ensure the long life of service for your printer. Most print quality problems come from a direct result of improper care of the print head. Proper installation, ongoing attention and maintenance are the keys to prolonging the life of your print head.
Will your ink cartridges damage my printer head or reduce the life of my printer head?
No, there is no evidence that suggests our cartridges will damage your print head. Print heads are not durable components; they will wear and tear over time. The life of your print head will depend heavily on how frequently you print.
What are cleaning cartridges?
Overtime, a print head will require maintenance in order to sustain the printout's quality. A cleaning cartridge contains cleaning solutions which help clear the print head in the cases where normal head cleaning is not sufficient. A single cleaning cartridge can usually be reused multiple times. This helps significantly on extending the life of your printer's print head. Our cleaning cartridge is well designed for cleaning print heads and priming print cartridges for refill, allows print heads to soak the printhead cleaner to refresh the print nozzles and help restore print quality.
What is the difference between dye-based and pigment-based ink?
Dye ink uses water-soluble dye and pigment ink uses water-insoluble particles to deliver color to the paper. There a few major differences between inks that are dye-based and pigment-based. Epson's patented Durabrite is a pigment-based ink formula. Pigment based ink are much more resistant toward water stains and sunlight. Dye based printouts will become fazed by water stains, where pigment based printout would not be effected. Pigment-based ink printouts may withstand direct sunlight exposure for years, while dye-based printouts may last half to one year before noticeable fading happens. Dye based ink do have a wider color gamut compared to pigment based ink. Some people find printouts using dye based ink have more vibrancy.
What is the circuitry on the cartridge?
The circuitry that is seen on some cartridges (such as some HP or Lexmark Cartridges) is the ink delivery system or print head. This mechanism is a system of nozzles that are used to push ink onto the paper.
What is a nozzle?
Nozzles, or "jets" are located on the print head. There may be anywhere from 48 to 320 nozzles on any print head, and each of them is smaller than human hair. Each nozzle is connected electronically to a heater (resistor) that actually heats and cools the ink inside the cartridge. When the ink is head, a bubble is formed. When the heat is removed, the bubble bursts and sends dots of ink through the nozzles and onto the paper in the printer. This happens very quickly, creating dots that form print characters on the page at a rate of up to 6,000 drops per second. That is why you should never touch the nozzle or print head assembly with your fingers.
Do you sell cartridges with smart chips? Do I have to buy separate reset software to install the cartridges?
Yes, we sell a lot of compatible ink cartridges with smart chips. The chips are already installed in the cartridges and you don't have to pay extra money to get them. Neither do you have to buy separate tool set to install the cartridges. (CAUTION: DON'T TOUCH THE CHIP BY HANDS. READ INSTRUCTIONS ENCLOSED BEFORE INSTALLING THE CARTRIDGE.)
Quick Tips
What shall I do if no ink comes out after a new ink cartridge is installed?
First, check if you have removed the yellow plastic tag completely from the cartridge surface. If you have already removed the yellow tag, the problem might be that the presence of air bubbles around the print head while changing cartridges blocks inkjets. Poor color or white lines on printouts could be for the same reason. You may either proceed with the "Cleaning Print head" function in your printer for a couple of times to remove air bubbles, or, leave your cartridge inside the printer for an hour or so to let the bubbles rise to the top. (Please note: AVOID TAKING OUT THE CARTRIDGE FROM THE PRINTER ONCE INSTALLED.)
Why does the printer stop printing or signal "Ink Out" after printing for just a while?
Some printer models have printout-counting system, to which the printer manufacturer has pre-set the limit of the printing volume of a cartridge. If a functioning cartridge is taken out of the printer and replaced with a new one, the printer will not reset itself but continue to add numbers to the previous count until the limit is met and "Ink Out" signal is on again. You can restart the printer and run the "Replacing an ink cartridge" process again. Do remember not to replace the cartridge until the printer signals "Ink Out" for the next time.
What are the other ways to save printer ink?
There are many different ways to save printer ink. Of course the best way is to use the compatible printer cartridges. Apart from this you can set your printer to print in draft mode until you are ready to print the final document. This can be done by setting two different print queues. You can also set up a print queue which prints in black and white only. This can save a lot of color ink. When you print page from the web, try to look if the website offers a printer friendly page with much lesser graphics.
Can I store my ink cartridges in the fridge?
No, this will ruin the cartridges. Please store them in a dry area that? at room temperature.
How can I get dried ink out of my print head so I can print again?
Place the clogged cartridge in about 1/4 - 1/2 inch of warm water for a few minutes. When ink starts to slowly leak out take the cartridge out of the water and dry it using a soft cloth to "Q-tip." Then place it back in your printer and run the print head cleaning utility that comes with your printer software. You may have to run this 1-2 times before printing quality is re-established.
