Q: Are compatible toner cartridges eco-friendly? How can I recycle my cartridges?
A: Each year, over 375 million empty ink and toner cartridges are thrown away and end up in our landfills. 375 million! Put into perspective, that’s over 1,000,000 cartridges per day or 11 cartridges per second. If you placed 375 million cartridges end-to-end, it would travel around the earth, three times!
These days, most of us are becoming more conscious about environmental concerns and more mindful about what we throw out. Recycling is being taken to an entirely different level; most products now display, “reusable, biodegradable or made from recycled materials,” prominently on the labels and push the green theory in all their marketing efforts; toner cartridges are no different.
When recycled toner cartridges were first introduced, a hole was drilled in the cartridge and the toner was refilled. No one paid attention to the condition of the cartridge or thought about the long-term effects this technique would produce. Due to constant leaks that eventually damaged the printer, recycled cartridges became negatively branded. Since then, strict standards were put in place and now the quality is generally equal to if not better than a new cartridge. By using one recycled or compatible cartridge, you save 3.5 quarts of oil and remove 2.5 pounds of metal and plastic from entering our landfills. Toner cartridge usage is at an alarming rate of 12% increase per year, 82,031,250 gallons of oil could be saved this year if one out of every four cartridges used is compatible!
Most manufacturers have a recycling program that allows you to save money; make sure to inquire about it before you add to our limited landfills. Remember, Earth is all we have; help us preserve it for future generations with every printed page.
Question and Answer Forum: Q 2
Welcome back to our Question and Answer Forum! We hope you find this information insightful and helpful when making future purchasing decisions.
Q: Will using compatible parts void my current OEM warranty?
A: The simple answer is, “no”; but, to better understand the reasons behind this response, let’s take a look at why.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the United States abides by certain laws which prohibit business practices that unreasonably deprive consumers of the benefits of competition, resulting in higher prices for inferior products and services. Put into layman’s terms, the USDOJ put antitrust laws in place to protect competition. Now, more so than ever, businesses are in constant competition to attract new consumers by reducing prices and increasing the quality. This rivalry stimulates businesses to find new, innovative and more efficient methods of production, ensuring that you will always have lower prices and new and better products. As a consumer, these laws affect you, whether you realize it or not and it’s your right to know what companies can and cannot do.
There are three major Federal Antitrust Laws recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice: the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act. Since 1890, the Sherman Antitrust Act has established a free market economy where it is illegal for any individual to control a specific market by discouraging and/or destroying competition and in an unethical manner. This Act includes agreements among competitors to rig bids, allocate customers and fix prices, which is more commonly referred to as a cartel.
The Clayton Act has been amended several times since its original enactment in 1914. Today, it prohibits mergers or acquisitions of companies where the end result would be to reduce the competition. The government has the ability to challenge any merger that is most likely to increase prices to consumers. The Federal Trade Commission Act prohibits unfair methods of competition and has the authority to enforce these U.S. antitrust laws. All persons considering a merger or acquisition above a certain size must notify both the Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission. If these laws were not in place, the market would be in control and nothing could stop businesses from diminishing the quality and continuously raising their prices; the cost of items would take on a glass ceiling effect.
After reading this Cliffs Notes version of antitrust laws, the bottom line is this: it is illegal for OEM brands to require consumers only use OEM parts. Your warranty, no matter what it is for, cannot be voided for the single reason of using generic/compatible parts. These laws apply to all products and services, not only in the toner world, but everyday things such as buying food, car parts or electronics. Don’t let any warranty intimidate you, understand your rights; if you’d like more information on antitrust laws, visit theUnited States Department of Justice webpage.
Q: Will using compatible parts void my current OEM warranty?
A: The simple answer is, “no”; but, to better understand the reasons behind this response, let’s take a look at why.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the United States abides by certain laws which prohibit business practices that unreasonably deprive consumers of the benefits of competition, resulting in higher prices for inferior products and services. Put into layman’s terms, the USDOJ put antitrust laws in place to protect competition. Now, more so than ever, businesses are in constant competition to attract new consumers by reducing prices and increasing the quality. This rivalry stimulates businesses to find new, innovative and more efficient methods of production, ensuring that you will always have lower prices and new and better products. As a consumer, these laws affect you, whether you realize it or not and it’s your right to know what companies can and cannot do.
There are three major Federal Antitrust Laws recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice: the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act. Since 1890, the Sherman Antitrust Act has established a free market economy where it is illegal for any individual to control a specific market by discouraging and/or destroying competition and in an unethical manner. This Act includes agreements among competitors to rig bids, allocate customers and fix prices, which is more commonly referred to as a cartel.
The Clayton Act has been amended several times since its original enactment in 1914. Today, it prohibits mergers or acquisitions of companies where the end result would be to reduce the competition. The government has the ability to challenge any merger that is most likely to increase prices to consumers. The Federal Trade Commission Act prohibits unfair methods of competition and has the authority to enforce these U.S. antitrust laws. All persons considering a merger or acquisition above a certain size must notify both the Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission. If these laws were not in place, the market would be in control and nothing could stop businesses from diminishing the quality and continuously raising their prices; the cost of items would take on a glass ceiling effect.
After reading this Cliffs Notes version of antitrust laws, the bottom line is this: it is illegal for OEM brands to require consumers only use OEM parts. Your warranty, no matter what it is for, cannot be voided for the single reason of using generic/compatible parts. These laws apply to all products and services, not only in the toner world, but everyday things such as buying food, car parts or electronics. Don’t let any warranty intimidate you, understand your rights; if you’d like more information on antitrust laws, visit theUnited States Department of Justice webpage.
No comments:
Post a Comment