My Experience Working with Refillable Ink Cartridges

I received two free HP Deskjet 3510 printers and supplies as well as a gift card to purchase refilled cartridges from HP in order to participate in the Ink Challenge. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

I was recently in an HP Ink Challenge.  I have to say, I was impressed at first.  The printers were both going strong.  I noticed no difference between the refill ink and the original HP ink.  As each went by, I was asked to print certain documents.  Each document had color and black and white components.  Some weeks were more "strenuous" on the printers than others.


Week one went well.  There was really no difference.  Week two went well...still no difference.  Than Week three hit the printers...hard!  We were asked to print out colored brochures.  Twenty of them to be exact.  Well, my printers had had enough of the printing.  The original HP ink held up great.  There were no issues.  But, then the refilled ink cartridge told a different story.  There was tinting.  There was streaking.  It was NOT a good experience.  I was afraid that my refilled ink cartridge was near it's death...I was right.

The picture above is from two pictures I printed that week.  The one on the left was from the refilled ink cartridge and the one on the right was from the original HP ink cartridge. Up until this week I swore there was no clear difference.  I always blamed it on the quality of the camera.  Not any more!  You can clearly see the difference between the two pictures.  Both the same pictures, but one is tinted red, the colors blurred and the streaky.  The other has clarity and is more defined.

The last two week's assignments were just as rough on the printers proving again just how clear and precise...and superior the HP ink was compared to the refillable ink cartridge.

I will continue to use the printers and the ink until the cartridges are empty.  But, I am now a firm believer in the quality and the superiority of the HP original ink over the refillable ink.  There is more clarity throughout each print.  Each print is more crisp.

In conclusion, this was an eye-opener for me.  I have seen a clear difference in the hues that are reflected from the screen onto the paper. It truly does make a difference which ink you choose to use.  I am all about saving a buck here or there.  You all know I am all about living a frugal lifestyle...I HAVE to having four children and only one steady income.  BUT...do yourself a favor.  Pay the extra money and purchase the original ink cartridges meant for your computer.  The HP ink proved to me to be far superior in quality and quantity of prints than any other I have used.

VERY impressed!