29/01/2013
Some useful info but maybe not if you own any printer which uses these inks......
Lexmark/Dell info
WARNING
Lexmark No2, No3, No4 and No5 cartridges are sold ONLY by the DSG retail group. A deal was struck between the retailer and Lexmark whereby the retailer was granted EXCLUSIVE rights to sell these cartridges at whatever price they like, without fear of competition. Most owners report that they were not advised of this when they bought their printer.
If you are unlucky enough to own a printer that uses hellish expensive cartridges, here's some food for thought..... A pair of Lexmark or Dell cartridges will typically cost around £40-£60. For the same amount of money or less, you could buy a NEW PRINTER (that will come with inks), which can be run on much cheaper compatible cartridges. Over the life of a typical printer (say 7 years or so) you'd save hundreds of pounds.
It seems almost certain the micro-electronics in these cartridges have been developed in the factory to ensure failure at a given point. THE MODELS MOST LIKELY TO CAUSE PROBLEMS ARE THE LEXMARK No1, No2, No3, No4, No5, No28, No29, No36, No37, No31, No33, No35, No43 and No44. THE DELL MODELS TO FIT PRINTERS 922/924/942/944/962/964 and Dell printers sold since around spring 2007. For some reason the main problems seem to be with colour cartridges - black units remain quite reliable.
On the reverse of a brand new Lexmark 29 colour cartridge box (in print so small it's almost impossible to read) it says: "THE PATENTED PRINT CARTRIDGE CONTAINED INSIDE IS LICENSED FOR A SINGLE USE ONLY AND IS DESIGNED TO STOP WORKING AFTER DELIVERING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INK. A VARIABLE AMOUNT OF INK WILL REMAIN IN THE CARTRIDGE WHEN REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED." In plain English this means the cartridge will certainly fail - even when there is ink inside.
Although this is not printed on the boxes of certain other models, the high failure rate suggests similar technology is deployed. A perfectly good remanufactured cartridge can be installed, and used - albeit temporarily. Suddenly and without explanation, an error message "UNSUPPORTED CARTRIDGE" appears, and the cartridge refuses to work ever again. Most will almost certainly end up in landfill.
