Can a non-OEM cartridge void my printer's warranty?

[Apostolos]

I've had this discussion today with a frind of mine. He was absolutely conviced that by using non-OEM cartridges, he would void is warranty. I on the other hand am absolutely certain that even if the printer companies claim that the warranty is voided by using other inks than their own, they are lying through their teeth.

I told my my friend that it's like bying a new car, and the manufacturer tells you that if you are not filling it up only with "somethingOIL" fuel, you'll void your warranty.I 've even told him that in the US there are laws about that kind of things, that prohibit companies to practice them (like this article explains: http://onlinetechstores.com/blog/compatible-printer-cartridges-and-printer-warranty-information/ )

He told me that he didn't know what was happening in the US, but in Europe the warranty is most certainly voided.

What is your opinion on the subject? Do you have any knowledge about what is going on, especially in Europe?

Off course i'll keep using non-OEM cartridges, but it is good to know what laws apply for this kind of things.

 

[CakeHole]

The short answer is NO it will not invalidate your warranty IN MOST COUNTRIES. It will not here in the UK, we have consumer laws to protect against such nonsense, in fact to a degree the warnings you get when installing a non original cart in SOME printers is even breaking laws here to an extent (go read in details about sale of goods act, Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and so much more here in the UK. I could make this post a real essay by pointing to all the laws here.

In other areas of the world they may well be within their rights to cancel the warranty though. I can think of a few European countries where the consumer would have basically zero rights.

As for the USA, i dunno but i always thought laws out there just like taxes varied state to state. I would like to think the consumer has enough rights out there to protect them, and i imagine the law allows you to use what ink you please.... HOWEVER if you can get away with shooting people for the slightest of reasons in one state but not in another then i would not be shocked if a printer manufacturer could in theory if they tried get away with voiding a warranty in one state over the other for "wrong" ink use.

At the end of the day though i doubt any printer manufacturer if it went as far as court in most civilised, democratic countries could even prove you had used ink other than there own. Even if their own ink has some special secret formula, by the time it ends up in the waste ink pad/tank its just one big gloopy black mess anyway which i doubt even a lab could show was ink from xxx manufacturer very easily and even if they could i doubt they would want to as that would mean the secret formula was suddenly public.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

Asked and answered hundreds of times over the life of inkjet printers. Worst case scenario, send your printer in for warranty repair with OEM carts.

Sheesh.

 

[3dogs]

I retain a full set of near empty 3880 OEM carts so that a return to EPSON will be free of the opportunity for them to blame third party ink for a problem.
Lets assume a genuine defect, the moment OEM gets a sniff of non brand parts, thats the problem - immediately!!!! I know the ink i use is not doing any damage so i keep that off the table. Introducing that kind of issue leaves you, the consumer to prove at Law that it was not so.
Because an ounce of prevention, is better and cheaper than the proof process I present the item 'as bought ' together with ALL documents and original packaging. That way the boot is on their foot, THEY are stuck with proving that its not a manufacturing defect and the Consumer Laws in Aust. Require them to replace/ repair at no cost if : the good is unable to perform the service for which it was designed, AND for a reasonable period of life. So if most 3880's die at 8 years, that is my 'reasonable' window.
One last rider, having owned and operated a retail outlet I will not use WARRANTY, or the Law if its not a genuine claim, I accept the burden of responsible ownership........not cos I am a goodie or anything. Having been behind the scene as it were I have seen first hand the bad taste that is left, because its really hard to fake a manufacturing fault, and I do long term relationships with sellers, old ways have many unseen benefits long term.

 

[The Hat]

If you leave your printer into any Service Agent for repairs with 3rd party cartridges fitted and expect them to fix it under warrantee then you are a bloody fool, Why ?

Because you have just violated your warrantee (Read the small print) no not for using the 3rd cartridges but for not removing them before you send it to them for repairs. (Evidence)

Now the Service Centre are in full control of the situation because they have possession of your printer and you need it fixed so be prepared to pay dearly or cut your losses and simply walk away.

O’ they will be prepared to fix it for you in their own good time, but at an ungodly price plus the cost of a new set of OEM cartridges for which they’ll use for testing before returning the now working printer back to you.

Let that be a lessen to one and all, you must fit a set OEM cartridges into your printer before allowing any Service Centre to get their greedy hands on your prize position. (Warrantee or not)

 

[Paul Verizzo]

@Hat, the only time I ever had to have a warranty repair made, I handed them the printer with cartridges installed. To not have cartridges on the head is inviting drying out disaster, no?

 

[Mowerman90]

In the USA we are protected by the Magnason Moss Warranty Act. You can google it to see it full length. The gist of it is if a OEM part or consumable is required to keep the warranty in effect, then the manufacturer is required to provide such part of consumable "free" of charge to the consumer. They can lie and threaten but the law is the law. IMHO

 

[The Hat]

OEM ink can cause damage to a print head in certain circumstances and 3rd party ink will do the very same, so if the Canon Service Centre are looking for an obvious culprit to blame they will look no further than the 3rd party ink, every time.

If it is possible in the US to challenge their finding then well and good to all of you but, I myself would not go that route because winning may cost far more than the actual repair bill..

 

[TinderboxUK]

I just keep the starter cartridges, if you have any non-ink problem swap the originals back in, double check the fault is still showing, and then get a replacement/repair/refund.

John.

 

[The Hat]

A Canon Warrantee is useless if you send your printer back to them with non OEM cartridges installed, they simply would refuse to service it and you would only have yourself to blame because they now have the evidence..