If you own a printer and you use cartridges that are copy cartridges, not originals, and you find that the printer is not printing correctly then try this. After you have tried the DEEP CLEAN of the printer head and it still does not print correctly, put an original makers cartridge in, in place of the cartridge that is causing the problem, and go thro’ the process of cleaning and then check to see if it is printing correctly. It works for me. I was given this Tip from a guy who sold both types of cartridges, in his shop, as he says that the OEM cartridges have something in them that copy cartridges don’t have, that keeps the holes clear. He recommends that after using two copy cartridges you should use an OEM cartridge to keep everything working as it should.
Copy cartridges are, tbh are not the cheap option people think they are. If your printer is a new one, (Mainly HP), they detect if the cartridge is not an original cartridge. If there is a problem with the printer while running copy cartridges this may well void any warranty you have on the printer. In my experience, the copy cartridges do not last as long and are prone to failure. Some of the NHS trusts have gone down this line with their printers and they have a 1 in 3 failure rate.
If you have a cheap ink jet printer then the printer probably costs less than a full set of “genuine” cartridges.
I have an Epson XP-245 that you can get for £30 - 35. (…and it comes with ink!).
I now use a CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) to feed it. https://www.cityinkexpress.co.uk/ciss/epson/xp-245/xp-series
(I am not associated with the supplier). It goes for AGES and has a reset button for when the printer insists it has run out of ink.
Makers sell printers cheap and OEM cartridges at very high prices. Some people will only use genuine cartridges.
At one point I bought an Epson printer for £70. A full set of OEM cartridges cost £72.
Buy the printer and sell the original cartridges which are included on eBay and get around 50% of the purchase price back.
Buy in bulk and you can get copy cartridges for Epson printers for under £1 each.
Once you have used a set of copy cartridges you have saved enough to buy a new printer. Every set after that saves even more money. A printer usually lasts me about three or four years. After that it has paid for itself. At that point I buy a new one.
If somebody came up with petrol that would make your engine last forever but cost a grand a tankful would you use it?