Warranty (Faulty Generic ink cartridge) -- who's in the wrong?

[NFS4]

On January 17, I bought a set of 5-pack of generic ink cartridges from ABCink for my Brother MFC-440CN printer. I bought the printer in early January and figured that I should have some carts on hand when I needed them.

Around April or so, the original OEM color carts ran dry (cyan/yellow/magenta). I replaced them with the generic inks with no problems and went on printing.

Yesterday, my black finally went dry and I went to replace it with the generic black. My printer told me "No Cartridge Installed." I tried everything. I turned the printer off, unplugged it. Tried re-inserting the cartridge multiple times and going through the different print settings. Still, "No Cartridge Installed."

So I inserted the original cart back in and the message changed to "Ink Empty." So it doesn't appear to be a problem with the printer, just the cartridge. Also, the expiration date is not until 2010 according to the box.

Against my better judgment, I opened up the second black ink cartridge that I received in the pack and I got the same problem. At this point, I'm pissed, so I emailed their customer service about my problem to which they responded:

Dear Valued Customer,

Thanks for shopping with our store.

Our return policy is refund in one month, replace or instore credit in six month. Your order passed six months, please check it.

Anything else we can help, please feel free to email back.

To which I responded back with:

But your website product page for the cartridges says:

Abcink is offering 100% satisfaction guarantee and 1 year risk-free guarantee on all Compatible Inkjet Cartridges. We carry a variety of Compatible Inkjet Cartridge models at the discount price with genuine quality and satisfaction. These Compatible Inkjet Cartridges will be ideal for professional images, photo prints, and quality output.

http://www.abcink.com/brother-...ridge-5pack-combo.html

It has not been 1 year yet, so shouldn't you stand behind your product? Why say 1 year guarantee if you won't replace them within a year if they don't work?

So do I have any recourse at all? Which policy supersedes? 1-year risk-free guarantee or 6-month in-store credit/exchange?

 

[Turin39789]

what do you want me to do about it?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Turin39789
what do you want me to do about it?

I didn't ask you to do a damn thing

I'm just wondering which policy takes precedence in this matter.

 

[FoBoT]

the policy they actually follow takes precedence



i recommend getting a laser printer

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the policy they actually follow takes precedence



i recommend getting a laser printer

I have an HP LaserJet 4000tn for B&W printing/envelopes. The Brother is for color printing, scanning and copying.

 

[BoomerD]

Buy real OEM carts...eliminate that problem...chipped cartridges are "iffy" when buying aftermarket...some work, some won't.

 

[paulney]

Buy at swiftink next time?
I don't know if they carry Brother though.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Buy real OEM carts...eliminate that problem...chipped cartridges are "iffy" when buying aftermarket...some work, some won't.

Brother carts (at least in my printer) aren't "chipped"

 

[Safeway]

Yea, you are in the wrong for buying generic ink cartridges.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Yea, you are in the wrong for buying generic ink cartridges.

I hardly see how...

I've been using generics for years on all of the inkjet printers I have had (Epson, Brother, Canon) and this is the first time I've had a problem with the printer rejecting a cart.

All I was asking was for the company to own up to what could possibly be a defect with that particular black cartridge (the C/Y/M) were fine. Nothing more, nothing less.

As for generics, I think you'd be a fool to pay retail or near retail prices for genuine carts on any printer

Same goes for toner. I get refurb'd toners off eBay for my LaserJet 4000tn for ~ $20 a pop.

 

[NFS4]

Heh, guess the people in the RMA/Service department weren't even aware of what their website said. Just got this email

Thank you for shopping at Abcink.com!

I would like to inform you that your return request has been approved. We have updated our return policy and only can offer return in six months, but this time we will give you an exception. We only can issue the instore credit for the returned items. You can use it in your next new purchase and no expire date for it .

Here is the RMA#

 

[Pepsei]

yeah, why buy retail when generic works.

 

[yllus]

I'm on your side with this one; the hell is the point of a 1-year 100% gurantee if you're going to stoop down to the 6 month policy?