OEM releases PDF statement on website condoning use of remanufactured products, but later removes it.
Choice Stationery Supplies reported on a statement released on Dell’s website titled ‘Dell Printer and Printer Supplies Environmental Policy’, but it has since become apparent that the statement has been removed by the OEM.
Included in the policy, under the heading “Dell branded printers” was the line “Dell printers do not prevent the use of non-manufacture printer supplies (ink and toner cartridges and ink and toner containers”, as well as “The use of non-Dell printer supplies (ink, toner, drums, rollers, fusers etc.) Including refill and remanufactured supplies is a customer’s choice”.
However, these statements were followed with “Dell recommends the use of Dell genuine printer supplies for a complete product experience from your Dell end-to-end Technology Solution provider”.
The policy statement continues with the heading “Dell Branded Printer Supplies (Ink, toner, drums, rollers, fusers)”, with two bullet points reading “Dell printer supplies cartridges do not prevent the reuse and recycling of the product” and “Customers can use refilled and remanufacture cartridges as well as purchasing cartridges from other manufactures”.
As pointed out by Choice Stationery Supplies, the statement from Dell contradicts the views of other OEMs, with Canon even patenting a toner cartridge remanufacturing method recently. A number of OEMs also released statements warning customers against remanufactured products, and in May last year Brother applied for anti-remanufacturing patents in a bid to deter remanufacturers.
In addition, many OEMs have introduced pop-ups as part of their printer software alerting customers that they are using “non-genuine” cartridges whenever they choose to insert a non-OEM cartridge. You can read about Environmental Business Products’ efforts towards tackling the OEM pop-ups issue on The Recycler’s website and in Issue 236 of The Recycler.