HP Findings Show Remanufactured Cartridges Cost 31% More Than Original HP Mono LaserJet Cartridges1

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia May 13, 2009 – HP today announced findings that small and medium businesses (SMBs) who use remanufactured cartridges are likely to incur 31% more in total costs than if they were to use original HP monochrome LaserJet cartridges1. The HP findings are based on the first Asia Pacific reliability comparison study conducted by independent tester QualityLogic Inc., the HP Toner Tool, and the print usage patterns of 2,500 existing high-usage SMB customers in Asia Pacific. · The Asia Pacific reliability comparison study by QualityLogic Inc. (QL Study, commissioned by HP) showed that remanufactured toner cartridges tested had reliability and page quality issues. One in four of all remanufactured cartridges tested in the QL Study exhibited reliability failures and almost one in three pages inspected were not acceptable for all uses2.
· The HP Toner Tool is a formulation which enables HP sales representatives to help customers compare the total cost of printing between using original monochrome HP toner cartridges and remanufactured cartridges. Here, it leverages key findings from the QL Study and takes into account replacement cartridge costs, localized labor costs for diagnosing and fixing problems, support costs, paper costs for reprints, as well as the actual print usage patterns of 2,500 existing high-usage SMB customers.
· From the HP Toner Tool, it is found that SMBs in Asia Pacific who use remanufactured cartridges are likely to incur 31% more in total costs than if they were to use original HP monochrome LaserJet cartridges1.
“Today’s announcement goes a long way in dispelling the myth that using remanufactured cartridges are cheaper after considering the total cost of printing,” said Kym Lim, Sales & Market Development Manager, Supplies Category, Imaging & Printing Group, HP Malaysia. “In this economic climate when everything counts, SMBs who use remanufactured cartridges need to be aware that the savings from the initial purchase price are quickly eroded and they are likely to end up incurring 31% more cost through replacement cartridges, reprinted pages and time wasted by their staff.”

First-ever Asia Pacific toner reliability comparison reveals remanufactured toner cartridges have reliability and page quality issues
In the QL Study, QualityLogic Inc. tested the cartridge reliability and page quality distribution of HP LaserJet toner cartridges for the HP LaserJet 2300 and HP LaserJet 4350 printers, HP 10A (HP Q2610A) and HP 42A (HP Q5942A) and compared these to three brands of the remanufactured toner cartridges.

The results of the study show that HP LaserJet toner cartridges outperformed the tested remanufactured toner cartridges in both reliability and page quality tests1.
· Cartridge Reliability – One in four of all remanufactured cartridges tested in the QL Study exhibited reliability failures2:
o 9.7% were dead on arrival or failed prematurely2,
o 15.3% had 50% or more pages of limited or no use2.
· Page Quality Distribution – Almost one in three pages inspected were not acceptable for all uses2:
o 25.3% were of limited use: not for external distribution2,
o 3.8% were of limited use: not for external distribution at all2,
o Less than 1% was unusable2.
“SMBs who think they can achieve cost savings by choosing remanufactured cartridges are making a mistake by not factoring in the hidden costs from reprints, replacement cartridges and additional labor costs from having to diagnose and fix printing problems,” said Dave Jollota, CEO of QualityLogic Inc.

HP LaserJet toner cartridges offer reduced environmental impact
The HP findings also confirmed that original HP LaserJet toner cartridges offer reduced environmental impact, incurring 84% less CO2 in reprinted pages or the equivalent of 49 liters of oil, compared to remanufactured cartridges1, shedding light on the true environmental impact of remanufactured cartridges. This takes into consideration the additional reprinted pages and additional energy consumption in reprinting when using remanufactured cartridges1.
According to Gartner’s report3, “Often-overlooked shortcomings in disposal practices may prevent manufactured supplies from delivering the environmental benefits that some buyers expect”. The report also said “Remanufactured supplies are very unlikely to be disassembled into the different materials and recycled using the same process used by the technology providers, which have established recycling protocols”.

More choice and value with HP Dual Packs and High Capacity LaserJet Cartridge offerings
For SMB customers that print in high volumes and want to enjoy greater value and reduced printing costs, further cost savings can be achieved with HP Dual Pack LaserJet cartridges that offer up to 31% cost savings over standard HP LaserJet Print Cartridges4. For example, the HP LaserJet Q2610XD and Q5942XD Black Print Cartridge Dual Pack offers 31% cost savings over the standard HP LaserJet Black Print Cartridge (such as HP LaserJet Q2610A and Q5942A). The HP Q2610XD and Q5942XD offer twice and four times the print volume respectively, as well as the convenience of lowered printer intervention.