What is the significance of Lexmark inks that end in "A Ink and Toner Refill Help Instructions Forum

inkfiller · Professional Support Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 106

Lexmark has 2 versions of their inkjet cartridges, the same 2 cartridges are sold at different prices, but come with different "fine print". Some may call this deceptive, but it is what it is:

On the cartridges that Lexmark does not denote with the letter "A" (example Lexmark 36, or Lexmark 36XL), Lexmark is supposedly selling these on CONDITION that you, as the owner/user of the cartridge, return the empty cartridge back to Lexmark. This practice is termed "prebate", and suggests that you do not "own" the cartridge when you buy it. Supposedly, you own just the ink inside the cartridge (and are free to use the ink), but you are "requested" by Lexmark to return the shell of the cartridge back to them when you are done.

For cartridges that lexmark denotes a suffix with the letter "A", those are sold more expensively and do not come with the above-discussed "string attached".

So what does this mean, and why is Lexmark doing this?

Well, it would be hard to argue that their intention is none other than to force you to return the "prebate" cartridges to them, thereby preventing you from refilling them (which would obviously save you money, and help the environment). So in short, the prebate version of their cartridges (example #23, #24, #28, #29, #41, #42, #36, #37 etc) are not refillable. The more expensive versions (example #23A, #24A, #28A, #29A, #41A, #42A, #36A, #37A) are refillable.

So you should buy the more expensive versions so you can refill them. Or just buy another printer. HP and Canon are more refill friendly.