G&G Ink cartridges

[art]

I bought some G&G ink cartridges for my Canon printer. They leak
through the print head while installed, but don't leak when out of the
printer. Is this a problem of bad ink or bad cartridge design. I
bought them from alotofthings.com. I sent email to their support and
have received no reply. They were cheap enough that I am not
concerned about the lack of support. But it is a company I will never
do business with again. I am wondering if I can salvage the small
remaining amount of ink in the cartridges. Also G&G uses dye ink
instead of pigment ink in the BCI-5bk cartridge.

 

[Taliesyn]

I bought some G&G ink cartridges for my Canon printer. They leak
through the print head while installed, but don't leak when out of the
printer.

I've used G&G cartridges (also marketed under various other names) and
didn't experience any problems. Color was fine.

Also G&G uses dye ink instead of pigment ink in the BCI-5bk cartridge.

That's a fact. Also the prime reason why I don't use their black text
inks (BCI-3e). I prefer to refill my own cartridges with HobbiColors
inks, available on eBay. At least this way I'm assured of genuine
pigment ink for the black, and in relatively small quantity containers
so my ink is always "fresh", not 1 or 2 years old, sitting in my
cupboard.

-Taliesyn

 

[Davy]

I replaced the inks in a ip5000 with Xprint inks (I think it was).
The colours was OK but the Pigment ink well....

when I printed a CD it was splashed all over with black ink, printed
text doc. it was kinda runny and feathery the cause was the blac
pigment ink which I doubted it was when I replaced this with a OE
and a fair amount of bottom plate cleaning and after cleaning th
rollors all was well

Think it was one of the regular contributers to these pages tha
suggested an ink and water test.... holding my tank up to the ligh
sure did look different

Dav

 

[Jeff H]

I bought some G&G ink cartridges for my Canon printer. They leak
through the print head while installed, but don't leak when out of the
printer. Is this a problem of bad ink or bad cartridge design.

I also use and sell (at a retail level) G & G ink cartridges and can confirm
that they occassionally do leak.
The problem is most often seen with the cyan tank leaking and
cross-contaminating the other colors.

While most of our customers will use these quite happily without ever seeing
a problem a few will suddenly see almost every cartridge they use as
defective, even though they may have used these for some time before. My
theory is that the G & G cartridges are not 'exactly' the same shape or size
as the Canon and that as the printhead becomes used and worn that it's
tolerance for such things decreases. We have had several customers replace
their printhead and go back to happily using G & G ink tanks.

Having said all that, G & G is still the best aftermarket ink that we've
tried in terms of overall performance and color matching. Despite the
relatively rare instances of leaking/leeching we are happy enough to
continue carrying it and recommending it to our customers.

- Jeff H

 

[art]

I also use and sell (at a retail level) G & G ink cartridges and can confirm
that they occassionally do leak.
The problem is most often seen with the cyan tank leaking and
cross-contaminating the other colors.

While most of our customers will use these quite happily without ever seeing
a problem a few will suddenly see almost every cartridge they use as
defective, even though they may have used these for some time before. My
theory is that the G & G cartridges are not 'exactly' the same shape or size
as the Canon and that as the printhead becomes used and worn that it's
tolerance for such things decreases. We have had several customers replace
their printhead and go back to happily using G & G ink tanks.

Having said all that, G & G is still the best aftermarket ink that we've
tried in terms of overall performance and color matching. Despite the
relatively rare instances of leaking/leeching we are happy enough to
continue carrying it and recommending it to our customers.

- Jeff H

Thanks for the reply. I agree that the G&G ink has a good color
match, other than that my experience is different. I installed
cartridges and printed a dozen or so pages. A couple days later the
printer did not work properly. Nozzle check only printed only from
the BCI-3 tank. The print head was dripping ink from the bottom. The
cyan and BCI-3 tanks were 3/4 full, yellow half full, magenta and
photo black 1/3 full. All bad with the cyan being the best of the
lot. Other cartridges work fine in the printer so buying a new print
head use the G&G ink is not economical. The vendor, alotofthings.com,
does not answer the email.

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

Think it was one of the regular contributers to these pages that
suggested an ink and water test.... holding my tank up to the light
sure did look different.

What's an "ink and water test?"
How is it done?

Richard

 

[Davy]

What's an "ink and water test?

How is it done

Richar

Yikes... without digging back in these pages, I think one is mor
sensitive to water.... and the other gives (not sure about this) bu
I 'think' one gives a bronzing effect when subjected to water.

As you are aware one is dye and the other is pigment which certainl
appeared different under a strong light

Couldn't find any fault with Xprint colours.... all was well when th
black pigment was changed (after a fair amount of cleaning)

Dav

 

[measekite]

Refilling is messy and inconvenient. The best ink for a Canon is OEM
ink for the following reasons:

The ink, printhead, and mechanism were designed as a complete system

You know what you are getting

The ink is consistently the same

The results look better

The results fade less

It is sold in all different venues

And yes it does cost more

 

[measekite]

You usually used Canon ink with no problem. Now you took a chance and
had problems. That is what I have been saying for a long time.

 

[measekite]

One must watch what they read as many here recommend generic and they
are in the business. People need to watch out for a conflict of
interest. That is why some throw a tizzy when I refer others to
established sources like

www.pcworld.com

www.pcmag.com

www.wilhelm.com

for professional test reports.

 

[measekite]

Thanks for the reply. I agree that the G&G ink has a good color
match, other than that my experience is different. I installed
cartridges and printed a dozen or so pages. A couple days later the
printer did not work properly. Nozzle check only printed only from
the BCI-3 tank. The print head was dripping ink from the bottom. The
cyan and BCI-3 tanks were 3/4 full, yellow half full, magenta and
photo black 1/3 full. All bad with the cyan being the best of the
lot. Other cartridges work fine in the printer so buying a new print
head use the G&G ink is not economical. The vendor, alotofthings.com,
does not answer the email.

What do you expect? Yes Canon does cost more but from your experience
you get what you pay for. Unfortunately Canon knows how good their
stuff is when compared to the generic inconsistent relabeled whatever
out there and charges accordingly.