So you got yourself a budget-range monochrome laser printer that is designed to perform the multiple tasks of printing, photocopying and scanning. Good choice of printer for a home office set up. It's always best to manage equipment acquisitions carefully and keep expenses at a minimum, especially during difficult times.

But wait! Did you ever consider the pricing of related consumables? Toner cartridge replacement is part and parcel of your printing overhead. You may have purchased a below $300 laser printer but if expenses on replacement cartridges in a given year jack up to more than 3 times the acquisition cost, then you don't really have a budget printer at your disposal. You could easily get a multifunction printer such as the Brother MFC 8440 for less than $500 but if you are using 2 cartridges a month that comes retailed at $70 a piece, then you're looking at a yearly consumable expenditure of $1680. That's more than 3 times the cost of the printer! If only there was a less expensive alternative to OEM cartridges.

Well there is and it has been around for more than a decade. The aftermarket for printer consumables distribute toner refill products for a Brother multifunction printer such as the Brother TN-570 toner refill kit that you can get for only 20% the price of its OEM counterpart.

How does a toner refill kit work?
An empty toner cartridge has only been exhausted of its toner supply and can still be used for up to 3 cycles of printing. A toner refill kit comes supplied with a bottle of fresh toner powder and a few tools for employ during replenishment such as a funnel cap, hand gloves and lint free cloth.

Is the refill process difficult?
True, you will go through a learning curve during the initial refill, particularly as you learn how to dismantle the assembly, clean specific parts, funnel the powder to the hopper and then reassemble the cartridge once again. But then again, even a fifth grader can perform refill seamlessly so why can't you. The refill package is also supplied with an instructional material to guide you during replenishment so that you'll be zippy with it the next time around.

Will the compatible toner void warranty terms and even damage my printer?
Using a Brother toner refill kit would neither void manufacturer's warranty nor damage your laser printer. Laws have been enacted to preserve the consumer's right of choice in the use of consumables. On the other hand, compatible toner powder has been expertly engineered and would not cause damage to your printer just like its OEM counterpart.