By John on Sunday, January 21st, 2007 in Hardware Tips, Tech & Gadgets.

How good are you in identifying a genuine consumable part? Such as printer ink cartridges, ink tanks or toners? Nowadays, the recondition or counterfeit technology reaches 99% of similarity compare with a genuine part. This was not a new findings but I wish to share some tips with you for not being a victim of a counterfeit product.
I’ve brought the new Canon “Genuine” BC-03 ink cartridge from a local computer store two days ago. There is some gap in the printout and this is indicating that the new cartridge’s print head has the manufacturer defeat. So I’m ready to get a new ink cartridge replacement at Canon Service Center in terms that the cartridge is still holding not less than 75% of ink. I’m shocked when Canon service personnel telling me that it was a “recondition” cartridge because it fails for the genuine verification checks. Special thanks to Canon Marketing Sdn. Bhd. (Ipoh, Malaysia.) Mr. Leong, for providing such valuable information on how to identify a genuine consumable part.
Let’s see what are the details that you can’t find on a counterfeit ink cartridge.

The non-genuine security sticker is 99% perfect but it was easily exposed with Canon “Handy Viewer”.
The security sticker used on genuine Canon products changes its design depending on the viewing angle. Additionally, the color changes to a bright, iridescent green when tipped to a horizontal position. With counterfeit products, neither the design or color will shift when viewed at different angles. — Canon (Malaysia).


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