When people hear “discount ink,” they often think of knock-offs or remanufactured options - but there’s a third category that many overlook: OEM surplus.
At DoorStepInk, OEM surplus plays a vital role in helping our customers save money without giving up the original brand they trust. It also prevents perfectly good ink and toner from being discarded, which helps fight landfill waste.
Let’s unpack what OEM surplus really means - and why it might be the smartest way to shop for ink and toner in 2025.
What Does "OEM Surplus" Mean?
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer - meaning these cartridges were made by the same brand as your printer (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, etc.).
Surplus means they were never used.
So where do they come from?
- A company over-ordered and didn’t need them
- A printer upgrade made the cartridges obsolete
- A warehouse liquidated stock during a closeout
- A business went paperless and stopped printing
These brand-new cartridges are 100% genuine OEM - not remanufactured or refilled - but are no longer needed by the original buyer. Rather than letting them sit unused or get discarded, DoorStepInk rescues this ink before it goes to waste.
Why OEM Surplus Saves You So Much
Because these cartridges are often marked for liquidation, we’re able to offer them at a major discount - up to 60% off the regular retail price.
And since most are still in original packaging, you’re getting the exact same cartridge you’d buy at a big-box store, just without the markup.
It’s an unbeatable combo:
- Original brand
- Unused and fully functional
- Heavily discounted
- Ships from our U.S. facility with fast turnaround
Why It’s Better for the Environment Too
Most people don’t realize that even unused ink cartridges are often thrown away. Once a printer model is retired or a business changes equipment, surplus cartridges are seen as “waste.”
But tossing a perfectly good OEM cartridge into the trash:
- Wastes precious raw materials (plastic, metal, ink compounds)
- Creates more landfill waste
- Adds to the global e-waste crisis
By redistributing OEM surplus through DoorStepInk, we help ensure these cartridges live their full useful life - keeping them out of landfills and reducing the need to manufacture more.
Not All "Discount Ink" Is the Same
Some sellers advertise “cheap ink” by flooding marketplaces with foreign-made, patent-infringing copies that may not meet quality standards - and can even damage your printer.
OEM surplus is different. It’s:
- Made by the original manufacturer
- Engineered for your printer
- Reliable, recognizable, and safe to use
And when you get it from DoorStepInk, you also get:
- Fast shipping
- Helpful U.S.-based customer service
- Honest, up-front product listings with no gimmicks
- A 100% satisfaction guarantee
Should You Buy OEM Surplus or Remanufactured?
Great question. Here’s how we break it down:
|
Need |
Best Choice |
|
Max savings |
Remanufactured |
|
Name-brand preference |
OEM Surplus |
|
Sustainability focus |
Either - both prevent waste |
|
Print-heavy environments |
Either - both deliver reliable output |
You really can’t go wrong — and many customers mix and match both based on their needs.
The Bottom Line
OEM surplus ink and toner offer one of the best deals in printing today. You're getting original-brand cartridges at discount prices - all while helping prevent unnecessary waste.
Explore our current OEM surplus inventory at www.doorstepink.com and save smart - for your budget and the environment.
