Toner cartridge suppliers: what about 100 vendors quoted on a real RFQ
A European buyer needed bulk Konica Minolta toner (TN-627, TN-619 and TN-622 sets). Dov identified 106 suppliers, sent the RFQ to about 100 of them and got 18 replies, 8 of them with written prices. Here is what the market actually quoted.
By the HireDov teamUpdated 4 min readBased on a real HireDov sourcing mission (client anonymized), October 2026.
The request
Full CMYK sets of three Konica Minolta toner models, shipped by the pallet to Europe. The buyer was open to compatible cartridges and to original (OEM) ones, and wanted both priced so they could weigh the gap.
Who we found
106 suppliers across distributors, remanufacturers and factories: France (23), China (16), the UK (10), the Netherlands (9), Turkey (6), India (6) and a long tail of other countries. Five had no usable email and were dropped; about 100 received the RFQ in their own language.
The quotes we received
Prices are per full CMYK set, in USD, ex-works or FOB Zhuhai (China) unless stated otherwise. Supplier names are withheld.
| Model | Compatible (per set) | Sold as original (per set) |
|---|---|---|
| TN-627 | $435 (1 quote) | $622 · $632 · $643.85 |
| TN-619 | $138.75 · $144.80 · $157.90 · $168 · $170.30 | $334.62 |
| TN-622 | $178.70 · $186.40 · $213 · $231 | $343.85 |
Two European offers came in a different shape: brand-new OEM stock in the UK at £172 per TN-622 set ex-works (priced by full pallet of one colour), and an OEM surplus lot of a single colour (TN-622 cyan) at €45 per cartridge.
The terms that came with the prices
- MOQ: several suppliers had no minimum order, and samples or a trial order were accepted.
- Lead time: from 5 to 30 days depending on the supplier and the model.
- Warranty: 18 to 24 months on compatible cartridges.
- Payment: a typical structure was 30% by bank transfer up front and 70% before shipment.
- Questions back: maximum pallet height, the exact quantity per model, and whether sea freight was acceptable.
What we learned
- Original costs 1.5x to 2.4x compatible. On these three models, the cheapest "original" set was 1.5x (TN-627) to 2.4x (TN-619) the cheapest compatible one. Decide upfront which you accept, or ask for both.
- Ask for prices per colour and per set. Black and colour cartridges are priced differently, and several suppliers only quoted one way. Asking for both makes quotes comparable.
- Give pallet and quantity details in the first email. The most common follow-up question was pallet height and quantity per model. Putting them in the RFQ saves a round of emails.
- Manufacturers in Zhuhai replied fastest and with the most detailed price lists. European distributors were slower but offered OEM stock that ships without import lead time.
- Check what "original" means. Some offers labelled original came from resellers in China. Ask for packaging photos and origin before ordering.
Comparing these quotes on landed cost (freight, duties, payment terms) changes the ranking again. See how to compare supplier quotes.
Frequently asked questions
How much do compatible toner cartridges cost compared with originals?
On this RFQ, the cheapest set sold as original cost 1.5x to 2.4x the cheapest compatible set, depending on the model. For example, a TN-619 set was quoted from $138.75 compatible versus $334.62 original.
Do toner suppliers have a minimum order quantity?
Several suppliers on this mission had no MOQ and accepted samples or trial orders. Others priced by full pallet, especially OEM stock holders in Europe.
How long does bulk toner take to ship?
Quoted lead times ranged from 5 to 30 days, plus transit. European stock ships faster than factory orders from China.
Can HireDov source toner or other office supplies for me?
Yes. Describe the models and quantities; Dov finds suppliers, sends the RFQ in each supplier's language, follows up and lines up the quotes side by side.
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