Ink Jet vs. The problem with ribbons. Whether ribbons are in cartridges or spools, they usually leave an ink mess when the ribbon is changed. If a ribbon is inserted improperly, the printer can jam or the ribbon can tear.
Inserted media can also cause printer jams and ribbon tears.
Printer jams often result in expensive repairs. Ribbon manufacturers typically rate their ribbon life in terms of characters. However, because ribbons dry out, in many applications the ribbon life will expire before its rated life in characters can be reached. As the ink dries, the ink fades and the print quality diminishes. The result is all too often poor quality faded receipts in the hands of the customer.