Candace Johanson asked:


Everyone loves a great deal and with computer accessories, the prices have certainly become much more reasonable in the past few years. Printers specifically have come down in price over the past few years and can be purchased for less than $50 in many stores. What a great deal! Even a multi-function printer, were in the past might be several hundred dollars, can now be purchased for under $100.

So why has the price of printers went down so much in the past few years? Is it lower costs in manufacturing or availability of materials? While this may be one of the reasons, another reason is that printer manufacturers have figured out how to make it up in other ways.

Here’s a common scenario; you purchase your printer on sale and are thrilled with the low price that you managed to find on such a nice printer. You take it home, set it up and use it once in a while. Then, after only printing what you think is a few hundred pages, or even less, the printer cartridge is empty. You take the printer cartridge out and head to your local computer store to find a replacement. You locate your model of printer cartridge and then glance at the price. $40…Are they joking? You think about how much you paid for the printer: $50. It’s going to cost almost as much to replace the ink cartridge as you paid for the entire printer. It’s even worse if you have a color printer. The black cartridge might be less expensive, but the color one will cost more. If you purchased a printer with only two cartridges, one color and one black, you’re even more disappointed since you know that there’s plenty of blue and yellow left in the cartridge. But now you have to replace the whole cartridge, just because you’re out of red ink!

How many times has this happened to you? Good news; It doesn’t have to be this way. You now have other options. Printer manufacturers want you to bring back your old cartridge and buy a new one and keep doing this over and over. Now you’ve helped them lower their cost by giving back the cartridge, that they will re-use, but they won’t pass the savings on.

So if they can refill the cartridge, why can’t you. You can buy a refill kit, often made specifically for your printer, for a very low cost and refill it yourself. It’s not hard and does not require any special skill. Usually the ink refill kit that you purchase will come with instructions on how you can do it yourself. Now you have reduced your cost to refill your cartridges from $40 or more, and have reduced that cost down to just a few dollars each time you need a refill.

A good quality refill kit will contain ink, a tool to help you remove the top, or a needle like object to inject into the cartridge, and also instructions. You can usually refill the ink in a matter of minutes and most ink refill kits also contain enough ink for a few refills. For those worried that they may not be able to do it, rest assured that it is very easy to refill the ink yourself.

An even better deal is the Continuous Ink System or CIS. It will continuously feed ink into your printer. You will no longer have to refill those little cartridges every few weeks. Depending on the amount of ink you use the CIS can last months without having to be refilled. I have used mine for the last 8 months without refilling it and I print a lot. I print photos, scrapbook pages, school reports for my children and more. I have been extremely happy with my Continuous Ink System and it originally only took me about 5 minutes to set it up. It was a very easy install and I highly recommend it. The photo quality is exceptional. It is as good or better than I got using my Hewlett Packard or Canon ink cartridges.

If you want to save money and have the ability to print everything you want I would suggest buying a CIS, Continuous Ink System or refillable ink cartridges.

 

 

Carla Weaffer asked:


Like many other long term owners of printers, over the years I’ve spent a fortune on printer ink. I even recall on one occasion I actually paid more for a replacement ink cartridge than I did for a bottle of good champagne. I always thought that as long as my printer kept printing then it was just another fact of life and there was little I could do about it so why complain?

Back then, on average, I paid anything from £20 to £25 for my branded ink cartridges because I simply didn’t know any better.

Although I’d heard of compatible ink cartridges, I didn’t really know enough about them to give them a try. I was a bit suspicious of them because the cartridges weren’t branded with a familiar name and I never gave it a second thought that they would be as good as branded cartridges. I even wondered if they might damage my printer.

Then one day, my partner came home with some compatible ink cartridges for my printer and although I wasn’t keen to use them I did. My existing ink cartridge was almost empty and I needed to get something printed so I cagily replaced the branded cartridge with the compatible, crossed my fingers and hit ‘print’.

I had visions of having to run out to buy a new branded ink cartridge or, in the worst case, a new printer and a new branded ink cartridge. The paper finally came out after what seemed to be an eternity and I was surprised to see that not only had my document printed as well as it ever had before, but my printer was still happily sitting on my desk, waiting for the next job.

I couldn’t believe it. The compatible ink turned out results that were just as good as with the branded ink I had previously spent a fortune on. At the same time, I was so happy to learn that the compatible cartridge had cost a tenth of the price I’d been paying and yet disappointed when I thought about all of the money I could have saved (and all of the champagne I could have had).

After sitting down and working on the figures, I’d come to the conclusion that I’d actually spent almost £500 on replacement, branded ink cartridges over the last 12 months alone. If I would have been using compatibles I would have saved an incredible 90% of my printing costs!

The next day, I went into work and told my colleagues all about what had happened and to my surprise two of them had also been spending more than they’d wanted on branded printer ink simply because they didn’t have enough knowledge about compatibles.

This inspired me to carry out research on compatible ink cartridges in order to find out the facts behind them; their advantages and disadvantages. I was astounded by what I discovered! Here are just a few of the things I found out:

* You can save between 60% and 80% on average from the price of a branded ink cartridge depending on the make and model of your printer.

* Despite the myths, compatible ink does not affect the warranty on your printer. By using compatible ink you’re cutting out a major profit source for the big brands so they may try to convince you that you can only use their own inks, but it’s actually illegal for them to void your warranty for using a compatible ink instead.

* Compatible ink provides the same number of printed pages as a branded cartridge.

* When buying your compatible ink, it’s always a good idea to ask the vendor if the cartridges are made to ISO 9000 standards. Ink made to these standards have the same amount of ink as original cartridges.

* Most compatible ink cartridges have a 24-month shelf life so you don’t have to worry about them spoiling in a short space of time.

Nowadays, I’m printing as much as I ever did, if not more. The great thing is that I’m spending less on printer ink, more on the enjoyable things in life and telling everyone I meet about the wonders of compatible printer inks!

James Kara Murat asked:


The “sticker shock” that a consumer can get when buying a new set of inks for a computer printer can easily send them over the edge. With an eye toward economy and ecology consumers are finding that refills may be the way to solve issues they have with ink cartridge pricing and disposability.

Refills

As consumers quietly grumbled about the prices of printer ink other manufacturers, of all kinds, began coming up with ways to refill an ink cartridge. Refill kits have become a hot commodity with a certain “wink, wink” toward the patent lawyers. Individuals have also taken up the cause by performing plastic surgery on ink cartridges resembling Botox injections.

Plenty of newspaper

Whether a consumer is refilling hp ink cartridge or refilling canon ink cartridge the process is, for the most part, the same. Refill kits will get you half way home but you will need to provide quite a bit of newspaper for covering anything you value. You will also need cloths that can be wasted rather then washed.

Help boards are helpful

The difference that may be found when refilling hp ink cartridge and refilling canon ink cartridge is the location of the fill hole. On some canon cartridges the fill hole may be on the side or on the top of the cartridge. From the help boards it appears that either one will work ok. The idea is to refill the reservoir or sponge with just enough ink so that there is no air within the cartridge when the process is completed.

Tape

Obviously, ink cartridge manufacturers are not all that interested in providing ink cartridge refilling instructions so the process is a learn from others sort of thing. One item that pops up in this regard is the use of tape over the fill hole. Have some good quality tape for this aspect of the process. Also, you may need to use a few layers to make the seal. If there is a message, or several messages for that matter, after you have refilled and sealed, saying “can’t find printer” there may be an air hole where the tape is located. This means…start over and tape again.

Happy and sad

While the ink cartridge manufacturers are sad that others are finding ways to refill their cartridges (manufacturers indicate that the nozzles are not engineered for multiple use and Consumer Reports indicates color refill prints are only ok while black is good when refilling) others are warily excited. Research is beginning to show that consumers would pay to have somebody else refill their cartridges if the price were around half the originals cost.

Walgreens has been looking into this process for about 1,500 of its stores. It feels there may have room for refilling hp ink cartridge and refilling canon ink cartridge. The 10-15 minute process is relatively inexpensive and may be a somewhat palatable compromise with original cartridge manufacturers. The manufacturers, however, would need to convince consumers that refilling is only wise for a certain number of refills before they need a completely new cartridge.

Frank Bolsom asked:


Most people who own a computer printer have run into print quality problems at some point or another. One page the printer is doing great, the next page the printing is spotty or blurry.

Most people suspect the printer as soon as these problems crop up, but the fact is it is more often the ink that is at fault. This can be even more true if you use refilled ink cartridges with your printer.

Most modern printers are made to work with specific types of ink, and if you use a slightly different ink in the cartridge it can have a huge effect on the print quality. When you go to refill the ink, it seems simple enough – either black or the 3 colors (blue, red, yellow). There is a vast difference, however, in black from one type of ink to another and even more so with the colors.

When you use the proper ink in your printer, your prints will be sharp and clear, with bright, accurate colors. They will also last for many years without fading or losing their color.

The wrong type of ink will result in blurry, smudged prints with dull colors that may not be accurate to the original picture.

When replacing your ink, whether refilling your empty cartridge or buying a recycled cartridge, you need to be sure that the ink is specifically compatible with your brand and model of printer.

For example, if you have an Epson printer you need to be sure to use an ink that is specified as Epson compatible. If you use an ink that is made for an HP or Canon printer, your print quality will not be what you expect.

If you are refilling your own ink cartridges, be sure that you follow the refill instructions correctly. Today’s printers are pretty high-tech and they are extremely dependent on the quality of ink and the fitness of the cartridge.

Michelle Bery asked:


Part of the joy of computer owning is managing the equipment that goes along with it. Those of us who have a computer in our homes often have a printer on which to print the myriad of projects that have made computer ownership so necessary; business reports and graphs, school projects, shopping receipts, and pictures to name a few. Today’s printers are compact, efficient, affordable, and easy to use, and subsequently have found great popularity in the modern world. However, along with printer ownership and use comes the necessity of the ink cartridge refill.

The ink cartridge houses separate compartments in which different color inks are lodged. Also included within the compartments are small metal receptors that communicate with the partnering computer. When a print command is received, the metal receptors heat thus warming the ink and allowing it to drip onto the paper beneath. Most often, when printer ink runs low or runs out completely, the ink is replaced through an ink cartridge refill.

There are a variety of reputable companies where you can find ink cartridge refill products based upon your particular need. Large office or computer supply stores will more than likely have the ink cartridge refill that is needed by your printer. But before you buy, be sure to check around to compare prices and service. With smaller, privately owned supply stores, you’ll often find your ink cartridge refill at a reduced price. Additionally, customer service may be more personalized at these smaller locations.

Shopping online is also a great way to find your ink cartridge refill at an affordable price; Internet resources also offer convenience for a one time purchase as well as continued ordering as your order history will be kept at your fingertips. Ordering an ink cartridge refill on a regular basis often requires little more than the click of your mouse.

Online outlets, much like traditional stores, will often offer guaranteed products, warranties, competitive prices, and excellent customer service. Further, you can often find free shipping deals that will have your ink cartridge refill at your door within a matter of days.

No matter where you purchase your ink cartridge refill be sure to stay on top of the need. If you are able to stay one step ahead of your ink supply, you’ll increase your productivity and save money going forward.

Steve Buchanan asked:


Nothing is worse than being in the middle of printing an otherwise successful project when suddenly the ink begins to run low – or worse, runs out completely. Faded pages do not make for an impressive result. So in addition to being sure to replace your ink refill when needed, it is always a good idea to have extra replacements on hand for emergencies.

While today’s printers are often fairly inexpensive, the ink refill needed on a regular basis can actually be quite pricey. If you are unprepared this can come as a costly surprise. However, with a little bit of research, you can easily stay equipped and even save yourself quite a bit of money.

Today’s modern world includes the existence of personal computers in most of our homes. What once took a trip in the car is now conveniently located at our fingertips – shopping, bill paying, communicating, working, researching, and a variety of entertainment. And with the advent of the modern computer came the design of personal printers with a variety of compact capabilities. Now, most computer owners also own printers and with this ownership also comes the attention to ink refill supplies.

An ink refill for a variety of printers can be found in any number of local office and computer supply stores. If you can find a helpful customer service representative you can easily navigate the products and stay on top of price differences and even upcoming sales. The price of an ink refill often varies according to size, brand, and color choices.

Smaller shops will often offer a generic brand of ink refill allowing you to save money. However, sometimes it’s not worth sacrificing quality for dollars. Be sure to research any type of ink refill prior to purchasing; a deal is no longer a deal if you wind up having to replace the product sooner than expected.

There are also a variety of online resources that offer discounted prices on an ink refill. Many consumers find this to be an extremely convenient alternative as orders can be placed without even leaving your home. In many cases, shipping deals allow your order to be at your door in a matter of days and at no charge. Online shopping also gives you easy access to your order history so that you can easily reorder your particular ink refill and even see how long a particular refill has lasted you in the past.

With a little bit of preparation, finding and purchasing an affordable, high quality ink refill can be easily achieved; giving you peace of mind and the proper tools for successful projects.