1.) Bob Peck - 08/20/2014

I was buying a printer @ Wally World for my daughter who is off to college next week and figured I'd buy replacement ink cartridges while I was at it.

What's a consumer to do when the total cost of a new printer (which included ink cartridges) is only $10 more than replacement cartridges?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]447[/ATTACH]

Switch manufacturers? Nope. They all participate in the gouging.
Shop for discount brands of ink? Sure. My company does this to keep costs down across the 30+ printers on our network. We save a few bucks but at the end of the day it's a consumable that manufacturers know we can't live without (business or personal). None of this is new. It's been going on for a long time but I'm wondering if anyone gets as righteously pissed as I do getting bent over this barrel?

I'm convinced they all artificially lower the price of the hardware knowing once you buy it, like crack, they have you hooked.

2.) bluecat - 08/20/2014

It's a rip off. Try to get a printer that has a cartridge style that can be refilled without buying a whole new cartridge. I don't know if this is possible in the lower-end printers.

3.) DParker - 08/20/2014

Actually, pretty much all ink cartridges can be refilled (at least, I have yet to come across any that couldn't be). It can be a little messy if you're not careful, but there are many refill kits on the market. Just visit Amazon.com (or whatever other online vendor you prefer) and search for "inkjet" "cartridge" "refill" & "kit".

The biggest problem with inkjet printers is that the ink evaporates over time, so if you don't use the printer very often most of your ink ends up going to waste. In those cases a color laser jet printer can actually be cheaper in the long run, as the toner doesn't just disappear on you.

4.) Bob Peck - 08/20/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;23498]Actually, pretty much all ink cartridges can be refilled (at least, I have yet to come across any that couldn't be). It can be a little messy if you're not careful, but there are many refill kits on the market. Just visit Amazon.com (or whatever other online vendor you prefer) and search for "inkjet" "cartridge" "refill" & "kit".[/QUOTE] I'll give it a try. At those kind of prices I can be careful, very careful. I'll pretend I'm doing hand loads for my .44 mag. or something more useful with my time instead of using syringes to refill ink cartridges.

In fact, with a little help from China or Mexico I'm thinkin there's a start up firm ready to happen if it hasn't already. :bk:

I've been told if you're going to go this route you shouldn't wait until the cartridge is dry but immediately refill when the "low ink" warning happens. Allegedly if the cartridges go dry some printers printer will initialize the cartridge by "burning" one of the contact areas in the back of the cartridge rendering it useless and unidentifiable to the printer.

5.) DParker - 08/20/2014

[QUOTE=Bob Peck;23503]I'll give it a try. At those kind of prices I can be careful, very careful. I'll pretend I'm doing hand loads for my .44 mag. or something more useful with my time instead of using syringes to refill ink cartridges.[/quote]

I'd be even more careful than that, and do it over a utility room/work shop sink if you have one. That ink stains like a SOB, and if you get it all over your wife's meticulously maintained bathroom sink and/or the "good" towels you'll also want to make sure she doesn't have access to any of those .44 loads. :wink

[QUOTE=Bob Peck;23503]I've been told if you're going to go this route you shouldn't wait until the cartridge is dry but immediately refill when the "low ink" warning happens. Allegedly if the cartridges go dry some printers printer will initialize the cartridge by "burning" one of the contact areas in the back of the cartridge rendering it useless and unidentifiable to the printer.[/QUOTE]

I've heard that as well, but don't know if it's really a problem with any of the printers I've owned (mostly Canons) as I always refill/replace as soon as my printer starts whining about ink levels. Still, best to err on the side of caution.