stoney Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 I just read the post by Edward inquiring about the best printer to buy. BUY? They should give the darn things away! I think the cost of printer ink is criminal. I think manufacturers could give their printers away and still make plenty on what they charge for ink. They must fill the cartridges with a eye dropper. They must only put just a few drops in each cartridges. What a joke! Staples pays $3.00 each for the empty cartridges when you return them. Really!!! The cartridges have to be the most expensive part of the package don't they? Oh, and for buying from second or third party sellers,be careful they often sell ink cartridges that are close or even beyond their expiration date. Yea, it don't take very long for that few drops of ink to evaporate. Boy, that really tired me out! I think I better go take a nap. LOL Young_Scroller, LarryEA, Kris Martinson and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 You are correct. Buying ink is like buying a new battery for a cordless tool. For a few bucks more you can buy a new tool with new batteries. If you watch sells you can get a good new printer for the cost of replacement ink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 TRUTH ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry1939 Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 We've had or HP for a few years. It doesn't tell you this on the box, but when we hooked it up, it wouldn't work until you went back and bought a $36 cord that you only needed one time to "start the engine". (We were able to borrow the cord from our son, who lives just a few miles away). I read on a computer site a few months ago that dollar for dollar, a gallon of printer ink equals 200 gallons of gasoline. Don't remember how I was able to set ours, but do some research and there is a way to do a (Quick?)(Fast?) print that drops less ink. When printing, choose "Print Current Page". It will print the page you are looking at, not all 17 that you have no use for. Our oldest son is a computer programmer. He set ours not to show on the screen or print the ads. Have no idea how he did it. jerry (a follow bitcher) Kris Martinson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Sometimes you can save a little by buying bulk ink and filling your own. But it is messy and may not work all the time. yes, ink is a cash cow to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 I have a HP office jet 6500 and the color cartridges are $10 and the black is $21 go figure thats where they get you on the black ones. edward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 I had an HP printer that had expensive cartridges. I tried to refill but the printer still said it was out of that color and wouldn't let me reset it. Apparently there is a code on each cartridge and once that has expired you could not refill and reuse. I guess they don't give the printers away for free because they do include 2 drops of each color and you have to pay for them. I may go with a laser next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonR Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 The ink cartridges for my HP Deskjet 6940 are expensive but they last for a very long time. When it indicates that the ink is depleted I just take out the cartridge and give it a shake then replace it then it is good for another few weeks. Don R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrollerpete Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 We are lucky here in Ontario, we have a place where you can get ink for most printer at a fraction of the cost. I have an Epson printer at Staples the cartridges are approx. $20 to $25 dollars, I get the same cartridge for less than $5 at this place. I agree with everybody the ink is more expensive than the printer. We are the throw away society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sycamore67 Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 I guess that when you look at the cost of printing you need to include both the printer and ink as a package. I have had bad luck with some refilled cartridges causing problems with print heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm161 Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 (edited) Cartridges have cost me a small fortune over the years and I have 2 printers. One old Epson SX415 does printing copying, scanning etc and has 4 colour cartridges and I use that machine for general day to day stuff. The second printer is an Epson R2880 that I bought for my photography hobby, which lapsed when I got into woodworking. Both machines have always had original ink. You know, the one's that cost the most, but they do produce the best images. The R2880 has never been switched off, unless the electricity has been cut and the reason for that is every time you switch off and start up again, you use a lot of additional ink. With any new printer, if you use refil/secondary ink or fill yourself, it will invalidate the guarantee, so particularly with the larger printer (up to A3) that could be costly. Both machines are several years old but fortunately I have never had a problem with either ........ only the ongoing cost. Malcolm Edited January 20, 2016 by Malcolm161 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWSUDEKUM Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Unless you are printing color pictures a lot you will go broke getting ink for a inkjet printer especially over time. If you are like me however and generally only print text and patterns then I purchased a HP Laser Jet printer - just the printer not a multifunction one. Sure the cartridges for it cost around $80 but they last a LONG time. I have had the printer I am using now since 2000 and have replaced the cartridge perhaps 15 times in the life of the printer so far. How often do you have to replace the ink cartridges in the inkjet? Personally if I need a color image I save it to a usb stick take it to Kinkos and print it off. I only print generally text and patterns on my printer. The Laser printer has an added advantage, what I print on them is waterproof. This is just my opinion of course DW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtP Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 Unless you are printing color pictures a lot you will go broke getting ink for a inkjet printer especially over time. If you are like me however and generally only print text and patterns then I purchased a HP Laser Jet printer - just the printer not a multifunction one. Sure the cartridges for it cost around $80 but they last a LONG time. I have had the printer I am using now since 2000 and have replaced the cartridge perhaps 15 times in the life of the printer so far. How often do you have to replace the ink cartridges in the inkjet? Personally if I need a color image I save it to a usb stick take it to Kinkos and print it off. I only print generally text and patterns on my printer. The Laser printer has an added advantage, what I print on them is waterproof. This is just my opinion of course DW I have to agree with DW laser is the way to go, don't waste you money on inkjet printers and the ink. Laser printers are much more cost effective. If i buy a toner for my laser at approx $50 and has a page yield of 1200 pages that's only 4 cents a page but i could save even more if i buy a high yield toner for $75 that prints 2600 pages so it works out to just under 3 cents a page. If i do the same for my inkjet printer it was around $25 for the black ink and the page yield is 400 so its around 6 cents a page. I would have to buy 6 inks($150) to 1 high yield toner($75). So on 1 toner i would save $75. Also keep in mind that toner doesn't dry out if you don't use it like the ink always seem to do just when you need to print something right away. I know these are only averages but you might want to invest in a laser printer if you do a lot of printing. Oh ya these are Canadian prices. Kurt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 I remember buying an HP printer/scanner at WalMart for under $20. When the ink ran out I went to buy new cartridges and ended up buying another printer for the ink. I never even took the printer out of the plastic wrap. I did this twice until the price of the printer jumped up to over the cartridge replacement cost. I figured they were selling the printer to get your ink cartridge business which much make them a higher profit then the printer does. I used refilled cartridges where the cost was less and HP send me some notices that the warranty would not be honored because of the replacement ink. Who cares? I would never worry about throwing away my printer if it quit because they are so cheep anyway. After I bought my next ink, which was their brand, they reinstated my warranty. Crazy deal. I sometime refill my own cartridges and they do not want them to work but eventually they do anyway. Dick heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 I knew someone years ago that would not buy printer cartridges, if they needed new cartridges they would just go and buy a new printer, then sell their old printer on EBay. Win win win. Marg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodgineering Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 I knew someone years ago that would not buy printer cartridges, if they needed new cartridges they would just go and buy a new printer, then sell their old printer on EBay. Win win win. Marg This is exactly why we are killing the planet (not that persons fault of course, but the companies) wombatie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepy Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 I think I must be operating a printer graveyard. I have an old HP2100 laser that I have used for years but wanted color capability and scanning so bought a small all-in-one that worked fine until it ran out of ink. Found a deal on line for a Canon for $29 with free shipping so bought that. When I needed new ink, they were $50 so it went to the scrap pile and found a deal on an HP 7640 that is wireless and works great. They have a deal where for $2.99 a month, they will send you new ink whenever you print so many copies. Haven't tried that as don't think it would turn out cost effective for the amount of copies I do. The final insult was after getting Windows 10 and one of their updates, my old laser is no longer recognized and when I tried to get an updated driver, they don't recognize anything over 10 yrs old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChelCass Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 Before I buy a printer I would check the price of ink. Some printers you can refill your own cartridges, the newer one not so much. To buy at a Big Box store will cost a fortune. I go to E-bay and put in my printer model number and up pops all the cartridges that fit my machine. I only buy from sellers who offer *free shipping* (and there are plenty) and guarantee the cartridge will work or will refund your money. I pay about a third of what you would pay in a Big Box store and I get it delivered to my mailbox...................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 I just read the post by Edward inquiring about the best printer to buy. BUY? They should give the darn things away! I think the cost of printer ink is criminal. I think manufacturers could give their printers away and still make plenty on what they charge for ink. They must fill the cartridges with a eye dropper. They must only put just a few drops in each cartridges. What a joke! Staples pays $3.00 each for the empty cartridges when you return them. Really!!! The cartridges have to be the most expensive part of the package don't they? Oh, and for buying from second or third party sellers,be careful they often sell ink cartridges that are close or even beyond their expiration date. Yea, it don't take very long for that few drops of ink to evaporate. Boy, that really tired me out! I think I better go take a nap. LOL I refill mine myself for pennies,and bleach get off what gets on your fingers or wear gloves refilling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarltheScroller Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 (edited) I have bought ink for my HP and Cannon at comboink.com for years. Most of it is actually made in China. I get the large economy packs of 15-20 cartridges at a time. It is a fraction of the cost and has always worked flawlessly. Makes the cost of ink almost insignificant. Edited January 27, 2016 by EarltheScroller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 After reading the remarks here on this thread, I was in Wal Mart this evening and I ran across a laser printer/copier/scanner for under $100 to I went ahead and picked it up. MY ink Jet printer ink costs me $94 for a combination pack so i said what the heck and went for it. Dick heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert H. Bigart Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Go to InkProducts Co on Google Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crupiea Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 I got to the point where i would just throw the old one out when it ran out of ink and buy the cheapest replacement i could find, was actually cheaper then buying ink. that did seem right so i did some research and finally pulled the trigger on a color laser from brother. pCame with the color cartridges. have been pritning for months with it and no indication the toner is running low and these are the promo ones that come with it. to replace them will be over $100 but they really last a long time, like years so this thing is well worth the money for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneleggimp Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 I just read the post by Edward inquiring about the best printer to buy. BUY? They should give the darn things away! I think the cost of printer ink is criminal. I think manufacturers could give their printers away and still make plenty on what they charge for ink. They must fill the cartridges with a eye dropper. They must only put just a few drops in each cartridges. What a joke! Staples pays $3.00 each for the empty cartridges when you return them. Really!!! The cartridges have to be the most expensive part of the package don't they? Oh, and for buying from second or third party sellers,be careful they often sell ink cartridges that are close or even beyond their expiration date. Yea, it don't take very long for that few drops of ink to evaporate. Boy, that really tired me out! I think I better go take a nap. LOL I've got an Epson Ink Jet and it takes FOUR Cartridges (Black, Yellow, Magenta, Cyan) and about $15.00 for EACH of the four Cartridges. WOW. I mostly use a black ink Laser Printer. It's fairly economical - relatively speakingl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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