Where to Buy Cheap Printer Ink
Ink Refill Kits, Generic Ink, and Refurbished Ink Cartridges
Depending on the brand, a new OEM (original equipment manufacturer) printer ink cartridge can cost between $15 and $50. Even with average use, home printers need their cartridges replaced often – and the cost adds up quickly.
There are many ways to save money on printer ink, including buying online and purchasing generic brands, cartridge refill kits, and refilled or refurbished ink cartridges.
Buying Printer Ink Online
Many online stores like 123inkjets.com and 4inkjets.com specialize in providing customers with the biggest savings on printer cartridges. Even with the cost of shipping, buying online is often less expensive than buying from a brick-and-mortar store. Additional online money-saving tips like searching for coupon codes or buying through an online rewards program further reduce the cost.
Generic Ink Cartridges
Generic products are often half the cost of their branded counterparts. Of course the printer manufacturer will recommend that users only use their branded cartridges for replacements, but many home printer users have used generic brand printer ink and experienced no problems.
It's a good idea to have the empty cartridge in hand when buying a generic refill to make sure that it is compatible with the printer's make and model.
Refilled Printer Ink Cartridges
Getting a refilled ink cartridge is a cheaper alternative to buying new cartridges. Users who feel uncomfortable about generics can find their brand and buy it refilled. Many office supply stores offer ink cartridge recycling services where empty cartridges are donated, refilled, tested, and resold. Participants usually get discounts on future ink purchases through the store.
Refurbished Ink Cartridges
After being refilled a number of times, certain components of an ink cartridge will become worn down and need to be replaced. Refurbished cartridges are manufacturer cartridges that have had parts repaired and then been refilled for sale. A refurbished cartridge costs slightly more than a refilled cartridge, but less than a brand new cartridge.
Printer Ink Refill Kits
Perhaps the cheapest printer ink source is the ink refill kit. A refill kit comes with ink, syringe, and instructions on how to refill the cartridge at home. It doesn't take long, isn't very difficult, and can be as much as 80% cheaper than new cartridges. Cartridges refilled at home might not last quite as long between refills, but the price difference is so dramatic that buying refill kits is still the best value.
When refilling ink at home, just be careful to cover the area with plastic first and to wear the plastic gloves provided in the kit when working. Spills will result in immediate staining to surfaces, carpet, clothes, and skin.
Will Using Generic, Refilled, or Refurbished Cartridges Hurt My Printer?
There seem to be differing opinions on whether or not using generic or refilled cartridges damages a printer, and no objective studies to give a definitive answer. In any case, home printers are becoming so cheap that buying discount printer ink and replacing the entire printer every few years would still be more cost-effective than buying new OEM cartridges every time.
One downside of using refilled or refurbished cartridges is that it will usually void the original manufacturer's warranty on a new printer.
Additional Ways to Save Money on Home Printing
Printer ink cartridge refills are the biggest expense involved in using a home printer, but not the only one. To save even more strain on your wallet, remember to:
- Avoid unnecessary printing – instead of printing out recipes or driving directions, simply jot them down on some scratch paper for reference. Doing so conserves ink, printer paper, and wear and tear on the printer.
- Save scratch paper – Cut down on printer paper costs by saving and reusing paper that's still blank on one side. It can be used for printing temporary documents that don't need to look professional.
- Stop printing in color – colored ink cartridges are always more expensive than black cartridges and refills. Unless having a color document is essential, select the "black and white" option before printing.
Any way that saves ink and paper or spares wear and tear on the printer translates into extra money in a user's wallet.
When buying ink replacements for a home printer, there are lots of alternatives to new OEM cartridges. Many of the options are not only cost-effective but environmentally friendly since they reduce the number of empty cartridges sent to the landfill. The next time the ink cartridge gets low, consider buying refilled or refurbished printer ink.
For more money-saving advice, read "Save Money when Grocery Shopping" and "How to Get Cheap Phone Service."
Finding the Cheapest Printer Ink is Important
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Saving Money with Discount Printer Ink
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