scream-of-consciousness;
"If you're trying to change minds and influence people it's probably not a good idea to say that virtually all elected Democrats are liars, but what the hell."
How does how much ink in the provided starter cartridges enter the equation? My HP printer cost for a large color refill was gonna be $57, and the Black ink about $30. I bought a Brother Combo printer, scanner, and Fax machine for $79 last year.
This has been going on for a while now. The printer is sold to you at a loss so that they can sell you proprietary refill cartridges. I have had to actively REFUSE "free" printers with equipment I've ordered for my workplace.
My printer is an HP7180 all-in-one. It uses 5 color cartridges and 1 black cartridge. The HP brand ink is $20.00 for black one and $11.00 each for the color ones. This is at Office Depot. However, the cartridges that are refilled and marketed under the Office Depot label are about 40% less and do ever bit as well as the HP brand.
You may thank the business genius of Carly Fiorini for this situation. Besides destroying a great company and competitor, Compaq, through merger, her other brainchild was that HP would become a printer manufacturer, sell cheap printers, and gouge for the ink.
You need to find the local refill guys in your town. They'll refill the cartridges and check the heads for significantly less than proprietary cartridges cost.
A neighbor bought a used car a few weeks ago, and the negotiations hinged on whether the gas tank was full or not.
For about 10 years I've been using generic Chinese ink cartridges bought on Ebay for $2 to $3 each. they work fine. I've used hundreds of them. Then Staples gives me a $3 credit for each to recycle them!
I was through dealing with ink cartridges years ago. I bought a laser printer and never looked back. Sure, everything is in black and white, but fuck it, it prints when I tell it to print and one toner cartridge is good for 5000+ prints.
Do a search for "continuous ink system" - use large refillable containers connected by flex tubing to your cartridge. I'm tired of paying for the ink too. Ran across the continuous systems so that's my next step.
Hey Rodge, I got a Pixma MP530. I get my refills from atlanticinkjet.com. But don't forget to buy a chip reseter. Sometimes the chip on the cartridge gives an empty reading when the thing still has ink in the reservoir. You can get one for about 15 to 20 bucks last I checked. Thise freaking chips suck, but that's the only thing I can't stand about Cannon printers.
A tiny Canon portable has a reservoir for ink that is shed while cleaning or after printing. When it 'thinks' the reservoir is filled, it won't print any more. It has to be disassembled to replace the sponge that catches the droplets. Yeah, costs more to service than for a new one. I have seen some print cartridges that expire, no matter how much ink is in them. I have a Deskjet 520 that was about to be scrapped at work[looked brand new to me]. Took it home, and found a slug had crawled on the circuit board, died, and his body had corroded one of the traces. Jumpered around the missing section... It has had nothing but refilled '26' cartridges (the same one!) in the last 10 years... tomw
The syringe type refill kits are pure crap. Costco used to sell them, I bought one, it didn't work very well at all.
But the vacuum chamber refill stations that Costco has started to put in their 1 Hour Photo stations, that's a different story. Take an HP starter cartridge, have Costco refill it, and it will hold more than the "XL" version of the same cartridge from HP does right out of the package.
If you go to someplace like Cartridge World (or whatever) that uses the same refill stations, you'll get the same benefit. More ink in the cartridge for less money than buying a new one.
I hate to bust your bubble, but the ink cartridges that come with the printers are "starter" cartridges and are only about 1/4 full.
ReplyDeleteGet a refill kit instead.
JLW III
In a better time it was razors/razorblades.....
ReplyDeleteHow to solve the problem:
ReplyDeleteA) Buy the same type of printer they use at work.
B) Find out where they keep the cartridges.
Zero cost print supplies....
(unless you're the boss)
How does how much ink in the provided starter cartridges enter the equation? My HP printer cost for a large color refill was gonna be $57, and the Black ink about $30. I bought a Brother Combo printer, scanner, and Fax machine for $79 last year.
ReplyDeleteThis has been going on for a while now. The printer is sold to you at a loss so that they can sell you proprietary refill cartridges. I have had to actively REFUSE "free" printers with equipment I've ordered for my workplace.
ReplyDeleteBill
My printer is an HP7180 all-in-one. It uses 5 color cartridges and 1 black cartridge. The HP brand ink is $20.00 for black one and $11.00 each for the color ones. This is at Office Depot. However, the cartridges that are refilled and marketed under the Office Depot label are about 40% less and do ever bit as well as the HP brand.
ReplyDeletetheinkplace
ReplyDeleteswiftink
abcink
there are others- Google is your friend
you're welcome
You may thank the business genius of Carly Fiorini for this situation. Besides destroying a great company and competitor, Compaq, through merger, her other brainchild was that HP would become a printer manufacturer, sell cheap printers, and gouge for the ink.
ReplyDeleteCasca
Scottie, your logic is flawed. $20 plus $55 = $75. Even with a 40% discount, that equals $45. Compared to a new printer at $30?
ReplyDeleteSorry, toss the old one. Let the landfill guys take care of the problem.
And as for the marketing gimmick of charging more for the ink? Kinda backfired, dontcha think?
Unless you are so devoted to your printer you don't mind being nailed for a sucker.
Vilmar
?? HP was a (the premier, top rated) printer mfg going back to the 1980s - long before Carly. I agree with the rest of your stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou need to find the local refill guys in your town. They'll refill the cartridges and check the heads for significantly less than proprietary cartridges cost.
ReplyDeleteA neighbor bought a used car a few weeks ago, and the negotiations hinged on whether the gas tank was full or not.
There are ink refill kits you can do yourself for about $16. Even a video on the how to at ?where else? youtube.
ReplyDeleteJuice
For about 10 years I've been using generic Chinese ink cartridges bought on Ebay for $2 to $3 each. they work fine. I've used hundreds of them. Then Staples gives me a $3 credit for each to recycle them!
ReplyDeleteI was through dealing with ink cartridges years ago. I bought a laser printer and never looked back. Sure, everything is in black and white, but fuck it, it prints when I tell it to print and one toner cartridge is good for 5000+ prints.
ReplyDeleteDo a search for "continuous ink system" - use large refillable containers connected by flex tubing to your cartridge. I'm tired of paying for the ink too. Ran across the continuous systems so that's my next step.
ReplyDeleteHey Rodge, I got a Pixma MP530.
ReplyDeleteI get my refills from atlanticinkjet.com. But don't forget to buy a chip reseter. Sometimes the chip on the cartridge gives an empty reading when the thing still has ink in the reservoir. You can get one for about 15 to 20 bucks last I checked. Thise freaking chips suck, but that's the only thing I can't stand about Cannon printers.
HP uses them too.
ReplyDeleteA tiny Canon portable has a reservoir for ink that is shed while cleaning or after printing. When it 'thinks' the reservoir is filled, it won't print any more. It has to be disassembled to replace the sponge that catches the droplets. Yeah, costs more to service than for a new one.
ReplyDeleteI have seen some print cartridges that expire, no matter how much ink is in them.
I have a Deskjet 520 that was about to be scrapped at work[looked brand new to me]. Took it home, and found a slug had crawled on the circuit board, died, and his body had corroded one of the traces. Jumpered around the missing section... It has had nothing but refilled '26' cartridges (the same one!) in the last 10 years...
tomw
The syringe type refill kits are pure crap. Costco used to sell them, I bought one, it didn't work very well at all.
ReplyDeleteBut the vacuum chamber refill stations that Costco has started to put in their 1 Hour Photo stations, that's a different story. Take an HP starter cartridge, have Costco refill it, and it will hold more than the "XL" version of the same cartridge from HP does right out of the package.
If you go to someplace like Cartridge World (or whatever) that uses the same refill stations, you'll get the same benefit. More ink in the cartridge for less money than buying a new one.