Cheap Ink Cartridge
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Learning how to find cheap ink cartridges for your printer can often be a great way to save money.
Why is Printer Ink So Expensive?
Did you know that over $21 billion of ink cartridges are sold each year? At prices ranging form $10 to $50 per cartridge, this represents a significant expense for computer owners.
However, there is a very simple reason why printer ink is so pricey. Major manufacturers such as Dell, Cannon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, and Brother will often sell their printers at a loss with the expectation that they can recoup their expenses by selling ink cartridges throughout the life of the printer. In fact, the money made from selling printer ink often represents a significant portion of overall company profits.
About Cheap Ink Cartridges
The term “cheap ink cartridges” is generally used to refer to black or color printer ink cartridges or ink jet refill kits made by a third-party manufacturer. Also known as aftermarket products, these discount ink cartridges now make up more than 16 percent of total ink cartridge sales in the United States.
There are many reasons that people choose to use discount ink cartridges for their computer printers. For example:
- Cheap ink cartridges can save you 50 percent or more off the cost of your printer ink. This can be a substantial savings for you if you run a home-based business or have children who need to frequently print off school projects.
- While using color ink cartridges made by a third-party manufacturer can be problematic, most studies have found that black ink cartridges produce similar results regardless of the brand or price.
- If you use refillable ink cartridges or recycled ink cartridges, you’re helping the environment by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
However, cheap ink cartridges are not without their drawbacks. For example:
- In some cases, using an ink cartridge not recommended for your printer will void your manufacturer’s warranty.
- Companies generally make their printers to perform best with their accessories. For example, Hewlett-Packard printers are designed to work with Hewlett-Packard ink and Hewlett-Packard paper. Using products made by other manufacturers may produce less than ideal results for important projects.
- If you want to print photos from your digital camera using discount ink cartridges, your images may fade quickly. Research has shown that many brands of cheap ink cartridges are not suitable for long-term photo preservation.
- Some people report problems with clogged print heads after the prolonged use of cheap ink cartridges. Cleaning print heads is a messy and time-consuming task.
Buying Discount Ink Cartridges
The Internet has made it easier than ever to buy ink cartridges at a discount. You can find cheap ink cartridges for a variety of printer manufacturers on the following websites:
- Carrot Ink
- Ink Grabber
- Ink Smile
- 123 Ink Jets
- Ink Jet Superstore
- Ink Sell
- Ink Cloners
- Buy the Best Buy
- World Class Ink
- Castle Ink
- Print Country
- Ink Farm
Since the price of printer ink can often vary substantially, take the time to do some comparison shopping before making a purchase. It’s also a good idea to look for free shipping, coupon codes, and free after rebate promotions that can further reduce your costs.
When ordering cheap ink cartridges online, it’s important to plan ahead and factor shipping time into your purchasing decision. You don’t want to run out of ink the night before the boss needs you to submit an important presentation or your daughter needs to turn in her history report.
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Comments
Thanks for the tip, Steve!
-- Contributed by: TK2Printer ink useally cost more than the printer itself, it's crazy. My tip is to compare prices before buying and to order third party ink. I useally compare prices at inkguides.com
-- Contributed by: steve
This page has been accessed 1,457 times. This page was last modified 14:36, 20 May 2009.
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