Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

I had that happen to me one time too--but I managed to clean it all off by using hairspray and nail polish remover. Just a tip to try if you think it is ruined anyway.

[BillsGirl]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

hairspray is good to get ink out of clothes too!!

[momma4]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

i found arisol(sp?) works better than spritz hairstray on getting out ink on clothes

[niki_the_tiger]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

I buy my ink from either Staples or Circuit City. I use HP 27 or 29 ink (I think) and it costs only $17.99 for the black (not sure about the color). I found it to be even cheaper than 123 ink and they also offer free shipping options too (I think you have to buy $25 or more or something like that - I always buy two at a time.

[cicy33]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

Also to keep in mind, if you buy off brand or refill ink cartridges you blow the warranty on your printer. So don't do that while it is under warranty. I personally did research the refills and the generic and I continue to purchase HP. I have a printer that cost me $500 and I will not take a chance on it by saving $10. It is an all in one. Though after 6 years it is starting to wear out I think! I have read the reviews on these things. I recommend do a net search and reading reviews before you buy something.

[cicy33]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

Also get one of those cards at staples or office max to get rebates and watch for the coupons. I usually get a $10 off of $50 pretty frequently.

[BCompDude]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

As far as the refills go, I personally have had horrible problems with them and don't recommend them at all. A couple reasons for this:

1) As stupid as it sounds most OEM ink/paper combinations are indeed made to work side by side for the most consistent/best results. It is NOT the "same" ink they have inside third party brands as OEM. Ink isn't just water (just most of it ); a lot of it has to do with scientific processes, like molecular stability for instance. Do you honestly think that mediastreet.com researches their ink or just has a large vat of colored water? I'd stake my life on the fact its much closer to the latter. OEM ink is researched; heavily, so you as a consumer have to pay for some of that.

2) Next is warranty issues. You can claim Magnusson-Moss Act all you like but the fact remains that if 3rd party ink causes a head clog or other problem; it DOES indeed void any warranty you have on your printer. Just the fact its there doesn't do it, but you are taking a chance when using third party ink and if it comes back to bite you don't expect the manufacturer to back you up. You wouldn't if the roles were reversed.

3) Quality is another major issue. It is usually true that "you get what you pay for" in this world of ours, this is not an exception. Take this quote from PCworld's testing "If print quality--and especially durability--are a top concern, however, you're better off playing it safe by gritting your teeth and shelling out for brand-name inks." Third party inks don't match up to the quality that you will be getting with OEM inks. Period. There is a link in the latter section of this post if you want to read it in full. Its worse than that quote, trust me.

4) Clogs and messes--not just falicy. The nozzles on print heads these days are a few MICRONS thick, if you try to push anything too large through, or with too much viscosity you will either clog them or permanently ruin them; in part or full. A few more quotes for you guys. "Several OA100 cartridges purchased from PrintPal, most notably the black and cyan, frequently plugged the nozzles on the Canon S900's printhead, causing wide blank stripes in documents." We also tried refilling our own HP cartridges with an InkTec kit that we bought from Print Country. What a mess! It dripped ink everywhere, but when we finally refilled our cartridges the ink made decent-quality prints. At Wilhelm Imaging Research, however, the prints produced using the kit were so poor in quality that Wilhelm did not test them for permanence."

5) Print longevity is completely and utterly HORRIBLE on 3rd party inks. Another quote from the article (based on Wilhelm Research) "And if you frequently print photographs, you should steer clear of these inks: The prints might look fine, but Wilhelm reported that none of the clone inks he tested came close to matching the permanence of brand-name inks. He rated the best of the aftermarket inks to last only five years ". So you save some money on ink but if you want to actually KEEP what you print, you would have to print that same photo a total of 14.6 times on an HP with the fake 58 cartridge for instance. . .rather than just printing ONCE on OEM ink/paper combinations? Excuse me. . .LOL.

From the article that was used to gather this info:

In the meantime, judging from our experience, finding a reasonably priced substitute for brand-name ink can be a risky business. If top quality and print longevity aren't of paramount importance, you can save money using no-name inks--but you may have to spend a lot of time cleaning clogged printheads. Still, some users may find the savings justify the hassles.

If print quality--and especially durability--are a top concern, however, you're better off playing it safe by gritting your teeth and shelling out for brand-name inks."

I'm simply speaking out because most people are unaware of any of the above issues. 3rd party ink sucks as a general rule. You are much better to stick with the OEM stuff.

Something to mull over if you're a proponent of third party inks.

Here is the link:

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,111767,00.asp

[Tree0164]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

I have been using 3rd party inks for over 6 years and haven't had a problem. I have HP.

Also look at the source of the article... pc world. Their major sponsers are computer and printer companies.

[BCompDude]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

I have been using 3rd party inks for over 6 years and haven't had a problem. I have HP.

Also look at the source of the article... pc world. Their major sponsers are computer and printer companies.

While I respect your opinion, many many people have problems with 3rd party inks. The article was based on scientific research (at least as far as the light sensitivity) and if you read the article you would see that it was very fair in all matters. Simply saying that the article is from PCWorld and thusly "paid off" is simply. . . .unfounded.

The fact of the matter is that 3rd party ink is not the same ink--almost always alchohol based since it is cheaper. They do none of the research that the OEMs do which results in a completely inferior product, so they can sell it for much less. It costs HP millions of dollars per new ink system they create--do you think that 123inkjets does the same? Haha. The original HP ink for instance, is packaged in a room cleaner than that of processor manufacturers such as Intel or AMD--do the 3rd parties do the same? LOL. And the print heads that are built into the cartridges are built for only so many head passes--if you go over that amount by refilling or buying refilled third party cartridges you will ruin the print head and in the process get horrible prints and more than likely permanent clogging. Try using 3rd party ink in an Epson say, and because of thier permanent print head which is microns thick, smaller than a piece of your hair, you try to push through generic ink that is only slightly larger and you ruin the print head. You can most certainly do what you want regarding ink--but to say that 3rd party ink is even comparable to OEM ink is completely laughable.

[CRFSaver]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

The other thing no one has looked at is what you are using the printer for. If its just to print out a coupon here and there, or something to read, its not like you need a high quality printer or ink. Are you sending resumes? Well maybe you want to spend a little more and get a better laser printer and the better ink.

Picture printers? For the few that I would print out I find its cheaper to take it to Sams or Costco or send it to Snapfish. Sam's Club lets you upload your pictures and charges 11 cents a print. Snapfish charges 12 cents a print and I am not sure the costs at some of those Kiosks.

Given the cost of printer, paper and ink I dont see how it would be cost affective to do a photo printer at home (I could be way off base here, let me know if I am).

Of course I jsut print stuff off at work if I really need it.

[BCompDude]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

The other thing no one has looked at is what you are using the printer for. If its just to print out a coupon here and there, or something to read, its not like you need a high quality printer or ink. Are you sending resumes? Well maybe you want to spend a little more and get a better laser printer and the better ink.

Picture printers? For the few that I would print out I find its cheaper to take it to Sams or Costco or send it to Snapfish. Sam's Club lets you upload your pictures and charges 11 cents a print. Snapfish charges 12 cents a print and I am not sure the costs at some of those Kiosks.

Given the cost of printer, paper and ink I dont see how it would be cost affective to do a photo printer at home (I could be way off base here, let me know if I am).

Of course I jsut print stuff off at work if I really need it.

You bring up good points. I would still caution against using 3rd party ink (regardless of purpose) in any printer with a built-in permanent print head as if you clog the print head because of using cheap ink, you have to buy a new printer--not cost effective at all. If the printer uses replaceable print heads such as Lexmark or HP, your response is very valid--if you simply print unimportant stuff like coupons etc. cheap ink is ok. Although the cost per page--which is really the whole point in this discussion--may not be cheaper at all as you almost always get significantly more prints from an OEM cartridge compared to a 3rd party cartridge. The reason for that is the type of ink used, as previously menitoned most 3rd party ink is highly alcohol based whereas HP and other manufacturers inks are based on a significantly thicker substance, much thicker and thusly produces many more prints per ml as the printer does not have to spray as much ink onto the paper to produce the same result.

Regarding photo printers I print mostly large prints such as 13x19 prints and in my scenario it is MUCH cheaper for me to print those pictures at home than to have them done professionally. There is also the convenience factor of having the pictures NOW rather than later when you have time to run to Sams Club etc. Many of the smaller portable printers have ink/paper packs that can cost around 20-25 cents depending on place of purchase. If you don't print a lot of photos it is worthwhile to many people to pay a few extra cents for the NOW factor and saving gas .

[claricem75]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

Exactly, I just bought the Cannon I860 and love it. It has four different inks (two black, one cyan, and one magenta), and you only replace what runs out. The ink usually runs for $10 each. I gave up on the Lexmark ones. The ink was actually more expensive than the printer. Crazy!!

Clarice

Because that is how they make their money--its off the ink, not the printer. The printer is a 1 time purchase. They only get 1 time to make money off that printer. But the ink, you will buy the ink for as long as you have the printer. Giving the time after time to make money off of you.

[karie]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

Hi~

I usually buy my ink online, but I really needed to print something out yesterday. Went to Walmart and they were discontinuing the brand I needed. Went to a place in my small town that has chep ink, they were closed. I had to pay $59.89 at Radio Shack! I bought both colored ink and black ink. What A RIP OFF! Next time, I wil not run out from my online supply!

~Karie

[cicy33]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

I usually pay about that for HP black and color, maybe a little less. I always try to it with a coupon from staples though!

[sunnysamantha]

Re: Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

You can use the generic brand ink at a fraction of the cost. I have several different places that I am affiliated with. I mostly buy from 123inkjets which has great deals.

Good luck!

I'm glad someone mentioned them, I use 123inkjets as well and found them to be the best source. Of course you have to buy in advance or you'll be stuck when the ink runs out!