Why are printers cheap and ink so expensive?

[crosses]

Our computer printer died on us and we spend the weekend looking for a new one. Computer printer prices are not very expensive, BUT the ink cartriges for them are outrageously expensive. Refilling the ink is almost the same price as buying the printer. That doesn't make sense to me because I know building a printer must be more expensive than the ink (especially since there is already ink inside the printer when you buy it). So why are the prices so distorted?

[mom-from-missouri]

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.

[PRICEPLUS]

Look for sites that sell refills. I use Laser Monks. I send my old cartridges to them as well for charitable purposes. Refills can save you scads of money.

[midnight]

They're a lot like razors. The profit isn't in the razor itself, but the razor blades so the thing that the company wants to do most is get the razor - or in this case the printer - into your hands and will sell it to you for paractically no profit to do so.

Priceplus is right - find a place that does refills and you'll save a ton of money. You can also buy refill kits, but I have never tried those before.

[Tree0164]

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!

[mom-from-missouri]

We used to refill the ones at work. But with my printer I have at home, I cant see where you would refill it at. I have a HP 2210. I takes a HP 56, 57 or 58 cartridge. Does anyone know where I would refill it at? I don't see the small hole like the ones we had at work had.
Also, can you refill the tri color or photo ones?? If so, how?

[Susapalooza]

Just bought HP56 and 57 cartridges this week and it was a sobering experience! That ink must be liquefied caviar to warrant such a knock-your-socks-off price.

[mom-from-missouri]

I get a discount at office depot and radio shack (thru my employers discount program) but they are still high. If they cant be refilled, I am wondering if the generics from some of the on line places are very good. that will be my next option to try.

[Susapalooza]

That's a great discount, Mom! When we had our former printer, an Epson, we bought some color cartridges for a rock-bottom price online. But they turned out to be of "rock-bottom" quality, unfortunately. So when the Epson heaved its last, we got this HP and have so far just bought HP ink.

But ouch! It's expensive!

[Tree0164]

I have order the generics from 123ink and 4inkjet for my HP printer and never had any problems at all. Lots of family too.

[Susapalooza]

::::making a mental note here about 123 ink and 4 inkjet::::

Thanks, Tree! Good news for us HP printer users

[BillsGirl]

isn't that like that age old question like why is there 8 hot dogs for 6 buns??? so they can make money cause they know they can!

[momma4]

check out this site http://www.printpal.com/index.html I just bought both my color and my black ink from here and they work perfect My ink is $27.99 for black and $29.99 for color everywhere else I only paid $17.85 for both of them (not each) including shipping which saved me about $40 plus they are gave me a 10% off my next purchase coupon when I got my ink. I have an Epson stylus c60

[al0061]

I'm sorry to say that I have a bad story about PrintPal ink. I had an Epson C80, and Epson ink is so expensive that I thought I'd try a discount ink. I bought some from PrintPal, put it in, and it worked like a charm.

I don't print things every day. When I printed something about a week later, the printer didn't work. I looked inside, and there was dried black ink everywhere. I mean everywhere. My beautiful, high-tech breadbox was ruined.

I had to buy a new printer, as the cost of fixing it would have been higher than the printer was worth. I now have a smaller Epson C86 breadbox...err...printer. (They do look like breadboxes to me. )

I have vowed to not try those discount inks again. That was the second printer I lost to them. (The first was years ago, a cheap Canon that I got with my first computer.)

I do have some Epson C80/C82/CX5200/CX5400 ink that I can no longer use, still in sealed boxes. Black, Cyan, Yellow and Magenta. Does anyone need these? They are serving me no purpose. I believe I paid 64 dollars for the lot from Epson, but I'll be happy to send them to anyone that needs them for the cost of postage plus, let's say, 10 bucks? (Am I allowed to offer this? If not, I'm sorry, and will rescind the offer. Feel free to edit this out if you see fit, Jeffrey.) (Do we have PM capability on this board??)

Thanks.
Torch - aka al0061

[momma4]

Oh.....thank you for the heads up I will watch to make sure it doesn't do that to me UGH I can't afford a new printer for a long time.

[mom-from-missouri]

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]

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

[momma4]

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

[niki_the_tiger]

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]

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.