So, you got a great deal on your ink-jet printer, but now that it's time to replace the ink cartridges you find that they cost more than your last anniversary dinner. The ink is just some water with colored dyes in it. The cartridges are little pieces of plastic. So why does a set of ink cartridges cost more than a decent bottle of wine? And more importantly, what can you do about it?
Blame it on the business model. The major printer makers compete with each other mostly on the price of the printers hardware. They know that most consumers will base their purchasing decision on the features and cost of the printer. Most won't bother to calculate the long-term cost of ownership (i.e. the cost of ink.) So the manufacturer sells the printer cheap - maybe even at a loss! But once you've bought the printer, you'll eventually have to buy replacement ink - from the same company, of course. And that's where they make a grab for your hard-earned cash.
Yes, the big printer makers over-charge for replacement ink cartridges to get the profit they didn't get when they sold you the printer. Generally the replacement ink and toner sell for several times more than their cost of manufacture. But you don't have to play the game by their rules. You don't need resign yourself to over-paying just to keep your printer running.
So how do I avoid over-paying for printer ink?
There are a couple of solutions. First, don't buy the ink cartridges sold by the printer manufacturer. You can get compatible ink and toner cartridges from independent third party manufacturers. If you buy from a reputable dealer, the cartridges will work exactly like the brand name items and come with a money back guarantee. And you'll save as much as 50% off the regular prices. That can add up pretty fast if you do a lot of printing - especially high-quality color photos, which use up a lot of ink per print.
A second choice is to buy refilled (also known as re-manufactured) ink cartridges. Like the compatibles, these are also sold by independent manufacturers. They buy up used brand-name cartridges, clean them up, and refill them with new ink. Then they test them to ensure they will work properly. Some of the online sellers deal with both compatible and refilled ink and toner cartridges.
You can find makers and sellers online by searching on the terms "refilled ink cartridges" or "compatible ink cartridges". Include the brand name and/or model of your printer in the search to get more directly to the item you need.
You can also find a list of reputable printer ink dealers at DailyCouponPost.com, along with coupons to help you save even more. http://www.dailycouponpost.com/6/saving_money_on_printer_ink_cartridges
Karen L. Stewart writes articles and money saving tips at the http://DailyCouponPost.com The Daily Coupon Post provides thousands of money saving coupons, updated daily. Karen lives in Seattle Washington.
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