The little printer is less than $30.00 and the DAMN ink cartridges cost

[mfcorey1]

$59.00. Just had to rant about the way the consumer is cheated.

[Hekate]

1. That is a very very old merchandising ploy for consumable products.

Hubby often refers to razor blades -- says a century ago the shaver to hold them, though more expensive to manufacture, was sold very cheaply. The profit was all in the blades, which had to be thrown away after x many uses.

The most recent computer printer I bought was actually bundled with the computer and practically free. But oh, those replacement cartridges!

[jehop61]

2. I found

looking on line, that there are many bootleg cartridges that work just fine. Last time, printer company wanted $80 for a set. Googled and bought a new set for $15! Check it out.

[GP6971]

6. The thing I would look out

Last edited Sat Jul 30, 2016, 11:25 PM - Edit history (1)

for is if non-OEM cartridges would void any warranties.

[ThoughtCriminal]

25. Not too worried about the warranty on a $30 printer

as long as it doesn't explode.

[GP6971]

39. I agree

For $30, it's not worth the worry. Get in the couple of hundred $$ range and then I would have to consider it.

[tblue37]

46. The cartridges used to be refillable, but the manufacturers took care of that little oversight. nt

[TheBlackAdder]

48. The printers generally remember the last 3 cartridge serial numbers used, so rotation is needed.

.


Depending on the model of printer, there are various schemes involved.

Luckily, there are a lot of inventive people who have figured out ways around them.

Search on-line for the tricks for your particular model printer, there are YouTube, Instructables, CNET, and other videos.


.

[tblue37]

50. Thanks. nt

[TheBlackAdder]

49. When IBM has Lexmark, they made sure their laser cartridges were not toxic. Not sure about clones.

[Ilsa]

3. Look for a local shop that will take

And refill your old cartridges. The price difference was incredible.

[tblue37]

47. Newer printers take non refillable cartridges. nt

[brooklynite]

56. My printer is less than a year old; I've neber had a problem buying third party cartridges.

[shenmue]

4. Yep

[Lemonwurst]

5. Of all, we found Epson cheapest

We've had an Epson WiFi printer for many years and the Epson cartridges last a really long time. That ends up making the overall costs lower. Big difference from the HP printer we had before.

[relayerbob]

7. Not cheating

Most of the electronics are in the print heads these days. The printer is just a paperfeeder

[Thor_MN]

68. Um, no.

Only the electronics that spit ink are in the print cartridge. The electronics that move the paper, move the print cartridge, and tell the print cartridge when to spit ink are in the printer. If you doubt that, take a printer apart and see how much circuitry exists in the printer vs. the ink cartridge.

[SwissTony]

8. Be careful with replacement cartridges.

I had a decent printer (HP) and originally used HP cartridges. Then I saw an advert for cheaper cartridges here in The Netherlands, bought some and they were fine. Then I saw some cartridges advertised on Amazon.de (Germany) and bought some of those. My printer wouldn't print. I rang up my local repair place (they're very good) and told them what had happened. They weren't really interested. They said I should get some original cartridges and try to "flush out" the rubbish and if that didn't work, get a new printer. But they obviously thought I'd be wasting my money sending it to them.

So, I bought a new printer. I don't do heaps of printing, but I only use company recommended cartridges - not even the substitutes that worked.

[PoliticAverse]

9. If you mainly print black and white documents get a low cost (< $100) laser printer. n/t

[Rex]

10. Lemme guess, a Lexmark?

[TheBlackAdder]

40. The black cartridges on my Pro905 cost $5 for an XL. **Disable color printing, Watch out w/lasers!**

Last edited Sun Jul 31, 2016, 12:15 PM - Edit history (1)

.


When you print, your printer defaults to using all colors, even when printing black, so you slowly burn through them.

Even if you set the printer to print in black, your PC software will override it, so you have to disable it in 2 places.

===

If you get a newer printer, get a Brother or one that has separate cartridges, not the integrated single color ones. This way, if you burn through a color, you don't have to throw out half of the other unused ink colors. The Pro905 has separate color cartridges too, but it's now a relic. TomsHardware, CNET, ComputerShopper all do cheapest cartridge tests.

===

The real ripoff is with color laser printers.

When you have a corporate HP printer account, HP has the toner cartridges set to print until the cartridge is completely dumped. When streaks appear, remove the cartridge and give it a shake to distribute the toner evenly and you'll be good to go for some more. Years ago, you used to run the cartridges out on non-contract laser printers, but not anymore.

Who gets effed are the residential and small business laser users, without a corporate contract. Each of the cartridges, just like with little inkjets, have chips in them that record the click charges. It's not how much ink in in the cartridge or if it is empty, but how many times the cartridge was referenced. This, again, is where you get burned when printing in B&W with the "Use all colors" setting enabled.

Just one pixel counts as a click charge against the cartridge... but what's worse is that is also counts as a drum charge... the really expensive thing.

If you print using only black, you'll get 2 drum charges. If you are printing anything in color, the yellow will automatically gets used as part of a government micro-tracking system built into almost every color laser printer to identify the printer that printed the document... hence, the owner since they are registered and tracked online by the vendor. This is to track people printing money or threatening letters, etc..

If you print a Black + CYM document, you get 1 drum charge and you will get one for each color used: B, C, Y & M. That's 5 click charges against the drum for a full color page. There are issues with the way HP and other vendors charge the clicks (before the software disables the not empty ink cartridge). That's right, you could print 1,000 sheets with one pixel on them and it will count as just as much as 1,000 sheets of full color. It's a SWAG. Most people don't really print using that much color so many times people will complain that they can feel the toner in the cartridge, but the printer says it is empty and will not use it. The contract printers have this chip limitation removed, but non-contract owners have it enabled. To get around this, you'll see on eBay and other places people selling replacement chips, that you remove from your toner cartridge and replace with these new ones, so you can continue printing on the 75% full cartridge that was flagged as empty by the software.


.

[GummyBearz]

11. Good thing the consumer is doing so well. You should easily be able to afford $59 ink cartridges

This economy is a rocket ship and everyone is on it... to the moon!!

[Lee-Lee]

12. Always check the cost of cartridges or toner when choosing a printer

It's common for manufacturers to sell printers at a loss and make up for it on selling proprietary ink or toner cartridges.

They assume people won't do a little homework and be educated consumers, so don't fall for it.

[Major Nikon]

37. I would add always check the cost of printing per sheet

The cost of cartridges can also be misleading because some produce many more pages than others.

[applegrove]

13. That is why they sell the printer at a loss. To make money on the ink.

If you save your old ink cartridges you can take them to a kiosk in the mall and pay much less to have them refilled. But you have to have a cartridge left in your printer so when you switch them their is little time the printer is empty of ink. That way the electronics work on the reused cartridge.

[rjsquirrel]

14. It's why they paractically give away inkjet printers

[applegrove]

17. I have had two printers in the last 3 years both of which were not to

expensive, both of which had paper feeders that did not work. I think I managed to print 5 pieces of paper in the three years. Man those cheap printers are garbage. I've since bought a Lazer printer with my income tax refund and am sure it will work because it is a quality brand. Be warned. If I could get my old printer back, the one I gave up because it did not have a scanner on it, I would. Forget the bells and whistles on those cheap printers. Just don't buy them. Get something of quality.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. Huh! That's a new tip to me-- the keeping cartridges in the printer part.

[applegrove]

18. I was told that there is a code on those cartridges that changes when they have been

used. So you quickly change one for another and the code still works on the refurbished one. I can't remember who told me that. Probably someone at the kiosks.

[LiberalFighter]

16. For consumers that don't research that is what will happen.

I researched years ago and came to the conclusion that a laser printer was cheaper than an ink jet. I think I paid about $80 for the toner probably a couple of years ago. It will print about 2500 pages without worrying about jets clogging up. My cost is about 3 cents a page. It would be higher now because cartridge cost has gone up.

Ink Jet appear to cost about 20 cents a page. There is also the time factor of how often they need to be replaced which would be more often than laser. And how often the printer needs to be replaced because it can't be fixed due to nozzles clogging up.

Some of this may have changed.

[Statistical]

19. Best advice I ever got was ... buy an entry level laser printer.

Sure the printer isn't $30 and yes it is black and white (unless you want to really splurge for color laser) but a toner cartridge lasts for ten thousands of pages (in comparison a ream of paper is usually 500 pages so we are talking about 20 reams of paper). Honestly I can't remember how many years ago it was (5? 6?) that I last replaced the toner.

[csziggy]

29. If you need to print a lot of black & white, get a refurbished laser

I bought my Brother laser printer from the Brother website. Refurbished, what was originally a $300 printer cost $150 delivered. I print a lot of stuff so it is a professional grade printer. I've printed multiple copies of several family books out of it, about 200 pages per book. The Brother printer duplexes (prints front and back of the pages in one operation) which has come in handy for a lot of the printing I do.

That said, my original laser was a cheap HP - $70. I bought it in 2008, printed hundreds of pages of walk sheets for my campaign team. While that one still works, it has trouble with the paper feed. The little rollers get polished and just don't push the paper through very well. My husband uses it since he doesn't print very often.

[jmowreader]

61. Go to a printing plant with a little bottle

See if they'll sell or give to you a little bit of rubber rejuvenator. (In the old days I would have sent you to an office supply store for typewriter platen cleaner. Same shit, different barrel.) Use this product to deglaze all the rollers in your printer AFTER you've taken the printer outside. Your printer, once the very nasty cleaner evaporates, will be good as new.

[csziggy]

62. No printing companies left here

But the local crappy newspaper which wouldn't give anything away. The printer is working well enough to keep my husband happy. If he needs something more than a page printed, he puts it on a thumb drive and uses sneaker net to bring it to me so I can print it.

Of course right now that won't work - my USB ports are crapping out. I need to drag the computer out from under the desk and check the connections. I had a problem a few months back and whatever it was the connection had worked loose and just needed to be re-seated. I'm hoping that is all that is wrong with the USB.

[jmowreader]

64. Try rubbing alcohol, then

You don't want to use alcohol on rubber ALL the time, but every once in a while is okay.

[csziggy]

65. What about denatured alcohol?

I'm nit sure I have any rubbing alcohol left but I do have some denatured somewhere in the house.

[jmowreader]

66. That should be fine.

[Demonaut]

20. do you think the printer cost only $30 to develop, market, package, advertise, and ship(from china/

taiwan) and leave some profit for the dealer who sold it?

Of course the money is in the ink cartridges

Like a cell phone for $99 and the fixed time you are locked in to with the service provider

[workinclasszero]

21. How about those great Gillette razors with 6 blades

I love them. Cant find anything else that gives me the same shave. Handle with one blade is about 10 bucks.
Your jaw will hit the floor when you go to buy some refills....

[awoke_in_2003]

38. I switched to double edge...

and straight razor years ago. I mainly use the DE. Blades average about 5 cents a piece when you buy them by the 100, and last around 5 shaves each. Yes, you have to learn technique, but it isn't hard, and I get a much better shave now.

[workinclasszero]

41. That's cool.

I tried them but they cut the heck out of my face.

I have a great solution to the problem now.

I grew a beard.

[awoke_in_2003]

42. Come over to the Badger and Blade forums

that is where I got everything down. The biggest mistake people make is applying pressure. Head angle is pretty easy to pick up one. We started as a shaving site, but we have all kinds of interest, for instance food, tobacco, and clothing subforums. About the only thing we lack is political discussion- that gets stamped out quick (for obvious reasons- leads to nothing but fighting). I am a Steward over there (name is oc_in_fw) if you decide to give a quick look.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/forum.php

[workinclasszero]

43. I will check that out

Thanks for the link

[awoke_in_2003]

44. No problem

Some get a little obsessive about technique, soaps, creams, brushes, etc, but they are all good guys. Jackass behavior gets you talked to by the moderators pretty quickly, and repeat performances get you canned. That makes for a pleasant group of people to hang out with.

[Separation]

45. Or ya could be like me

I only have to shave around once every two months! Being in the military it was a nice bonus not having to shave every morning.

When I got transferred from Alaska to the lower 48 a buddy drove with me the entire way. By the time we hit the border at Washington, he looked like Grizzly Adams and had nothing.

I'm not sure if it's genetics or what.

[KelleyKramer]

22. I buy them on eBay for 80% to 90% off

I get the $30 ink for about 4 bucks on ebay

They are refurbished, they work great and last about 50% longer than the expensive ones

.

[Go Vols]

23. Yep

They are still working well on my 15 yr old HP printer.

[Waldorf]

24. I bought one of those refill kits about 2 yrs. ago for my printer. Was tired of spending so much

on new ink cartridges. Think I spent $15 for all colors and those bottles are still about 3/4's full.

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. Yup. In LA, they now lock up the printer cartridges..like buying gold

[Warren DeMontague]

27. it's a well-known business model. They teach it in business school.

[BainsBane]

28. The cheaper the printer, the more expensive the ink.

[LeftyMom]

30. I've had good luck with aftermarket cartridges on Amazon or Ebay.

Also the next time you need a printer get one with 3 separate color ink cartridges, that way you don't need to replace all of your colors if you're just out of blue or something. Saves a ton in the long run.

[Thinkingabout]

31. I checked cartridges price before making my selection.

[Loki Liesmith]

32. Startup idea: Dollar Ink Club

[Lancero]

33. Per liter, printer ink is one of the most expensive liquids in the world.

[davidn3600]

34. Yeah that happens.

[grubbs]

35. Do you even need a printer ?

I have been saving docs on flash drives and cells for ages. Let the people who want hard copies use the ink. 60 percent of the time, it works all the time.

[redstateblues]

36. Plus the cartridge that comes with it lasts about 3 days

[Paper Roses]

51. I wonder if your PSC is HP #2541?

When I switched to Win 7 & from XP, my old PSC(HP # F4180) would not install. Just that day, I got a flyer from WalMart with a "special". Wireless PSC, I think it was $29.95 or thereabouts. OK, I Bought it: HP wireless PSC # 2451, what a piece of junk. When I get the-out of ink-notice, I will throw this thing out.

Sometimes then we try out best to save a few dollars, the net result is that we lose.
My old PSC sits in the corner and is used as a copier. The new one makes me cringe whenever I have to use it. It is wireless, holds only a few sheets of paper and is close to worthless.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

52. Buy an old HP LaserJet, keep it forever

I have an old HP LaserJet 2300, I buy a $40 cartridge for it every three years.

[Orrex]

53. Buy a new printer and donate the old one, repeat as often as needed.

Cheaper for you, and someone else gets a printer.

[MichMan]

55. So screw over someone else ???

So in other words, stiff someone else (probably low income) who is buying a used printer (without ink) to save a few $$ only to find out themselves how expensive the ink is !

I imagine you will also make sure to deduct the "donation" fro your taxes, right?

[Orrex]

57. Yes. And include a note telling them to stuff the printer up their input port.

Find out where they live and then hire someone to carve unflattering caricatures into the bark of all the trees on their property.


You give the impression that you've eaten way too much cheese.

[MichMan]

60. Seems like a lot of waste

Last edited Mon Aug 1, 2016, 08:35 PM - Edit history (1)

Buying a new printer when you need the ink refilled and dumping the old one seems very environmental unfriendly to me. While you call it a donation, whoever ends up with your old" one still needs to buy the same ink you refused to in order to use it.

[Doodley]

54. We've got through four Epson inkjet printers in six years. Now have a brother Laser printer.

Ink never dries up, never jams, always works. Too many issues with the inkjets.

[SticksnStones]

58. Have you looked into continuous ink supply systems?

I modified my HP photosmart 6510 and it works just fine.

http://www.cisinks.com/?gclid=CLWItZ6PoM4CFUEkhgodQxsJpg

Edit to add overview video:

[Odin2005]

59. Inkjet printers are one huge scam.

The printers are sold cheaply at a loss so you become dependent on overpriced ink.

Just get a laser printer.

[MichMan]

63. I love my canon inkjets

I take a lot of sports photos and my Canon inkjets do a superb job better than the processing labs. Being able to print high quality as home from an inexpensive printer is fantastic. I only use genuine Canon inks and while the entire set of 8 ink tanks is $125, it is the cost of doing business and printing an 8X10 is still only a couple bucks including the photo paper.

[Yavin4]

67. That's why I don't own a printer.

If I need to print something, I do it at work. If I can't do it at work, then I just go to Kinkos. I've saved a ton of money this way.