Vanity: After-Market Print cartridge recommendations

Vanity | Feb. 22, 2015

[PROCON]

There are a lot of after-market printer cartridges on-line. Looking for input on buying from reputable sources.

[PROCON]

Thanks in advance.

Yes, I am logged in and my Beeber is in the stune mode, batteries charged.

[RangerM]

Depends on the printer. Some brands/models are more forgiving of aftermarket or refilled cartridges.

I’ve found HP is the least forgiving, but you can purchase factory remanufactured HP cartridges online for a decent discount.

I’ve had my best luck on sites like Buy.com or Amazon.com.

[rstrahan]

You will find that some discounters operate several websites with different names, all the same provider.

24/7 Printer Depot (I think that is the name) is one, had decent luck, but they changed their initial provider, not good any more. Just kinda pot luck.

[KarlInOhio]

I’ve been very happy with supermediastore.com for toner and ink jet cartridges along with blank CDs and DVDs. Generally I stick with the name brand ink while under warranty because the first support question always seems to be about whether I used aftermarket ink. Once the warranty is done I switch to the cheap stuff.

[TomGuy]

Inkjet?

I never had much luck with them — for home use. I didn’t print enough to keep the cartridges flowing. Once one of the nozzles clogged, it seemed to kill the whole cartridge. Even opening the clog didn’t help. Also, it seemed that, when a cartridge did run out, the new replacement would not work — the printer would not recognize it, even though it was a manufacturer brand.

About 2005, I found a b/w laser printer on a Black Friday sale - $200. I bought it. Never had a problem, except when I upgraded to Win7 64-bit. No drivers for it.

A couple of years later, I found a color laser on a Black Friday sale - $150. It still works like a charm.

==

For the cost vs usage, you might look around. B/w lasers are as low as $50 and color lasers are around $150 up.

[matthew fuller]

From your headline, I was thinking 3-D printed ammo.

[SolidRedState]

I am in the business. I do not recommend ANY aftermarket cartridges either ink or laser.

PERIOD

Sure you can save money on the cartridges. Sure they claim to have a warranty.

But the fact is you can do way more damage to your printer from just 1 faulty cartridge than you will recoup in the savings.

With that said, there are some reasons you may want to use aftermarket. (Availability of OEM cartridges stands out). But never, ever, do the refill route in ink jet cartridges.

Here are some of the things I have experienced over the years with both ink and laser...

Leaky cartridges
Poor print quality
Low yield (your cost per page almost equals OEM)
Poor fit
Printer doesn’t recognize
Printer doesn’t report low toner status
Bad color on color cartridges
Poor fill rate on print
Black is not black

Proceed at your own risk.

[Auntie Mame]

I have NEVER had any luck with laser toner refills. The problems far outweigh any cost savings. The correct new toner cartridge always outperforms, in every way, the refills unless you don’t mind muddy, streaked printouts and low volume. I highly recommend also getting the high volume cartridges.

[waynesa98]

I’ve had very good results with LDproducts.

[PROCON]

Thanks, I appreciate the input.

I don't use my Epson printer that often, so paying full price for an Epson replacement won't bankrupt me.

I was interested also in FReeper experiences with same.

[TomGuy]

So, are you suggesting that one buys a new printer every time the cartridge runs out?

==

The problem with that is that most cartridges that come with new printers (ink and laser) are not full of ink. They are only partially filled — intentionally — so one will by the high priced cartridge.

It also depends on how much one uses the printer. For home, I print maybe 2 to 3 sheets per month.

==

I did buy a piece of junk Lexmark inkjet to replace another brand that went belly-up in 2002. I printed just about 20 sheets over a period of 3 months. The printer, though new, only had a 90 day warranty. Just after the warranty expired, the printer jammed. I tried everything I knew to no avail.

I replaced it with a Minolta b/w laser. Nice little machine. Never had a problem until Win7 64-bit — no drivers.

[norwaypinesavage]

I own three Samsung ML-2510 laser printers. I’ve always refilled them with low cost cartridges from different sellers on eBay. I’ve had one out of about 20 arrive bad. They have roughly the same pages of yield as the original. The cost has been about fifteen bucks apiece compared with about 90 bucks for the OEM.

[Elderberry]

After about ten years and untold Little League flyers through my used $40.00 Laserjet4, whose toner that came with it lasted 2 years, I retired it, though it still works. I am now using a HP LJ1320 that I picked up at auction for $14.00.

[real saxophonist]

Cartridge World,if there’s one in your area.

[Balding_Eagle]

I have an older HP LaserJet 2100 and have purchased refill cartridges from eBay sellers for years. They last about a year or so. Simple black color.

I’ve only had one or two bad ones, and the seller made good each time.

[Georgia Girl 2]

You said it. I love my HP printer to death but have had the worst luck with after market cartridges. I just bite the bullet and buy the HP cartridges.

[molson209]

LOL, When our ink runs out we buy a new Printer . I have HP Deskjet 2542,in it’s box under my desk ,I’m just waiting for the older printer to empty , LOL, sad world

[Dr. Sivana]

I am in the business. I do not recommend ANY aftermarket cartridges either ink or laser.

PERIOD

I used to agree with that notion. BUT, if the printer is SO cheap that it is cheaper to risk the leaky cartridge, it might be worth it for PERSONAL use.

In my case, I bought an HP color laserjet for $199 (with starter cartridges). Light use. Replacement cartridges from HP are $240. Replacements from cheapest available on Amazon (even if you go to the same vendor, you might get a different product mailed) is $80. I gambled, got lucky. One of these times I won't be lucky. Then I get another $199 printer and I will STILL be ahead.

Odds on ink cartridges are worse.

[jaydee770]

I’ve had *very* good experiences with Ink Owl (www.inkowl.com) both in refillable cartridges, the quality of their bulk ink and with their non-refillable (compatible) cartridges. To my uncalibrated eyeballs, I can’t tell any quality difference with name-brand ink or cartridges (this is for both everyday document printing as well as photo prints on photo paper).

Over the past 5 years, I’ve had one problem with faulty chips on one set of cartridges and a simple email resulted in an a 2-day shipment of replacements, no muss, no fuss, they just made it right. Their prices are good too. I’m very pleased with them and they have *earned* this loyal customer.

[wildbill]

Printer companies use the same marketing strategy as razor companies. Sell the razors cheap and then stick it to ya on the refills.

If you are using inkjet printers, you are falling into their trap. My mother had an inkjet printer that wouldn’t print at all unless you bought all the colors when one cartridge ran out. No black no blue no nothing—and those color inkjet cartridges aren’t cheap.

Look into buying a new printer instead of color inkjet refill cartrriges. You get a warranty and can throw the other one away.

I use black laser printers and buy refill cartridges from several independent ink retailers all the time. Never had a problem and some of the cartridges can be refilled a few times with laser ink/powder. Much cheaper than the inkjet printers IMO and experience.