there your problem right there - you're using a printer made out of salt
in all seriousness, though, yes, printer cartridges are a RACKET. big time.
there your problem right there - you're using a printer made out of salt
in all seriousness, though, yes, printer cartridges are a RACKET. big time.
Why is that?
I haven't had any bad luck buying cheapie carts from Fry's for a Canon BJC-600 (years ago) and more recently, my HP 930c. Well, to be fair, I noticed the Canon knock-off carts produced somewhat less vibrant colors than the Canon originals I had purchased from Sam's Club (you could notice just by looking at the dye through the clear carts). Other than that, they seemed like a good deal for anywhere from 1/3-1/2 the price per ml of the originals.
...or maybe you mean the refill kits/i]?
If you're referring to the article, they didn't.
What this article fails to mention is that there are two warnings - One that occurs when ink level is "low," the other when ink is "empty."
Quoting from the article:
"Epson cartridges contain a chip that stop them working when ink runs low."
Then they go on to say:
"But, after bypassing this system..."
You don't need to bypass any system. The ink level says "Low," you keep printing, and eventually you run out. It's not hard to understand.
I find it interesting this article singles out Epson, because the 3rd party tests I've seen consistently show Epson leading the way in price per page for both business and photo printing with their current line of printers.
Epson also lists the approximate number of pages the ink cartridge can print before running dry right on THE BOX, and on their in-store tear pads, and on the spec-sheets you can peruse at their website.
Once again, I quote:
"Black ink (T032120) yield - 1240 pages text (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern)."
What does that mean? It means on draft mode, printing out a INDUSTRY standard printout, you are supposed to get 1240 pages worth.
This is interesting, considering what is later stated in the article,
"The OFT has recommended that action be taken to develop a benchmark for ink cartridge measurement within the next year."
As far as I can tell, we already have that. We have existing industry standard printout specifications which are used to determine both pages per minute and how many printouts a cartridge can print before running dry.
If this article should be condemning ANYTHING, they should be coming down on the PC Magazine reviewers who do nothing to bring this information to the consumer in a timely fashion. I also have yet to see a review of a printer in which the journalist attempts to verify the results published by the manufacturer.
I place the blame not on the companies, because face it - They're out to make a buck.
The reviewing industry, however, is also out to make a buck - But they're supposed to be making it by helping the consumer make the best choice with respect to a product they're looking at. They have NOT been earning their paycheck, IMO.
The markup on ink is weird. I don't know how much the manufacturers mark it up, but a friend told me the prices in Best Buy. The average ink for an HP is maybe $30-34, and with his discount it comes to something like $25. Those USB cables on the other hand will make you throw up. They sell gold plated ones for $35 and employees pay around $5.
Thats business though, certain things are marked up to compensate for others. Like many people have said, printers themselves companies make very little, if not lose money. Same goes for video game consoles, destop computers and laptops (retail that is). The list goes on and on. I can understand the way they have it now since people would rather pay a low initial cost and pay a moderate "upkeep" payment every so often. They could reverse the whole situation, but more people would rather pay the $200 for a printer and $20-30 for ink then pay $400 for a printer and $10 for ink. Remember, retailers have to make money on the deal as well. I remember reading about the markup on sneakers a while back, and its something like $10 out of the factory then $30 after shipping, $50 when it gets to the retailer and $100+ when its put on the shelves.
Thats business though, certain things are marked up to compensate for others. Like many people have said, printers themselves companies make very little, if not lose money. Same goes for video game consoles, destop computers and laptops (retail that is). The list goes on and on. I can understand the way they have it now since people would rather pay a low initial cost and pay a moderate "upkeep" payment every so often. They could reverse the whole situation, but more people would rather pay the $200 for a printer and $20-30 for ink then pay $400 for a printer and $10 for ink. Remember, retailers have to make money on the deal as well. I remember reading about the markup on sneakers a while back, and its something like $10 out of the factory then $30 after shipping, $50 when it gets to the retailer and $100+ when its put on the shelves.
Buy a Canon inkjet that takes BCI-3 or BCI-6 cartridges and either...
i850 or i950
1. Buy Generics (megatoners.com) etc. (look for ISO certified.)
2. refill (I've filled the same cartridge over 100 times)
3. get a continuous feed mechanism for the Canon.
If you have a HP you might as well sell it. Epson isn't much better for refilling and in some cases you need a chipsetter.
4. Lasers are good for text. BETTER KEEP THE SUCKA' IN A LOW HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENT OR THE TONER WILL GUM UP.
i850 or i950
1. Buy Generics (megatoners.com) etc. (look for ISO certified.)
2. refill (I've filled the same cartridge over 100 times)
3. get a continuous feed mechanism for the Canon.
If you have a HP you might as well sell it. Epson isn't much better for refilling and in some cases you need a chipsetter.
4. Lasers are good for text. BETTER KEEP THE SUCKA' IN A LOW HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENT OR THE TONER WILL GUM UP.
RE:"Actually, those ink refills will void your warranty."
Not nessarily true. Only if it's related to something to do with the cartridge. If the PS goes or the belt, etc...no affected.
Inkjets are pretty much a throw away item in a year or two anyway. If you are worried, get an extended warranty.
Not nessarily true. Only if it's related to something to do with the cartridge. If the PS goes or the belt, etc...no affected.
Inkjets are pretty much a throw away item in a year or two anyway. If you are worried, get an extended warranty.
RE:"What does an entry level color laser printer sell for these days?"
About $700 but wait till you have to replace the toner$
About $700 but wait till you have to replace the toner$
Freejack2
Diamond Member
- Dec 31, 2000
- 7,751
- 8
- 91
I wouldn't use refurb cartridges on a printer that has permanent heads like an Epson. Get the wrong ink and your printheads have seen their last days. For printers like my HP that I replace the heads every time I put a cartridge in the refurbs are great. I but 41ml black refurb ink cartidges for about $16 a cartridge and they last quite a long time.
New printers come with "starter cartridges"
The cartridge is only half full so you pay them for replacement cartridges sooner.
Cartridge is full sized... they just fill them halfway. It may not be true with the Canon's, but when I was selling HP's and Epsons it was true for both companies (last year)
Color lasers also are repulsive for photos.
Any dye-sub printer under $500 is not going to be able to offer the same color gamut as a 6-color inkjet system.
And knock-off inks do not give you nearly the same quality on all paper types as the manufacturer ink.
Fact. I have tried them.
Fact. They failed.
Fact. I'm a graphics designer, and my eyes can tell the difference.
You people make me laugh - Ink has ALWAYS been expensive - Isn't it enough that the $100 printer you bought yesterday prints scads better than a $500 professional model from 2 years ago?
The cost of consumables is always high. Gas, propane, oil - These types of products maintain a steady value, or often fluctuate. Ink is no different - It gets used, and it will always be more expensive for the manufacturer's ink than knockoffs. But in every case, it's worth the money if quality matters one lick to you. Stop whining and deal, otherwise, don't buy a printer.
i have a few things to add. When i bough tmy printer i bought the extended Compusa warrenty so i can use the ink refills without caring about what HP says. also i talked to a guy who ships RMA things froma major retailer and he says HP's go back the most
also if you are going to do high volume printing buy a laser they are pretty inexpensive for a base b&w
also if you are going to do high volume printing buy a laser they are pretty inexpensive for a base b&w
0roo0roo
No Lifer
- Sep 21, 2002
- 64,795
- 84
- 91
About $700 but wait till you have to replace the toner$
true, but for most apps, people only need black and white. and laser just rapes inkjet in terms of print quality. darker text, clearer text, no fuzziness from ink absorbing into paper, no having to buy super bright white specially absorbant inkjet paper to help makeup for its text etc. and toner carts? the price per page is what matters, not the price of each change. a laser cart costs more, but it lasts quite a bit longer, thats why. generally the cost per page is less, and wonderful on any pos paper.
you can get a decent samsung these days for 90-150bux.
if you want color, esp photocolor, there is no cheaping out on inkjets. its all proprietary, so for best results you have to use the special paper/ink from the same manufacturer.
only way to sorta save money at all is to get a printer that has truely separate carts for each color. canon and hp have some.
as for 3rd party toner... why would it be a problem iwth most monochrome printers? only one cart, and the drum is part of the cart, it seems pretty self contained.
true, but for most apps, people only need black and white. and laser just rapes inkjet in terms of print quality. darker text, clearer text, no fuzziness from ink absorbing into paper, no having to buy super bright white specially absorbant inkjet paper to help makeup for its text etc. and toner carts? the price per page is what matters, not the price of each change. a laser cart costs more, but it lasts quite a bit longer, thats why. generally the cost per page is less, and wonderful on any pos paper.
you can get a decent samsung these days for 90-150bux.
if you want color, esp photocolor, there is no cheaping out on inkjets. its all proprietary, so for best results you have to use the special paper/ink from the same manufacturer.
only way to sorta save money at all is to get a printer that has truely separate carts for each color. canon and hp have some.
as for 3rd party toner... why would it be a problem iwth most monochrome printers? only one cart, and the drum is part of the cart, it seems pretty self contained.
I bought a hp Larejet 1000 about 2 weeks ago to print out resumes and cover letters on.
I have been veryinpressed with the print quality.
I have an older epson 740 that I bought on clearence and I have used generic ink but it didn't look as good as the OEM. I used to buy the OEM at sam's where they were 25 buck each in a two pack.
Now I just get them at walmart for about 29 - 10% employee discount.
I really like having both. The epson still prints nice so for color it is the printer. But the lower cost of laser made me make the switch.
there have been deals all over for the entry level 1000's
I paid 127 and got a forty dollar girf vard @ office depot. The laser's from HP do not come with a "starter cartridge" they have the full blown deal. The only thing I don't like about it is that it only has a USB connector. I would have preffered a printer port so I could buy a cheap print server. But all in all it's a nice little setup.
I have been veryinpressed with the print quality.
I have an older epson 740 that I bought on clearence and I have used generic ink but it didn't look as good as the OEM. I used to buy the OEM at sam's where they were 25 buck each in a two pack.
Now I just get them at walmart for about 29 - 10% employee discount.
I really like having both. The epson still prints nice so for color it is the printer. But the lower cost of laser made me make the switch.
there have been deals all over for the entry level 1000's
I paid 127 and got a forty dollar girf vard @ office depot. The laser's from HP do not come with a "starter cartridge" they have the full blown deal. The only thing I don't like about it is that it only has a USB connector. I would have preffered a printer port so I could buy a cheap print server. But all in all it's a nice little setup.
I have purchased remanufactured Lexmark cartridges from two different sources and they are the suck. The print heads dry up and require manual cleaning if the printer sits longer than three or four days without use. The output is inferior on both text and graphics, even with the better quality 360+dpi inkjet paper.
Right now, I have one of the reman black cartridges installed with a Lexmark color cartridge. I can let the printer sit for a month and the Lexmark cartridge always prints, I have to remove the reman black cartridge and 'coax' the ink out by cleaning the print heads with a damp paper towel.
My mother, however, doesn't really care that the output isn't quite as crisp and clean as the Lexmark. She prefers the cheaper one, but then she'd drive 20 miles out of her way to save 50 cents on a loaf of bread, too.
Right now, I have one of the reman black cartridges installed with a Lexmark color cartridge. I can let the printer sit for a month and the Lexmark cartridge always prints, I have to remove the reman black cartridge and 'coax' the ink out by cleaning the print heads with a damp paper towel.
My mother, however, doesn't really care that the output isn't quite as crisp and clean as the Lexmark. She prefers the cheaper one, but then she'd drive 20 miles out of her way to save 50 cents on a loaf of bread, too.
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