The question itself could be a news paper headline. I want your opinion on Hewlett Packard's brutally expensive ink cartridges. Am I the only person who thinks that HP is extorting money from owners of their crappy home/office printers by making them pay $20+ for new cartridges?? In comparison, these cartridges contain as much plastic as the average McDonald's kid's toy, except with chemicaly engineered liquid inside. The cost of prducing one cartridge can't be more than $5-10 for HP meaning their profits on each sale is at least 200%! To me that is alarming. 1) Does anybody else think this is more or less just consumer extortion? (I paid more for ink this weekend than I did for 60L of gas) 2) Can somebody recomend a cheaper solution? (I'm stuck with this HP printer for a while now so a new one isn't an optoion) Thanks
Katie W2008-03-11T21:54:40Z
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You've met the reason why inkjets are cheap: they sell them at or below cost (and bundled into computer sets for free), and make the money back on the cartridges. It's not just HP, it's all inkjets. If cost per page worries you, try laser; the cartridges cost a heck of a lot more, but they PRINT quite a heck of a lot more too, and don't dry out like ink does. If you're printing THAT much, then you may want laser anyway -- they're heavier duty printers than inkjets.
Since you say you don't want a new printer atm, though, you could look into off-brand inkjet refilling solutions. They're all funky brands nobody's ever heard of, and it voids your warranty if it clogs your printer, but it's cheaper than buying new.
I agree 101 % . I was reading an article a few months ago about how ink barons were holding the word to ransom, it is ridiculous. And especially all the crap about about using genuine manufacturers cartridges. like you say its a rip off, when i look for a printer i always ask how much the cartridges are and also look around the supermarkets for generic ones which are usually half price. I have even filled up the black cartridge using syringe and a bottle of ink for a fountain pen and it works. Your not the only one who grudges the cost of cartridges!!!
Pull out the phone book - many office supplies offer refill services - and the next time you buy a printer, check the refill prices first....(I had an HP - which is why I have a samsung laser printer now - the printer was cheaper than a couple cartridges of black, so I said "wrap it up, I'll take it!")
I agree dude. Have a hp printer myself. last time got the cartridges filled at some photo place and they didn't work. Printed all in green, red etc. Print was smeary So we're stuck with it. Consolation is that ALL printer cartridges are expensive. It's a passing technology; in 10 yrs printer cartridges will be gone.
Not all, but most Walgreens do. Most HP cartridges can be refilled. Be aware though that on HP printers the actual print head is on the cartridge, and are not meant to be used forever. They will eventually fail.