Printer Ink

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delighted99
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Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:26 am

Re: Printer Ink

Post by delighted99 »

I order directly from the company of manufacture because for quality photo prints, I can't rely on one of the budget refill kits.

That said, there are lots of budget refill options for inkjet printers on Amazon.

gaylejackson2 wrote: Mon Feb 11, 2019 3:48 am Frugal friends,

Where do you buy your printer ink? Mine is an Epson, uses 288.

Since Staples left town, well left us to go exclusively to the internet, I have a harder time remembering to buy printer ink as I run out. The only place left to town to buy off the shelf is walmart, and they dont always have good prices, Or even what I need.

Also, does Staples still offer rebates for ink cartridges turned back in? I’ll have to investigate that closer I guess.
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delighted99
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Re: Printer Ink

Post by delighted99 »

Thanks for the reminder about gray-scale. What a relevant frugal tip.
ohjodi wrote: Mon Feb 11, 2019 4:33 pm I usually order remanufactured ink cartridges online. Prices are 30% cheaper than amazon and walmart, as long as I find a free shipping deal.

I've never had any problem with them. They say using ink that is not branded to your printer will void any warranty.....so if that's a concern don't order off brand or remanufactured until your warranty runs out. My printer cost less than $30 at walmart, so I'm not concerned with the warranty.

To save on ink usage, set your printer preferences to "draft" and "grayscale" or "black and white" unless you need better quality and color.

If you don't set it to "grayscale", the printer will often use the color cartridge to print black, which uses more ink than the black cartridge, alone.

Also, I recently learned, that you should turn your printer off to save ink, instead of leaving it on all day. When you turn the printer off, by the on/off button, the cartridges slide back further in to the printer, and engage a "capping" device that covers the print heads, and helps prevent them from drying out.

Since I very rarely use my printer, I've removed the cartridges and put them in a zip-loc with the air squeezed out. Maybe it doesn't make a difference over just turning the printer off, I don't know.

I have to make it inconvenient for me to print, because I will print EVERYTHING, lol I'm a print-a-holic, so I have to really want something to bother taking my laptop to the printer in the spare room, installing cartridges, plugging everything in, etc lol
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delighted99
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Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:26 am

Re: Printer Ink

Post by delighted99 »

My BIL does just that. Buys a new printer each time rather than buy the ink. I find it very sad from an environmental standpoint but I guess they are more concerned about money.
Jackielou wrote: Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:27 am Hmmm, I will need to check into that... Right now it would be cheaper for us to buy a new printer every time we run out of ink, but then I think of the hassel of getting it set up.
ohjodi
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Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2015 3:57 pm

Re: Printer Ink

Post by ohjodi »

delighted99 wrote: Sun Feb 17, 2019 11:03 am My BIL does just that. Buys a new printer each time rather than buy the ink. I find it very sad from an environmental standpoint but I guess they are more concerned about money.
Cartridges that come with new printers may not be full cartridges. They are "starter cartridges" with much less ink than replacement cartridges.

I can't imagine going to all the trouble of buying and setting up new printers. Heck, wrestling with the packaging, alone, wouldn't be worth it to me lol
ohjodi
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