Think About The Overall Cost When Buying A Printer

Whenever hunting for a new printer the majority of people think about the cost of purchase, the functions delivered, rate of printing and the printing standard etc. It is easy to overlook probably the most important point-- the total cost of ownership.

The most significant cost connected with a printer will definitely be the cost of consumables, in particular ink/toner cartridges, indeed over the entire life of the printer these will be many times the purchase price. It is therefore vital that these are taken into consideration in the buying decision.

Manufacturer's Replacement Cartridges
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacement toner/ink is made to high specifications and certified to provide high quality results, although they are pricey. This is because the manufacturers make their profit on these rather than on the printers themselves.

In the case of laser printers the toner cartridge furnished with the printer is usually not a full version which ensures that a replacement is needed much sooner than you might expect. I have witnessed examples at the bottom end of the marketplace when the new cartridge is around the same price as the printer itself.

Once again with laser printers the smaller the printer the greater the printing costs (per page) are prone to be. This is owing to high capacity (bigger) toner cartridges that are generally available for bigger printers being more economical.

There are reviews readily available on the internet which reveal the comparative printing costs per page and it is worth studying these in advance of shaping any purchasing decision.

Third Party Consumables
It is possible to buy Compatible (or Generic) cartridges or Remanufactured cartridges for the majority of printers. The first type are new cartridges produced by third parties to match an individual printer or category of printers whilst the 2nd type are OEM cartridges which have been reconditioned and replenished.

In each instance these cost a large amount less than OEM versions. If bought from a reputable company, who works to OEM standards (and offers a warranty), these should be comparable to the originals. Using these will, in itself, not invalidate the printer manufacturer's warranty.

Having said that producers do not want you to make use of third party cartridges and some make things complicated by including chips in their cartridges which communicate with the printer.

It is as a result definitely worth considering the availability of third party cartridges prior to purchasing a printer. You may not intend to buy them initially but you may later regret not keeping this option open.

It is clear that before purchasing a printer you ought to undertake more fact-finding than you could think. It is well worthwhile doing this as two printers that look similar in the showroom can cost very different amounts over their lifetime.

Is It a Good Idea to Refill Ink Cartridges?

Given that the majority of the expense of owning an inkjet printer relates to purchasing replacement ink you are probably keen to reduce that cost. Refilling ink cartridges yourself may seem to be an easy way to accomplish this.

However is it that simple? Will you wind up damaging your printer and also maybe voiding its manufacturer's warranty? Well the printer producers most certainly would like you to think so and they do their utmost to put barriers in your way.

Looking at the warranty question - you will not void the warranty simply by using refilled cartridges but if any sort of damage is caused by them that will most likely not be covered (e.g. damaged due to ink leaking into the printer).

So should you re-fill your ink containers? Well there are a number of points to think about:

Some cartridges are easier to replenish than others and some cannot be filled up. See if reliable specialists provide a refill kit for your specific cartridge. The ink needs to be matched to the cartridge so make sure you buy from a reputable supplier.

Some containers have a chip which connects with the printer and must be reset if the container is refilled. You can buy a device to do this however it is an added expense to take account of.

Ink cartridges that incorporate the print head can only be refilled a few times but those that do not may replenished as often as necessary.

If it is cost effective to re-fill your ink cartridge the technique primarily entails;

• Making a hole in the container
• Injecting the ink
• Sealing the opening.

This does take some practice so the initial attempt may not be totally successful. You will probably make some mess and must be prepared for some problems that you can learn from. Bear in mind the following:

You must re-fill a cartridge just before it is completely empty.

Do not try and replenish it whilst it is in the printer.

Adhere to the kit instructions meticulously-- most importantly do not hurry.

Ink cartridges are not all the same, some are basically sponge filled compartments others are slightly pressurized, so don't suppose that the instructions for one can be applied to another.

In some cases re-filled cartridges will not print or stop printing whilst still containing ink. As long as you did not let the cartridge dry out this is most likely a result of improper filling allowing air in the cartridge. The secret to refilling is to do it slowly.

To recap successful refilling of ink cartridges does take some practice but can be a great way of saving money.