Inkjet Refill Kits
From LoveToKnow Business
Inkjet refill kits can reduce operating costs for your inkjet printer. In today’s market, costs for inkjet printers have fallen to all-time lows while costs for inkjet cartridges continue to increase. In fact, some inkjet printers are so cheap, that it makes more sense to toss them out instead of going through the hassle of trying to get the thing fixed or replaced under manufacturer’s warranties. Warranty work includes high inkjet printer shipping costs to and fro. Because of these factors, many small business owners have turned to using inkjet refill kits which reduce operating costs.
Significantly Reduce Costs
Kits start at $16 at Costco and Sam’s Club, office supply retailers: Staples, Office Depot, OfficeMax, and general retailers Target and Wal-Mart. Before you invest in an inkjet refill kits, check the packaging for a list of manufacturers’ cartridges that can be refilled with it. Inkjet refill kits are not a one-size-fits-all product.
Why Manufacturers Hate Inkjet Refill Kits
Most manufacturers balk at printer owners using inkjet refill kits, claiming that they void warranties, such as they are. They also cry foul about inkjet refill kit manufacturers, claiming copyright infringement. This may change in light of recent court decisions regarding copyright claims. But what manufacturers are really concerned about is the bottom line. Replacement inkjet cartridges have a huge margin and are significant money makers. The hook being a cheap initial investment for an inkjet printer and ongoing expensive cartridge replacements. Some inkjet manufacturers embed chips in their OEM inkjet cartridges preventing refilled kit cartridges from functioning, forcing the printer owner to purchase new ones. Replacement inkjet cartridge sales is a cash cow that manufacturers want to keep alive.
How Much Can You Save?
Careful handling can extend the life of a cartridge and yield significant cost savings with three or more refills per cartridge. There is a point where the cartridge will simply not work and must be thrown away or recycled. But saving $42 by purchasing one $21 cartridge and a refill kit is a significant amount, considering that OEM cartridges never live up to advertised claims regarding printed page output.
The Downside of Refills
Use with caution. Wear latex gloves because the process is messy. Refilling requires careful handling, because it’s very easy to gum up the circuits on the inkjet cartridge body rendering it unusable. Another problem is that the cartridges can leak and gum up printer circuitry where the cartridge is inserted. Attempts to clean the circuitry usually are futile, forcing purchase of a new printer. But with inkjet printer prices so low, some just slightly above the cost of a new printer cartridge, it’s cheaper to toss the printer and replace it, since the new printer usually includes both a black and colored cartridge.
Save Your Inkjet Refill Kit Parts
Saving those little plugs that are inserted into the cartridge tops is a good idea, because each kit has a limited amount. Use any cartridge cleaner sparingly. Sometimes you can reorder the cleaner from the kit manufacturers, sometimes not.
A Final Tip
Some inkjet refill kit manufacturers use an ink that quickly dries out when exposed to air. This means you’ll have to jump-start the cartridge before each use. To do so, soak the bottom of the cartridge print head in warm water. Use a prescription pill bottle top. It works well. Use just enough water to cover the print head. If water touches the embedded cartridge circuitry, it’s toast.
How to buy a new printer is easy, depending upon matching your need for text, photos or color graphics to what’s available. Manufacturer printer technology on the low end offers nearly identical features, so cost becomes a key factor. High-end color printer choices are best based upon paper quality and how a printed page looks to you. When shopping for printers, eye manufacturer claims with a jaundiced eye. Performance specs generally run slower, and claimed page output per inkjet cartridge is far lower.
Inkjet Printers Are More Expensive To Run
Inkjet printers are the cheapest products but have the highest operating costs because of never-ending ink cartridge replacements. Inkjets are a good choice if you have an occasional need for printed pages or photos. Most inkjet printer models feature 1200 by 1200 dpi resolution. Prices range from $25-$80 with some online deals going for less than $25. All inkjet printers require the additional purchase of a USB cable for $10-$15 not included in the box.
While the initial investment for an inkjet printer is low, $15-$25 black ink or $21-$40 color cartridge replacements add up quickly. Some models have individual color cartridges that are even more expensive to replace. The cheaper the cartridge, the less ink it holds and the lower printed page output. Larger capacity cartridges containing more ink are available at slightly higher costs, with the larger amount of ink slightly reducing per page costs. Expect seven cents per page minimum.
Most inkjet cartridge manufacturers claim 300-800 page output from their cartridges, but the actual output will be far less depending upon how and what you print. Pages containing lots of graphics or text at better-best quality consume ink at a faster rate, reducing page output. Photos use even more.
Lasers Are The Better Choice For Text Applications
Prices for laser printers have been reduced and some good models are available for about the cost of a few inkjet cartridges. If your need is text, then a monochrome laser printer may be the best choice. These units run $99-$149 producing 600 by 600 dpi or 1200 by 1200 dpi resolution and page outputs of 3,000 pages per cartridge. Replacement cartridges run about $79-$150 yielding output at two to four cents per page. This is affordable and attractive if you’re a writer cranking out daily output needing review and proofreading, or if you print a great deal of information gathered online. Lasers also have the option of using a parallel or USB cable, which can be a savings if you have an old parallel cable hanging around. Check the specs on the box before you buy to make sure you have the right cable. Like inkjets, laser manufacturers don’t include cables with laser printers.
Photo Quality Depends Upon Paper Choice
Higher end inkjet printers offering better graphics output are available for about $100-$200. Most inkjets do a good job on photos. Output quality always depends upon the quality of paper you use and printer features. Higher costs don’t always guarantee better results. The best way to choose a printer for photos is to print out a page on paper you like and view the results.
Color Laser Printers Are The Most Expensive
Color lasers are expensive but remain a good choice if you’re a graphics artist professional needing good color output at 1200 by 600 to 2400 by 2400 dpi resolution, for limited runs of color brochures or other print documents. Investments start at $2,500 and quickly climb, fueled by the number of features, bells and whistles. Replacement cartridges can cost $250.
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