Good Printer but Low Cost Ink. Does It Exist?

Updated on October 21, 2010
M.P. asks from Orem, UT
12 answers

Hey mama's I'm wanting to get a (not to expensive) new printer that doesn't go through ink like a baby goes through it's milk. Know of any?

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

We use an Epson Workforce all in one wireless and we love it. It was under $200 but the ink is expensive.

We don't go through the ink that fast. We got the printer at Best Buy but I buy my ink at Staples.

I buy the highest grade ink which does last longer but 1 large black cartridge is $50. The package of high end colors is around $50 as well. We just keep an extra set of ink on hand.

You can get a lower grade cartridge that you go through faster around $30.

As someone else said.... the ink is where they make the $$, not the printer.

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P.B.

answers from Shreveport on

We have a Brother copy/fax machine, about 4-5 ys. old and it was under $100.00 at Walmart. I just ordered by ink recently at 123injects.com, by sister recommeded this site as she has been using them for yrs and is very satisfied. It came within 3 days. She use the compatable kind as it $aves alot. Hope this helps. Before the Brother we had a Laser Dell and was like $500.00.Lasted 4 yrs.

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K.D.

answers from Denver on

I just saw a news article recently on this, and they ranked the 3 cheapest overall for ownership based upon purchase price, ink replacement, speed of printing, and cost per page to prink both black and white and color. Really in-depth. I kind of think it was on Foxs News Channel, but can't say for sure. You might try googling it. I tried and didn't find it, but I found this.

http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the...

I found a few others, but they had even more outdated information (like buying a cartridge for $9!)

I think our cartridges are kind of expensive, but I really like the HP Photosmart series. Both us, and our family have owned several, and they've done a great job! We have the all-in-ones, and the only complaint we had was after 4 years and life on the road, the scanner on one quit. Can't complain about that, especially since it was meant to sit in an office! I'm sure dropping it out the van door had something to do with it breaking. :) GL!

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

We like our Kodak printer. The picture quality is always good, and the ink is cheap. It does run out faster, but if you figure the cost it is still way cheaper even with the time difference. And for under $100 we got one that also scans and copies, so I have been able to use it to post old photos on line and deposit checks on line. I know someone else said not to get one, but we are really really happy with ours.

C.

answers from Hartford on

Are you looking for an inkjet or laser? color or b/w? Inkjets can cost mor per page, but if you don't do lots of printing, the replacement ink costs are much less. I use laser printers. I have had samsung, brother, and hp. I like the hp the most because it is easier to find remanufactured toner or non-OEM toner which is significantly less expensive than hp toner. Also, if you are going color, make sure you buy something with seperate ink containers.
C.

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M.A.

answers from Salt Lake City on

We got a Brother HL-2170W for this exact reason. You can price it out on google products to find the cheapest seller, but ours was a good price and the toner is cheap. The customer feedback was really good, which is why we chose this printer. It's only black and white, but that's where you're going to save the money. Ink is much more expensive than toner. Color printers use color ink even when you only print in black and white. We learned that the hard way. We kept our color printer for the rare occasion we'll need it, but we almost never use it. We bought our Brother printer a year ago and we're still using the ink that the printer came with. We print things out fairly often, too. If I remember right, the cost per sheet to print was about 1 cent. We love it.

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D.M.

answers from Detroit on

Nope---they give printers away and make their money on ink. Just the way it is. My husband was told this by a person who works for one of the printer/computer companies.

Sorry :( D.

S.A.

answers from Salt Lake City on

We've got an old HP and I love it. BUT, it was a HORRIBLE pain in the wallet to get new ink. We ran out last month and I wasn't sure what to do. I looked into getting new ink and it would have cost me more $$ to buy new ink cartridges than to buy a new printer! Luckily, we now have a Costco membership & they refilled our ink for $10/ea. I'm going to keep doing that until they won't work any more and them I'm buying a new printer. Good luck!

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M.W.

answers from Boise on

We have an HP, great printer! I wouldn't go with a cheap one because they don't last long, been there done that!
I hear that you can take you empty cartridge to Costco and get it refilled for really cheap?! Look into it, I will after I use the new ones I bought.

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

Regardless of what the adds say, stay away from the Kodak printers!!! Low cost ink, but it runs out fast and the quality of the print has proven very inconsistant for us.

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A.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

HP Photosmart Plus. It prints, scans, and copies. It has wireless capabilities. I think it cost around $100 bucks when we got it last year ink is around $20 :) Keep your eyes peeled around thanksgiving- we bought ours on black friday- really great deal!! good luck!

T.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

I have a Dell, copy/fax/print. I print a lot of pictures on it and the ink lasts a pretty long time. Not cheap tho, but I order it online and it is cheaper that way.

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