| If you run a busy office or spend a lot of time | | | | are also brand new but the box won't have the |
| printing at home, you'll find the printer ink | | | | original manufacturer’s logo. But what about |
| cartridges for your inkjet printer running dry | | | | their quality? Generally speaking, compatible printer |
| pretty often. And the first time you pop down to | | | | ink cartridges give excellent results as they're |
| your local offices supplies vendor to buy new | | | | produced to the manufacturer's standards. Of |
| cartridges, you'll get a nasty shock in the form of | | | | course they'll never be quite as good as the OEM |
| the prices for replacement cartridges. Very often | | | | product. |
| the price for a set of new black-and-white and | | | | A third option is to by remanufactured inkjet |
| colour cartridges will exceed the original price you | | | | cartridges. Unlike the first two options, these |
| paid for the printer. | | | | cartridges aren't new; they're old cartridges that |
| Welcome to the world of the loss leader where | | | | have been cleaned up and refilled. These are |
| the printer manufacturer sells the printer at cost | | | | obviously the cheapest but also the least reliable. |
| and makes his money in selling replacement | | | | Finally, if you really want to save money, you |
| cartridges. Another factor to bear in mind is that | | | | could refill your cartridges yourself. You just buy |
| new printers are usually sold with smaller ink | | | | bottles of ink and a syringe and get to work. This |
| cartridges. These are cheaper to produce and run | | | | method is by far the cheapest but has a number |
| out of ink faster both of which are good for the | | | | of drawbacks. For one thing, it's a tricky and |
| printer manufacturer's bottom line but not for | | | | messy business. But more importantly, you'll be |
| yours. So is there anything you can do? | | | | putting generic ink into your cartridges which can |
| Fortunately, yes. | | | | not only give inferior results but might even clog |
| When it comes to replacing the ink in your inkjet | | | | or damage your printer. |
| printers, you have a number of options. These | | | | So what's the best thing to do when you're |
| include buying different types of cartridge, and | | | | looking for cheap ink cartridges? It really depends |
| filling them yourself. Here's a look at the pluses | | | | on your needs and circumstances. If your |
| and minuses of each option. | | | | business demands printing of the highest quality |
| Your first option is to buy replacement cartridges | | | | and reliability, you should bite the bullet and buy |
| from the equipment manufacturer. These are also | | | | original ink cartridges. Fortunately there's a great |
| known as OEM (original equipment manufacturer) | | | | way to get the real thing at low prices - buy your |
| or original printer cartridge. Buying original printer | | | | printer cartridges online. |
| cartridges is the most straightforward method | | | | In the UK, you'll find reputable online vendors of |
| and by far the most expensive. On the plus side, | | | | printer cartridges at very competitive prices. You |
| you'll get a standard ink cartridge in a nice box | | | | can get Canon Inkjet cartridgesand HP Printer |
| bearing the manufacturer's logo and you can be | | | | Cartridges for far less than you'd pay in a shop, |
| sure it will be full of premium quality ink, for | | | | for example. Ordering online is fast, secure and |
| example HP printer ink or Canon ink. You can also | | | | easy and your cartridges will be promptly |
| be reasonably certain you'll never have a problem | | | | delivered by post. |
| with this product and the manufacturer will stand | | | | If you use your printer mainly print to print |
| behind it. But as mentioned above, you're paying a | | | | documents, then buying replacement cartridges |
| hefty premium for this. | | | | should be perfect for your needs. Again, these |
| You next option is to get what are known as | | | | are available online at far lower prices than you'd |
| compatible ink cartridges. These are produced by | | | | pay in the High Street. As for remanufactured |
| third party producers under license from the | | | | cartridges and refill kits, best avoid them and |
| printer manufacturer and to their specifications. | | | | save yourself a headache you really don’t |
| The big difference is that they're far cheaper than | | | | need. By buying online, you can get quality |
| the cartridges sold by the manufacturer. These | | | | products at the keenest prices. |