Printer Ink, One of the Most Expensive Liquids on the Planet

by Roger Bergstein, Stuart Computer Service, February 18, 2018

One of the most expensive liquids on the planet is Black Inkjet Printer Ink, costing up to $2700 per gallon. Almost every computer owner uses a printer, guaranteeing a steady stream of cash to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) from replacement cartridges. Additionally, a seldom used cartridge will dry out over time. Printer head cleaning uses ink as well. A market research firm states: "The industry figured out years ago that once people buy a printer they are committed to it; so you can sell the printer at or below cost knowing they will buy the cartridges". So what can you do to lower your printing cost:

• • Don't use the highest printer resolution by default. Sometimes lower resolution print output looks just the same. Experiment with the proper resolution for the documents or photos you print the most
• • If you print mainly black and white, think about using a laser printer for the black and white and an inkjet printer for color. Black and white laser printers are inexpensive, and the toner cartridges last must longer than inkjet cartridges.
• • If you are a snowbird, take the extra time before heading north to remove the inkjet cartridges and place them in a plastic bag with a drop of water inside. The moisture will prevent them from drying out over the summer
• • You might experiment with remanufactured and/or refilled cartridges, but use extreme caution as the ink may spill. You may also encounter durability issues as photos printed with refilled cartridges have been known to fade sooner that photos printed with OEM cartridges.
• • Buying ink cartridges in bulk will be cheaper than buying individually, but be aware that some manufacturers embed chips in the cartridges with an expiration date, which may negate your bulk savings if the cartridges have expired. Check if this is the case with your printer.

Personally, I use a Brother inkjet printer, and I buy new off brand cartridges from amazom.com at less than two dollars per cartridge. I have been doing this for over five years, the photos look great and do not fade, and I have not encountered any issues. The entry level Brother inkjet printer retails for $89.99 but is on sale every other week at one of the big box stores.

Use of any non OEM ink cartridges will void your warranty. However, the savings can be so significant that in the unlikely event that something does happen to your printer in the warranty period you have saved enough to buy a new one.