Cheap Printer Ink Cartridges – Doing Your Research

You may be amazed at the low prices of printers these days.  HP, Epson, Lexmark – they all sell printers at prices that are easy to afford.  Many stores throw in a free printer with laptop or computer purchases.  At the same time many people go crazy trying to find a cheap printer ink cartridge to replace an empty one.

Printer ink cartridges should be an inexpensive purchase; however, this is how most printer manufacturers expect to make money.  By selling their printers at a loss, they are able to grab customers very easily.  To make their money, they charge an arm and a leg for ink cartridges.

It’s nothing new or surprising – this practice has been going on for many, many years.  The ink cartridge replacement market is a $21 billion field, and with so many people buying brand name replacements, it is not likely that the likes of HP or Epson will provide cheap cartridges.  The big box stores also feature brand names more prominently, so you’re less likely to find cheap cartridges if you’re in a hurry.

The big-name vendors will insist that their ink cartridges are superior; don’t believe it.  There are many third-party ink suppliers that provide similar or better print quality as the major brand names.  Still, there are some lemons out there in the cheap ink cartridge market, so be weary and do your research.

If you are still more comfortable with brand-name ink replacements, you can still find a way to get them at a cheaper price.  Check store sales as well as various incentives to see if you can get a cheap printer ink cartridge.  There are always different options to escape the high brand name prices.