Can I get a cheaper injet printer to run?

mr_fishbulb

I got a free Canon Pixma ip4200 printer of someone who didn't need it.

It's a great printer for someone who wants to print out high-quality photos but I only really use it for letters and colour websites and maps. It's costing me a fortune to run as it uses 5 cartridges totalling around £50 for a set.

There aren't compatible cartridges available and the Canon ones have a chip which knows how many pages it should cover and if you refill using other inks, it knows it has done more pages. It then disables the low-ink warning and voids the warranty.

Does anyone know of a colour inkjet which would suit my needs and is cheap to run? Thanks

fwor

I'm in exactly the same position - owning a Canon Pixma which produces great quality prints, but Canon have jacked the cartridge prices so much that I would not recommend anyone else buying one.

As you say, £50 is a ridiculous price for a set of tiny carts (mine takes the same as yours does).

You ~can~ now get compatible chipped cartridges which mean you don't have to disable ink level monitoring. Basmic pointed out this company a couple of days ago:

http://www.inkcycle.co.uk/inkjet_cartridges.php?cPath=264

However, it still comes to £30 a set for "remanufactured". Probably cheaper to go to your local refilling shop, as they should all have the gadget to reset the chip on your empty one.

From what I can recall of the last Which? article, Epson are probably the cheapest to run now (IIRC they shared first place before Canon's massive price hikes), and I think Kodak are also not so manically expensive either.

tim.robson

It is Cannon's strategy to gain profit from cartridges. Many other companies are doing the same, like HP, EPSON.

thanks.

cajef

http://www.refreshcartridges.co.uk/canon-pixma-ip4200-c-22_451_1485.html

fwor

Thanks cajef - under £4 each isn't too bad, though I don't know what the postage charges are like (you have to register to checkout).

tim.robson wrote: »

It is Cannon's strategy to gain profit from cartridges. Many other companies are doing the same, like HP, EPSON.

It's been true for many years - they all subsidise the initial printer cost to a degree. But my main problem with Canon is the fact that their ink cartridges are getting smaller, and they have upped their prices by around 40% in the last year or so.

Personally, I would like the EU Commissioner for Competition to investigate the anti-competitive practices of printer and laptop makers putting chips in cartridges and battery packs - not because I dislike the corporate greed, but because people are throwing away perfectly good printers because it's cheaper to buy a new one than to replace the carts.

Unfortunately, her staff seem to be happy to waste their time chasing MS $s instead of doing things that actually help consumers...

dkpoole

I've been refilling my Canon IP 4200 cartridges for nearly 3 years without any problems
Just refill before the ink chamber is empty so that the sponge doesn't dry out
You will loose the ink monitoring warnings so you have to manually check the levels - but the cartridges are translucent so it's easy to see the ink level
I use a R46 Jettec refill kit - it's supposed to be for Canon printers - costs about £9 for 30ml of ink x 4 colours
Can be a bit messy the first few times you refill until you get used to the technique

eyeinthesky

Take a look here, http://www.discworlduk.co.uk/Canon-Ink-p-1-c-307.html my recent order, delivered saturday, had free delivery.

fiddiwebb

I got a Pixma IP 4000 a few years back and have always used compatible cartridges which normally cost between £7-£10 a set.

Have used it for printing documents, photo and cd/dvd disc printing with excellent results.

cajef

fwor wrote: »

Thanks cajef - under £4 each isn't too bad, though I don't know what the postage charges are like (you have to register to checkout).

Scroll down to the bottom of the page 'Free Delivery'

mr_fishbulb

Thanks all. Saved a small fortune

coolagarry

I have the Canon ip4500 and cannot afford the Canon cartridges. Even the compatables are a bit on the pricey side.
I now refill them using 'Jettec' refill ink. The instructions leaflet is fairly clear and its a breeze to fill them now that I have the knack. My first attempt got me covered in ink so put down plenty of newspaper the first time you try it.

Initially the printer keeps telling me I am out of ink but I ignore the messages and eventually they go away.