Looking for an economical printer

betterbargains4u

Which mid price printer is most economical on ink and reliable.
Your thoughts please.

victor2

Depends what you want to print and how much.
I have a laserjet 1012 and it's perfect for me. Can't remember when I last replaced the toner cartridge, probably a few years ago. But I only do low volume A4 monochrome printing.

betterbargains4u

I am doing quite high volume printing as have a business on Ebay. I print mostly black...but obviously sometimes colour too.

Hadrian

Since about 2001 I have had maybe 6 or 7 printers of just about every make possible. I'm learning!! I've tried filling the damn things myself, DON'T DO THAT! I've now settled on 2 EPSON's, the R220 and R240, both 'gifts'. Long ago I stopped buying makers original cartridges as the price was exorbitant to say the least (Most printers are loss leaders) and now buy from firms like 'Print Factory etc.' My advice is to look in say a mag like ComputerActive magazine, there are a few good suppliers at the back of each bi-weekly edition. Some, there's a good one up in Dundee that I think is excellent. What ever you do refrain from manufacturers own make. One more thing, some printers have only one cartridge, avoid them (because if one colour runs out you have to buy a new one and they are generally much more expensive.) and make certain the printer has either 4 or 5 cartridges. The ones above have but they may be unavailable. Run a trial print you've made your self, say a dozen large words or so, off every week so the print head doesn't dry out. Good Luck!

santer_2

One option is an Epson SX130

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9371424/c_1/1|category_root|Office%2C+PCs+and+phones|14418968/c_2/2|14418968|Printers+and+fax+machines|14418969/Trail/searchtext%3EEPSON.htm

With 4 compatible black inks at £4:35 delivered

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Black-Ink-Cartridges-SX130-SX445W-BX305F-BX305FW-/160648018691?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_Printing_PrinterInkCatridges_JN&hash=item25675e3b03

Three compatible sets at £9:75

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Set-Ink-Cartridge-SX130-SX445W-SX420W-BX305FW-/180720477160?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_Printing_PrinterInkCatridges_JN&hash=item2a13c7a3e8

Various paper types

http://www.photopaperdirect.com/

http://www.euroffice.co.uk/g/v6l/Paper-Products/Printer-Paper/

neilwoods

What do you call mid price. Is it just A4 or do you need A3. What type of printing is it, text documents, labels, diagrams, photos. What sort of paper, just standard A4 copier paper at 80gsm or card at 260gsm.

macman

betterbargains4u wrote: »

I am doing quite high volume printing as have a business on Ebay. I print mostly black...but obviously sometimes colour too.

But what is 'high volume'? To some that is 20 sheets a day, to others it's 500+.
Over a certain volume a 4 col laser will be much more economic, though initially cost more to purchase.
If you can manage two machines, get a standard mono laser (Samsung have some good ones) for the B/W, and a basic 4 col inkjet for the colour.

betterbargains4u

neilwoods wrote: »

What do you call mid price. Is it just A4 or do you need A3. What type of printing is it, text documents, labels, diagrams, photos. What sort of paper, just standard A4 copier paper at 80gsm or card at 260gsm.

Up to about the £200 mark.
I have had an A3...Epson Stylus Photo 1290, which has recently died on me.
I am doing lots of different sorts of printing on photo paper and card.

betterbargains4u

macman wrote: »

But what is 'high volume'? To some that is 20 sheets a day, to others it's 500+.
Over a certain volume a 4 col laser will be much more economic, though initially cost more to purchase.
If you can manage two machines, get a standard mono laser (Samsung have some good ones) for the B/W, and a basic 4 col inkjet for the colour.

Some days more than others...but I would average at about 20 - 30 sheets per day.
I am looking for a good quality photo inkjet really rather than a laser...and I don't have space for 2 machines.

betterbargains4u

santer wrote: »

One option is an Epson SX130

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9371424/c_1/1|category_root|Office%2C+PCs+and+phones|14418968/c_2/2|14418968|Printers+and+fax+machines|14418969/Trail/searchtext%3EEPSON.htm

Uuuurrrgghh !!!
I have tried one of these, and they are cheap and nasty. Spent about 10 minutes trying to load just one sheet of paper...as it just keeps spitting it back out at you !!!

bengalknights

If its business use and laser printers then id recommend hp printers and xerox toners or xerox printers.