How to save money on inkjet cartridges?

cashferret

I have a Canon printer and have been buying Canon Pixma 510 cartridges from WHS at £17.95 a pop.

I usually buy them there because the shop is near me and I'm in a big panic when the last one has run out but it's time I saved some money on this!

I've just seen I could have been buying them on Amazon for £11.65 with free p&p (argh) but is there a cheaper way?

I've heard of people refilling their cartridges with some sort of generic ink but is that OK? Does it damage the printer? How do people get the stuff? And does it save much money?

Any other possibilities I should know?

warwicktiger

Try cartridge world

phill99

Why not use unbranded compatible cartridges.

I have an Epson and never use Epson cartridges. I use Tesco or Wilkinson cartridges which are half the price of the branded ones. I guess the unbranded ones would be even cheaper on line.

fwor

If it's an MP510, 7dayshop sell the set of 5 for £8.60, delivered. They are "chipped", so you don't have the problem that ink monitoring no longer works if you refill.

I've been using the same set in my MP610 for a couple of years now no problem.

cashferret

Well, having just looked a bit closer at Amazon I can see that there's a bigger size Canon black ink cartridge (the 512) that works out cheaper per ml. News to me that such things even exist! I had no idea you could buy inkjet cartridges in different sizes. Thanks for nothing, WHS.

So, already I'm down from £17.95/9ml to £15.15/15ml, which is half the price - £1/ml instead of £2/ml. Amazing.

Still seems really steep for ink, though!

In the Amazon reviews, some people are mentioning "compatible" ink cartridges as well as "refill kits". Any views?

cashferret

Wow, three replies while I was still looking at Amazon! Thanks, folks. I'm going to look at all three of those options.

Do you think it's a myth that using non-Canon inks would damage the printer?

phill99

It's not the ink that is expensive - its the actual cartridge. They are a highly engineered piece of kit.

fwor

phill99 wrote: »

It's not the ink that is expensive - its the actual cartridge. They are a highly engineered piece of kit.

The ones with a print head built in are, but not in this case. These are just plastic tanks with a few airways and a seal at the bottom to connect to the actual printhead.

In fact I wouldn't be surprised if as much R&D was spent on the chip whose sole purpose is to try to force you to use genuine cartridges as went into the whole of the rest of it.

yangptangkipperbang

cashferret wrote: »

I've heard of people refilling their cartridges with some sort of generic ink but is that OK? Does it damage the printer? How do people get the stuff? And does it save much money?

I have a Pixma IP2600. I always refill my own cartridges, I am just not prepared to pay the exorbitant prices for new cartridges every time.
Generic ink does not damage the printer, that is a scare tactic put out by the printer manufacturers. You can get it from most of the on line cartridge suppliers. Argos used to keep it - no more, I wonder why ? (Tesco also, I understand have been "persuaded" not to sell refill kits)

Eventually you may have to buy new cartridges if the heads clog up, but I find then when refilling them, if you stand the cartridge with the heads in some cleaning fluid (often comes with the ink) for a couple of minutes, they last a lot longer. I cannot remember when I last bought new cartridges !

Canon printers are particularly good for refilling

Just Google for info on your printer/cartridge refilling.


(First couple of times I suggest lots of old newspaper on the table and plenty of kitchen roll to hand !!:rotfl::rotfl:)

Alias_Omega

We have a HP printer, was over £20 for the 350XL cartridge. Paid over £4 on eBay.

Ive just had a quick peek for your printer, and it comes up from starting at £2 each for the colours, with £5 each for the chip ones.

I would pick a powerseller, with alot of feedback for your printer etc.

cashferret

fwor wrote: »

If it's an MP510, 7dayshop sell the set of 5 for £8.60, delivered. They are "chipped", so you don't have the problem that ink monitoring no longer works if you refill.

I've been using the same set in my MP610 for a couple of years now no problem.

The printer itself is a Canon Pixma MP270 and 7dayshop don't seem to do a set of chipped, compatible cartridges for it - the cheapest thing they have is a remanufactured 512 cartridge at £11.39 including delivery, which still beats the Amazon price.

Those cartridges you mention are a great deal, though - I hope someone reading this thread can use them!