topic Re: Printer ink!!! in Community Chat

Printer ink!!!

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:07:03 GMT

Typically when I need something printed I use the copiers at work.... but I do need to replace the ink for my HP home printer. The cost is $92.00!!! Has any one used an 'off brand' ink in their printer?

thanks

Re: Printer ink!!!

amyb — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:14:29 GMT

Wow...that's freakin' insane! I haven't had a printer for years now...the rare occasions I have to print I'll either use bf's or library. I just never replaced my last outdated one. Don't even have a laptop (never replaced my last outdated one of that either...use my iPad for everything.)

So the last time I bought ink for a printer, albeit at least 15 years ago...it was around $30-35.00 if I'm recalling right, from Staples.

That's crazy. Hope you get some good alternative suggestions here. Everything is just so inflated now, it's annoying, really.

Re: Printer ink!!!

bmorechick — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:16:37 GMT

@Mom2Dogs I do the same thing - I typically use the office printer, but yes do need to replace the home cartridges too! I have an older HP and got tired of paying almost $100 for 2 cartridges. So I went on Amazon and found the following:

UBINKI brand- compatible with my printer (there was a list). For FOUR cartridges - 2 boxes, I paid 80$ total. They work exactly the same as the HP cartridges.

Hope you can use them for your printer...

Re: Printer ink!!!

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:20:42 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
Typically when I need something printed I use the copiers at work.... but I do need to replace the ink for my HP home printer. The cost is $92.00!!! Has any one used an 'off brand' ink in their printer?

thanks

Yes, @Mom2Dogs HP ink is expensive! We bave used generic ink in the past and it has worked fine. Be aware, though, that some printers may not accept it. And oftentimes you will void your warranty if you use it. We bought a new printer earlier this year and so far we're sticking with the HP ink.

Re: Printer ink!!!i

Maloyo — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:27:20 GMT

I used the office printer for years, but I retied 5 years ago. I've owned home printers since the late 1990s, but I've always been careful to use them sparingly.

I bought an HP printer and enrollend in their program that sends you ink when you need it. I don't print a large volume of stuff (I eventually started saving large documents as pdfs) so this works for me and isn't prohibitively expensive.

FYI; got the printer from Staples, not QVC or HSN and in 2.5 years or so since I bought it, aside from the initial shipping cartridges, I've only replaced the colors once and haven't replaced the black & white at all (although it is due to be done shortly and I have a replacement cartridge waiting). I pay a small monthly fee to be in the program and pay for cartridges when they are sent.

Re: Printer ink!!!

Dusty1 — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:33:37 GMT

@Mom2Dogs I have a Canon Pixma that I use a lot.

I was afraid to try generic ink cartridges, but it was such a savings!

I have had no problems so far.

I have used 2 different brands & both have worked great.

Re: Printer ink!!!

SilleeMee — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:46:40 GMT

When I was in need of a new printer, I went shopping for the ink first just to find affordable ink. Then after i found the ink, I looked for the printer that it matched.

Re: Printer ink!!!

ThinkingOutLoud — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:04:33 GMT

I use 'off' brands all the time and it's been fine. The computer has a pop message saying it doesn't recognize the ink but I just delete that and print away.

Re: Printer ink!!!

Janey2 — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:05:40 GMT

@SilleeMee @You are so smart.

Re: Printer ink!!!

Linda0215 — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:07:50 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
Typically when I need something printed I use the copiers at work.... but I do need to replace the ink for my HP home printer. The cost is $92.00!!! Has any one used an 'off brand' ink in their printer?

thanks

Yes. We use the off brands all the time at work. They're fine. I use them at home too and I've never had a problem,

Re: Printer ink!!!

Pecky — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:09:17 GMT

I always get my ink from Ebay from the same seller. They are genuine HP ink and much cheaper.

Re: Printer ink!!!

Kachina624 — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:14:36 GMT

A couple of times, I've found it cheaper to buy a new printer on sale (with ink) rather than buy ink for an old one.

At one time I bought and used an ink refill kit. It was not entirely satisfactory.

Pays to price the refills before buying a new printer.

Re: Printer ink!!!

FranandZoe — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:41:24 GMT

If you don't want to use an off brand check eBay for the name brand.

Re: Printer ink!!!

Tori3569 — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:51:34 GMT

I have 2 HP printers and am on the instant ink program. I pay $7.99 per month for 100 pages and they ship the correct ink before I run out. They also give the first 3 months free.

It's connected through WiFi. I can increase the number of pages when I need to for a large event. I also decrease the number of pages when I need to. I will never not be a part of this program.

Re: Printer ink!!!

rockygems123 — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:04:49 GMT

@Mom2Dogs

Always and for several different printers. Never a problem.

One printer's ink wasn't available as a generic, it was cheaper to replace the printer than the ink!

Re: Printer ink!!!

Icegoddess — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:15:13 GMT

Seems I paid in the $70 range for a full set of cartridges, so yeah, it gets expensive. I don't print that much, but it always seems like one of the cartridges is low on ink. I can buy the larger black cartridge by itself, so if I don't need a color copy, I'll often choose black, but that has to be done at the printer itself. I don't think that option is available when printing online.

My husband has the Epson printer that has tanks you refill with ink. It has fewer options, but he printed a ton of pages for both of us for a class we were taking. Juat my pages fills a large binder.

If mine died, I would probably keep it just for the scanner as long as that continued to work properly. I used it to scan all the pictures my parents had and then gave the originals with the albums to my sister.

To the OP, I've not tried off-brand ink but I may try since a poster above mentioned they used it in their Canon Pixma which is what I have.

Re: Printer ink!!!

PinkyPetunia — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:19:30 GMT

I was given a used HP Laserjet printer over 10 years ago. It takes toner cartriges (only prints in black) which cost over $100 each but they last at least 10 years so per year the cost is minimal.

It's not wireless. I have to walk over my laptop and attach a cable when I print. Not a problem and I'm happy with it.

Re: Printer ink!!!

SharkE — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:23:29 GMT

People say they don't use it any more then have to, but, it will dry up and then you haven't accomplished

nothing.

Re: Printer ink!!!

jackthebear — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:33:25 GMT

@bmorechick wrote:
@Mom2Dogs I do the same thing - I typically use the office printer, but yes do need to replace the home cartridges too! I have an older HP and got tired of paying almost $100 for 2 cartridges. So I went on Amazon and found the following:

UBINKI brand- compatible with my printer (there was a list). For FOUR cartridges - 2 boxes, I paid 80$ total. They work exactly the same as the HP cartridges.

Hope you can use them for your printer...

we just got

Re: Printer ink!!!

jackthebear — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:35:50 GMT

we just ordered one of the generic brands from Amazon ,works just fine fraction of the cost for the brand