Frugal Deskjet printing--replacement HP cartridges will cost me USD ~$60! Alternatives?

 I print all my stuff using the lowest quality mode, and that's helped
me prolong the life of the color and b/w cartridges that came with my
HP Deskjet 6540 printer. Running low on ink, and I'm finding a pair
replacement HP ink cartridges will cost me USD ~$60!

What are my options here beyond paying a ridiculous price for HP ink
cartridges? (HP 94, 95, 96, and 97 refill model #s I believe).

1) Can I have my cartridges re-filled? Is this possible and worthwhile
(leaking, etc)? Are there any "national chain" stores doing this sort
of thing I should check out (southeastern US only please).

2) Are there cheaper, non-HP cartridges I could by online?

3) Are there "expired" HP cartridges I could buy at a lower price that
would still work fine for the low quality, ink-conserving printing I'm
already doing?

4) Should I try to find a new inkjet printer at a "loss leader" price,
that comes with ink cartridges, and use the same technique of
immediately setting the printer to "Fast Draft / Economical" printing
mode?

5) Should I invest in a laser printer? I've heard, but can't confirm,
that this can ultimately be a cost-saver over the long term, even
though laser printers aren't cheap.

Thanks!

Mike

  Wait until Staples has that low-cost SAmsung laser printer on
sale for about $50.  Go to pricewatch and find the best price
for the replacement cartridges.

I find those are very economical.


On Sat, 18 Jul 2009, mike wrote:

 Zuke wrote:

   Many Office Box stores do  this, there are also home refill kits.
I've never had much luck with kits, the refills are generally guaranteed.

What's wrong with using Google, first hit:

http://www.ink4ever.com/hpc8n94blink.html

   At $6, that'll be cheaper than a refill.

   Seriously, do some research before you post.


HP makes nice printers, I prefer the separate color cartridges. Newer HP
printers recycle the cleaning ink, which saves all that ink. Don't buy a
printer solely on initial cost.

   Lasers are great for low cost durable printing. Toner doesn't run if
it gets damp.

   Jeff

 mike wrote:


Yes, many places.  I don't know what you've got in the SE US, but the
Walgreen's Pharmacies and OfficeMax both do refills.  If you don't
have those chains, you've probably got something similar.


Yes (also probably in larger office supply stores).  HP is popular so
there are a lot of vendors.  Google on the part number.  They'll
probably be about 1/3 the cost of new HP brand.


Don't think so.

Most such printers come with special "hardly any ink" cartridges, so
you'll be faced with the same problem again soon.


I've got a friend who makes the round of thrift stores.  Most of them
have a "sale" day.. everything with a certain color tag is $1.49, or
everybody over 55 gets 40% off, or whatever.  He regularly finds laser
printers for under $5, and most of them work.  Stick with HP Laserjets
that have paper drawers (they're pretty much all good printers, and
reliable), look for missing parts, and if you know how, plug it in and
run a self-test.  I'm currently using a HPLJ 6MP that my friend found
for $2.49 (it was missing the spring that raises the paper stack, but
that wasn't hard to fix).

If you want new, you can sometimes find the low-end Samsung or Brother
printers on sale in the $60 range.  They're decent printers, a little
flimsy but if you take care of them they're ok.

Supplies for brands other than HP can be expensive (though it depends
on the particulars).  I got a working Tektronix color printer at a
garage sale for $10, but the (4) toner cartridges run $100-200 apiece.

Dave

 8011dcb2cf5a@y17g2000yqn.googlegroups.com:


Absolutly!  You would be a fool not to.  Try to get a recomendation
from a friend or co-worker tho.  The devil is in the ink.  Not
all refills use the same quality ink. Personally, I suggest that
you look for a local shop that will do refills for you.  That way,
if there is a problem, you can bring the cartridge back and get
some satisfaction.


Not just on-line.  Office max sells refilled carts, but the price
advantage is not that great.  I get the best prices at a local
refill shop.


Doubt it. Once they expire they get recycled or refilled.


Maybe.  But I'm holding on to my 800 series HP.  It has 45ml
ink cartridges.  The models made after that had 5ml cartridges.
Need I say more.


You generally get more pages with a laser cartridge.  And some laser
carts are refillable.