I am needing opinions about buying ink.

@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
United States
May 1, 2009 6:40pm CST
Hi, I recently ran out of ink for my printer a Lexmark Z23 and I was checking out ink. Last time I bought ink both color and black it cost me almost $60 and so someone suggested I buy my ink off eBay so off I went to eBay and they had really great prices but on looking closer some of the cartridges have been refurbished and they are selling them half the price of regular sealed in package ink cartridges. And I was wondering if anyone has bought refurbished ink cartridges and it if worth it? I have also thought of buying a refill ink kit. What are thought on those? To messy or the way to go? Have you refilled ink cartridges using these ink kits? Just trying to save some money and if a refurbished ink cartridge works as good as a new one then I am thinking to give it a try. Thanks.
4 people like this
10 responses
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 May 09
I have refilled my own, had a guy in a shop do it...they specialise, and I have bought the no-name refills. I was able to refill the no-name refills for my first printer but for my second printer this option was not available. I found a supply place online that sold the ink cartridges I needed very cheaply so I went that way.... that was with my HP. My daughter bought me an Epsom for Christmas and I notice the cartridges are really expensive...cheaper if you buy bulk but I don't use the printer enough to warrant that. You can be sure I'll be talking to people to find out my ink options for this printer. That's what you have to do, talk to the people behind the counter and find out what they recommend and which is the best way to go.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
3 May 09
I have another printer besides my Lexmark Z23 it is a Epsom Stylus 400 color. I have never bought ink for it yet so I don't know the price for them yet. Thanks for the advice I will see what I can do. I don't have a car and rarely get out much so I will have to try to stuff it all in on one visit to town..well it is better to know then to mess up..and waste money. So good lick with your printer nad finding out its ink drinking habits..lol sorry..
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
4 May 09
Lexmark ink is pretty high as well. Maybe that is why they sell there printers so cheap as well. $54 including taxes.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 May 09
Have you seen all the different inks for the Epsom printers??? It's all so confusing. You can believe I'll be looking for something other than their product but they say it's not a good idea to use anything but their ink. It's just too bloody expensive!. Maybe that's why they are selling the printers so cheaply...because they are making their profit on the ink!
1 person likes this
@wildcat48 (779)
• United States
3 May 09
sorry babe cant help you here,maybe some one here can help you ok
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
3 May 09
Thanks for the response anyhow, I appreciate it alot.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
4 May 09
Well, you did by responding to my discussion. I appreciate it.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 May 09
just wish i could do more for you thats all good luck
1 person likes this
• United States
5 May 09
http://www.printpal.com http://swapink.com http://www.cellularfactory.com try these maybe one will be cheaper i have an hp printer
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
12 May 09
Thanks for the links. I don't know why I didn't receive your response in my inbox I guess it was a glitch..sorry to take so long to respond back. I checked the links out and thanks for them but they are still a bit high especially for the refurbished ones, at almost $19 each. I really need to look into getting a printer that takes cheaper ink..
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
4 May 09
gosh I am absolutely no help on that, I haven't had a printer for years, never had the money to buy one and when I had one they were too expensive to keep up in ink for me.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
4 May 09
I only use them to print off coupons or stuff for my mom and little sister for her to do a little extra work learning stuff like at school.
• United States
2 May 09
I gave up on buying new ink. I was spending too much money and the ink wasn't lasting long at all. So, we started taking our ink catridges to Walgreens. We can get a black ink catridge refilled for $10 and a colored ink cartridge refilled for $15. It's half off what I'd pay in the stores and they seem to last longer too. So, I'd suggest taking it to Walgreens if you have one close. However, if you don't, you could always try getting a refill kit from a store and trying it yourself. The refill kits that I've seen here run about $10. It's good for your wallet and good for the environment.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
2 May 09
I wish we had a Walgreen's close by but there isn't because I would seriously be buying it for that cheap..better then what I paid for a combo package of color and black ink..and it said they were cheaper to buy in a combo pack they were by $1 but still $55 is to much..I like printing off work sheets for my little sister to help her in school and coupons and that take more black then color ink so I am always running out of black faster. I bid on a refill kit on eBay but still thinking of buying the refurbished if it is advisable. The refill kit was $6
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
2 May 09
I checked the closest one is in Lexington and one Ohio. So no luck for me since they are so far and I don't own a car.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
2 May 09
I think refurbished ink cartridges are just as good. There are companies that sell refurbished ink cartridges and refill them for you. Also I heard that Lexmark's a good economical printers, but their ink cartridges are through the roof. Have you considered getting a different brand of printer?
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
2 May 09
My dad bought me a used printer a color stylus 400 but it didn't come with any software but my uncle downloaded some off the net to a disk for me and for some reason the printer keeps saying offline whenever I try to use it. It has ink in it not sure if it is any good now since it has been awhile. It is in my closet till I figure out how to make it work. They have a deal on the cartridges but I was weary of trying them because I never have before or knew of anyone who had.. So I guess I can try..I just don't wanna be waste money for half empty or cartridges that don't work. I bid on a ink refill kit. I dread trying to use that though since I have no experience and my sister tried to do refills once and it ended in disaster but I figure it being only black and not the color one it might..and that is a big might be easier then trying to refill a color one.Thanks for the response.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
4 May 09
I do hope that is what is wrong with it. well, since I am spring cleaning and can dig my other printer out so that I can check it out.
@mummymo (23706)
2 May 09
You know what honey when we used to use the printer a lot we would buy a new one whenever we ran out of ink - it worked out the same price at that time! I am sorry I am not much help but I do hope you figure out the best way to replace your ink! xxx
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
3 May 09
I was just telling my husband that yesterday that it would be cheaper to buy another one..Since the printer he bought me had been on sale and was only $54 at the time. But it had only came with a color ink I had to buy the black..
@mz_Ira (1090)
• Philippines
2 May 09
My one is an hp psc 1315 and ink costs a fortune as well like yours.. More pricey here in the philippines than I ever expected. I have been using this in the Uk and my grandad have it sent along with my PC. Arriving here, it was empty for the couloured cartridge and black was running out. I had to print something, was thinking of buying but it costs too much for both cartridge summing up $60 roughly. Then this lady told me I can have it refilled, at first I was a bit hesitant because I was thinking of my printer that it might get broken and hell no I would let that but then It was explained to me that its different for the hp, the cartridge is the one that'll break unlike other printers ribbon dries up and broken. So then I had it refilled and using it now, so far so good. No problems at all.. I can only have my cartridge refilled up to 3-4 times as far as I can remember it right.. hehehe..
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
3 May 09
Thanks for letting me know. I didn't know that a cartridge could only be refilled 3-4 times. that is a good thing to know so I won't mess up. I bought a refill kit and it says it refills 2 times so that will be perfect. gives me time to save up more for the real cartridges. Have a good day and thanks for the response.
• United States
2 May 09
Does your ink still cost the same as it used to, if it has went down I would buy it from the store. Years ago I bought one of them refill kits and all I did was make a mess and had to end up throwing my printer away after words. I also listened to someone that told me to go to Wal-Greens to have it refilled. I took it there and left it with them, they said that they could refill it. When I got it back and replaced it into my printer, it would not print out anything and kept saying that my cartridge was empty. The next day I had to take the cartridge back to the store to get my money back. It was hard to get my money back because on the cartridge they had placed a sticker that said it was refilled. I finally was able to get my money back and then I went to another store that sold new ones. For now on that's the only way that I'll go.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
2 May 09
Thanks sweetashoney for your response I really appreciate it alot. I am worried that the cartridge my have problems since it is refurbished that is why I am weary of buying one but I need to save money as well and I am also purchasing a refill kit but not sure how to use that. So hope it comes with clear precise instructions.
2 May 09
I have found that whilst the cost of using refillable one's on the whole are longer and more cost effective, the quality and the ease of use is better buying the manufacturers own brand of cartridge. The main criteria is what is stated on the prints per page area of the buying process.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
2 May 09
The ink kit that I am buying is for Lexmark printer cartridge or so it says I will find out in a week when it gets here. But it is say refillable ink kit for Lexmark Printers..that is why I am buying it. I am just not sure of the quality that I will get after refilling a ink cartridge. I haven't bought the refurbished cartridges yet still thinking on those but it did seem a good deal. Thanks for the response and your opinion.appreciate it.