One of the most expensive liquids in the world is printer ink! When in cartridge form, printer ink can be more expensive than vintage champagne. But why is printer ink so expensive and does it really warrant its cost? Is there any way you can avoid paying high printer ink prices? Here are a few reasons why printer ink is so expensive.
How Much Does Printer Ink Cost?
As mentioned, part of the price you pay when you buy printer ink covers its research and development costs. A 2013 study by Consumer Reports showed that inkjet inks cost between $13 and $75 an ounce, which equates to $1,664 to $9,600 a gallon. This price range is usually more expensive than expensive champagne and perfume bottles.
Reasons Why Is Printer Ink So Expensive
1. Development takes time
Although cartridges may look like small and simple devices, they are actually quite complex. All the elements of the ink cartridge need to work together to ensure that the ink reaches the paper and stays there. Printer manufacturers spend a lot of time trying to figure out the most efficient way to make ink cartridges work. It costs money, and this cost is reflected in the price of the cartridges.
2. It costs money to do ink rights
As we said, an ink cartridge is actually a fairly complex device that includes more than just some ink and some nozzles. There are other ingredients in the ink, including specialty solvents and other solutions. Some of these ensure that the ink is released in carefully controlled amounts, and others ensure that the paper doesn’t curl as it dries. Unfortunately, the ingredients aren’t cheap, and the cost is again reflected in the price of the printer’s ink cartridges.
3. They are designed to fit specific printers
We all know that different printers use different printer cartridges, and that’s how printer companies design them. Each cartridge is designed for use with a specific printer or printer family to provide the best results for your needs. This requires a significant R&D budget, as printer manufacturers are always releasing new models, and cartridge technology has to keep up.
4. Better research means better quality
Ongoing research by printer manufacturers leads to better printer ink technology. From large, complex printheads that release specific amounts of ink during print and maintenance cycles, to advancements in the ink itself. This results in better print quality and faster printers. But research costs money, which means cartridges become expensive.
5. You use more ink than you think
Printers don’t just use ink when printing. They also use ink to keep the cartridges working properly. For example, HP and Canon ink cartridges use a small amount of ink during downtime, and if the cartridge is not used for a long time, it will push air bubbles and dried ink out of the nozzle.
6. You may not have the right printer for your needs
If your cartridge usage is not high, it may be because your printer type is not suitable for your needs. If you’re printing large volumes of paper every day, you’ll need a printer designed for heavy use, such as those designed for small offices. If you only print one or two photos a month, you’ll need a printer designed for that. You might also consider buying high-yield ink cartridges, which contain more ink and last longer.
In addition to expensive original cartridges, there are other alternatives. Buying high-quality remanufactured or compatible ink cartridges from Inksaver will save you money while ensuring you get the same high-quality prints as the original ink cartridges.
How To Save On Printer Ink
If you run an office or small business, you’ll need to keep buying printer ink indefinitely.
However, there are a few things you can do to help keep your ink costs down.
For starters, practice bypassing techniques to bypass error messages in cartridges.
You can also try going paperless in your business, such as sending emails instead of memos printed on hardcopy forms.
Also, other ways to reduce the cost of printer ink are to buy refillable cartridges and choose to refill instead of buying brand new cartridges.
How to Avoid Paying High Ink Prices
If you’re tired of paying £30, £40, or even £50 for ink cartridges, there are ways to avoid paying these exorbitant prices. This may depend on the printer you choose to use, but if you already have a printer that is expensive to run, there are a few things you can do.
Here are some ideas that can help you reduce your overall printing costs.
Using a refill cartridge
While all the big companies will warn you against using refilled cartridges, they work well for the most part. While companies have introduced microchips into cassettes, making it harder for dealers to do so, there are still ways around it.
Often, you can fill old printer cartridges with new ink, which can keep your ink prices down considerably. You can usually find reasonably priced supplements online. They are one of the easiest ways to reduce the cost of printer ink.
Choose a Laser Printer
If you don’t need color printing, it’s definitely worth considering opting for a laser printer instead of an ink printer. Why? Well, usually laser printers are more expensive to start with than inkjets because the device itself costs more than inkjets.
However, laser printers use toner instead of printer ink, which is actually cheaper. For a month, you might not notice a difference in price. But after a few years of trying, you might save a lot of money by using a laser printer (maybe enough to offset the cost of the printer in the first place).
That’s why in most offices, universities, and other similar environments, you’ll find large laser printers as opposed to small ink printers. If you’re interested in buying this type of printer, I recommend checking out Brother printers.
Sign up for a subscription service
For most people, I don’t recommend signing up for a subscription service. However, in some cases, it definitely makes sense to use a subscription service instead of buying new cartridges.
Why? Well, usually these services are charged per page, not per ink used. This means that if you print your photos in full color, that’s the same cost as a black text document you subscribe to.
So for someone who prints in color on a regular basis, using a subscription service can save you some money. Their starting salary is also only £2 or £3 a month.
Do research first
As with any tech product, you should do some research before buying. It’s not an in-depth task you’ll need to do — often just checking the printer’s reviews before buying it can go a long way.
This can help you know what to expect when you actually buy the printer, and you can account for the cost over the course of the year. This is definitely one of the first things you should consider when you are considering buying an inkjet printer.
Buy an ink tank printer
Another way to reduce your overall printing costs is to buy a refillable ink tank printer. While they are more expensive initially, they can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.
Ink tank printers are generally gaining popularity as users try to find a way to minimize their monthly office expenses. They cost less than 50% of the price of using standard cartridges, so it’s easy to see why they’re popular.
Choose a brand
Some printer brands are known to be very expensive, while other brands of ink are more reasonably priced. Often, brands like Epson and HP have some of the most expensive ink costs.
If you compare it to the other two famous printer brands Canon and Brother, they are actually much cheaper. So, before buying, it’s a good idea to make sure you have a printer that doesn’t cost too much.
Conclusion
The truth is, that high ink prices have been part of the printer industry’s way of making money for decades. There are ways to get around high prices and make things easier financially.
In some cases, however, we have no choice but to accept that the printer companies set market interest rates to where they are now. The business model for printers is typically low initial outlay and stable ink costs over time.
