HP Viviera Brand Ink

As anyone who owns a printer knows well, printer ink is expensive. But exactly how expensive is it compared to other high-priced liquids?

A Gizmodo reader did a graphical comparison of the prices per milliliter for various liquids (HP #45 black ink being one of them). I was personally fairly surprised to see the results.

Is printer ink more expensive than a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne? What about gasoline, or even the price of human blood?

Read this news story to find out!

"Razor and blades" business model

The reason why OEM cartridges are so expensive stems from the razor and blades business model of printer manufacturers. This business model focuses on a cheap initial investment (in this case, the printer), but makes the user continually invest in expensive refills. Overall, there is no difference between OEM cartridges and the compatible version, the only distinguishing factor being the marketing involved. The large printer companies scare customers into buying their cartridges by threatening damaged printers or voided warranties.

There is almost no difference between the manufacturing processes of compatible and OEM cartridges and the warranties are comparable as well. Is it worth it to use an aftermarket cartridge brand though? Yes, it certainly is when the cartridges can cost about 80% less than the OEM versions. Compatible cartridges also share a shelf life identical to their OEM counterpart.

Be careful in choosing a retailer

The only drawback to compatible cartridges is the research involved. When selecting the right aftermarket cartridge, the first step is to match up the printer model with the right refill. Second, depending on the printer, determine if you want a larger capacity cartridge or original capacity.

Lastly, remember to carefully choose the right aftermarket manufacturer, or you could wind up with a bad cartridge. Bad cartridges could suffer from a number of problems, including poor quality, poor or off-color ink, or a short shelf life. Once all of this research is done, remember to choose a reputable online retailer like 4Inkjets with a good price on the replacement you want.

OEM cartridges

Standard brand-name ink cartridges that you can buy at your ordinary Staples, Office Depot, etc., are referred to as original equipment manufacturer (abbreviated as OEM) cartridges. These types of cartridges are made by the original manufacturer of your printer. OEM cartridges are by far the most expensive option. Before I did my research, I used to believe that buying OEM was the only way to go. On to the alternative options...

Remanufactured cartridges

Remanufactured cartridges are made out of the exact same parts that OEM cartridges are. How it works is first people send their used cartridges in to be recycled. Remanufacturers then thoroughly clean the cartridge print heads and then refill them with premium ink. Lastly, a testing stage involving pressure and an actual printing run is performed to make sure everything is fine, and the cartridge is repackaged and ready for use.

Compatible cartridges

Compatible ink cartridges are effectively the generic counterpart of OEM cartridges. These cartridges are considerably cheaper than either OEM or remanufactured cartridges; however, quality and performance certainly can be a concern. When purchasing compatible ink cartridges, it is important to select a supplier that conforms to industry ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards.

Luckily for you, I've had my fair share of experience in buying compatible and remanufactured ink online, so in some coming posts I will recommend the retailers I have had success with. I will also show you who to stay away from, and why.