The Inkjet Cartridge Survival Guide Ink cartridges, like oil and taxes, are a necessary evil. Printer ink isn't exciting or romantic, but it's something you need to have. Then there's the price. Buying printer ink cartridges can be almost as painful as filling up the gas tank. So what can you do? What are your options? My goal is to help you buy printer ink wisely and save you some money. We'll go over different kinds of ink cartridges, the good and the bad of brand names, refills, and compatible inkjet cartridges, and things to look out for. Yes, you can buy affordable and high quality inkjet ink, once you know a few things. I hope my site helps you make the right choice for your printer cartridges. Let's get started. Ink Cartridge Options You need a new inkjet cartridge, so where do you begin? You have four options: Brand Name Ink Cartridges: Genuine inkjet cartridges from the original companies. HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Dell, and so on. This is the safest choice, but also the most expensive. You can easily end up paying more for your printer ink than for your printer. Dirt Cheap Ink Cartridges: The lowest cost and the highest risk. Often sold by no-name sellers under their own name or even a well-known brand name. You'll save money, but you could end up with low-quality counterfeit ink that clogs the nozzles or damages your printer. I've had it happen. Often imported, and frequently counterfeit, especially if it's a "genuine" cartridge like HP or Brother. For more details, see the Brand Names page. For very cheap cartridges, the rule is: buyer beware. Ink Cartridge Refills: Ink refills may seem like a good deal, but they're not for everyone. Inkjet refills can save you money, but you may sacrifice time and convenience. Printer refill kits can be a terrible mess and huge hassle if you don't follow directions carefully. Mail refills can take a week or more. In-store refills require driving (traffic and gas!), and may have limited selection. Lastly, quality may vary widely with printer refills. Remanufactured and Compatible Ink Cartridges: Generic inkjet cartridges. These are print cartridges designed to work on your brand-name printer, but made by third-party companies. Prices vary, but the savings over original printer ink are usually significant. Quality can rival brand names, but choosing a good inkjet supply company is important. The Best Ink Cartridge Choice So what is the best option? To me, the answer is clear. For most people, high quality compatible and remanufactured ink cartridges are the best choice. Here's why: First, you save money over buying Epson, HP, and other brand name replacement cartridges. The savings could eventually pay for a new inkjet printer! Second, you can get good quality ink from reliable sellers, quality that rivals the brand names. Quality ink cartridges are also safer than buying very cheap ink. Remember, bad ink can ruin a good printer. The key is to find a reliable printer supply company. Third, it's very convenient. Putting in a replacement cartridge takes about two minutes, doesn't involve messing with ink or cleaning up, and if you buy replacement ink cartridges online, you can avoid traffic and save on gas. Fourth, it's good for the planet. By buying remanufactured ink cartridges, you help stimulate demand for recycling, reduce trash going to landfills and polluting land and water, and reduce demand for oil and other raw materials. The one exception is photo cartridges. Because of the complex ink mix, I advise you to stick with HP, Epson, Canon, or whatever brand printer you have. And choose high quality photo paper, such as HP or Kodak. So, to summarize, here are the top reasons why compatible and remanufactured inkjet cartridges are my top choice: Money Quality Convenience Earth I hope this site will help you make the right decision for your printer ink. Feel free to look around, there's plenty more to see. If you're looking for reliable ink cartridges and want to save money, check out Printer Ink Discounts & Coupons. Happy Printing!