Ink Cartridges - Should You Buy Refills?

Ink cartridges are something that must be purchased frequently and can be quite expensive.  There can be big savings in buying refills rather than new cartridges.

Before deciding to go with a refill rather than a new cartridge, there are some factors that you may want to consider. 

Printers are quite specific as to the type of ink that must be used for the printer to function property.  Refills that say they can be used for all types of printers may not be trustworthy.

You need to be sure to get a refill that is specifically compatible with your brand and model of printer, to get the best results.

Also you want to factor in what you are getting for your money.  You want to be aware of how many refills you are actually getting in a cartridge refill kit. 

A well-matched ink is not the only thing that has to be considered.  Cartridges do not function well forever.  If you continue to refill them after a while they will begin to perform poorly.  After a few refills the cartridges need to be replaced.

Most refill kits come with enough ink for filling a cartridge more than one time.  So when you have to replace your cartridge you can hold on to your remaining refill ink and when your new cartridge runs out you will be ready to refill it. You may also be able to save by buying refurbished cartridges. 

Refill kits usually have a longer shelf life than cartridges do, often as much as 2 years. If you don't do enough printing in that time to use up the refill, it may not be the best option since you'll probably end up wasting part of it anyway.

The other common problem with cartridge refill kits is that they can be quite messy if you aren't careful when refilling them. Companies that refill empty cartridges have specialized equipment that makes it quite simple.

When you're doing it yourself, ink can leak or spill and it can make a real mess if you're not careful. Be sure to read through the refill kit instructions thoroughly before attempting the refill - probably a couple of times.

You may be able to find additional instructions online at the manufactures website.  If they have step by step directions with illustrations or demonstrations this could be very helpful. 

Give yourself plenty of time on your first attempt to refill a cartridge.  It is a learning process and you don't want to be in a hurry.  If you have to get something out right away you don't want to be worrying about refilling your cartridge.  Set aside some time to learn to do it correctly.