Re-Print

Self refilling has been around for a long time. Not a recent innovation like the article portrays it. Why DIY when some stores like Walgreens and OfficeMax are getting into filling your cartridges while you wait or shop for more goodies. The recent economy situation has everyone looking for ways to stretch their budgets. Unless you print alot, the cost of an OEM cartridge is no big deal. Right ? Not so much anymore. Refill, reuse, recycle; this is one way to be green and save a few bucks. Some stores will give you credit for your empty cartridges, and the others will refill them on the spot. Refilling your own can be challenging and messy and unless you are up to it, why not let someone else do it. That way you get some kind of guarantee that the carts are filled and ready to use and you save your own time. Just thought I would add what the article was lacking.

with the recent advent of "Fused" Epson inkjet cartridges that in effect render themselves non refillable after using more than 75%, it is quickly becoming unrealistic to re-use existing cartridges.

Third party compatible cartridges are readily available at prices well under 50% of OEM cartridges in general.

In Canada you can get cartridges for most models at extremely cost effective rates at places like www.metawatch.ca .

Unfortunately in the U.S. due to recent legal legislation the same options are not available to all americans.

For anyone reading this article, pay no attention to what the author is saying. Never, ever buy an inkjet, even if they gave you a years worth of ink for free.

Buy a laser printer. They produce better results and are cheaper in the long run. If you keep an eye out for Staples/Office Depot/Best Buy sales, you can get a plain laser printer for $60, you can also get a multifunction (copy/fax/scan) for around $170. New laser printers come with a 1000 page toner. 1000 pages, try that with your inkjet. After that you can buy a 3000 page toner for around $70. Inkjet=Rip Off!

If you don't need color, go laser
there are loads of cheap old black and white laser printers around.
I got mine for free, and got a 15,000 page toner for $70.

Just a few comments.
1. The refill stuff is basically kerosene IIRC, so be careful with it
2. I tried it once and failed miserably -- depending on the printer, your mileage may vary
3. The printer companies will blame all problems (including software) on refilled carts. They definitely advise against it.
4.I tried to get some HP carts refilled at a local office supply store-- they told me that those particular carts were too small, and that they didn't do it.

But you cant beat the sound of an old dot-matrix printer.

I'm just saying.

http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-02/grouse-inkjet-refill-racket

this isnt the best idea to do.yes it saves you quite a bit of money on ink but in the long run it will cost you. i work for a printer repair company and most of the problems we see are from refilled and trird party inks. they clog the print head and render the printer usless until it is replaced. it is very costly for example epson print heads can cost upwards of $400, simply because of the photo quality of the printer. canon is anywhere between $50-$300 depending on the modle printer. hp, dell, and lexmark inkjets, if its not under warrenty forget trying to get parts for it, so jus trash it and get a new one. and brothers are a pain in the butt to replace and are quite costly also. most companies like epson and brother will void your warrenty if they find out you used third party or refilled inks.