In these economic times, most of us are constantly searching for ways to save money on the things we buy. Although it is true that the cost of printers has come down dramatically in recent years, operating those essential pieces of office equipment remains costly thanks to the high cost of ink cartridges. Especially if you do a lot of high volume printing at your office in Fargo printer supplies are going to cost you a lot of money. Or will they? Not necessarily. There are ways to cut down the cost of the consumables (ink, paper, toner, etc.)
Buy the right printer
If you are looking to purchase a new printer for your home or office, it’s a good idea to consider not only the cost of the printer itself but also the cost of the replacement cartridges. It’s much more economical to purchase a printer when you know the cartridges are also more affordable.
Change the way you print
Simply adjusting the way you print can make a difference in the amount of ink you use, which mean you won’t have to replace it as often. Most newer printers have the option to print in “draft” mode. This setting will produce slightly lighter print quality, but it also uses less ink. If you are printing something for only internal usage or for your own use, printing in draft mode will make your ink investment go further.
Look for bulk discounts
If you can, buy in bulk. Yes, you’ll pay more all at once, but the unit cost of the supplies will be cheaper than if you bought them in a smaller lot. Many companies will offer customers a discount when they buy larger quantities of products all at once.
Go the recycled route
It’s now more important than ever to recycle as much as we can. In addition to being environmentally responsible, using refurbished or recycled ink cartridges can also save you money. There are even some ink supply stores that specialize in refilling your ink cartridges, a service for which they will charge you less than the cost of replacing the cartridge with a new one.
Store your cartridges properly
When you purchase your ink cartridge, be sure to install it in your printer as soon as possible after you open it. Otherwise, you run the risk of the cartridge being in contact with the air for too long, which can cause the ink to dry out. If you are buying cartridges that you plan to use in the future, leave them sealed and store them in a cool, dry place away from dust. And be mindful of the fact that printer cartridges do have expiration dates on them. Use your cartridge by the expiration date to avoid having to throw it out and waste the money.
Keep the printer clean
One common misconception is that once you install a printer cartridge there is nothing more to do to maintain it. That’s not the case. The more you use your printer, the more there is a chance that ink will dry and build up on the nozzle, which can affect the print quality and cause you to think the cartridge needs to be replaced. Regular maintenance of the printer will improve and extend the longevity of the printer cartridge, which will save you money over time.
Comparison shop
As with anything you buy, it’s always best to shop around for the best price before you buy. Online is a great place to start, because you can comparison shop right from the comfort of your living room. Plus, when you buy online, you can have the items shipped right to your door, often with free shipping.
If you are like the average household (or business) you quite likely go through lots of printer supplies. That can very quickly add up to lots of extra spending every year. It’s not realistic to expect a household or a business to stop printing altogether – we aren’t quite a paperless society yet! – but there are ways to save on printing costs and to get more value for your money when it comes to the consumables that go a long with your printers.
