Getting Discontinued Printer Ink Cartridges Without Overpaying

2010-11-27

Getting discontinued printer ink cartridges without overpaying can take a bit of research. First, you must find out what the original price of the printer ink cartridge was before it was discontinued. This can give you a solid base starting point for your purchase price. Of course, you should never pay more than the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Overpaying for printer ink that has been discontinued can easily be avoided by knowing what the original item price was. If you are struggling to locate this price, you might try searching through old invoices.

Chances are that you have purchased this ink cartridge in the past. This means you will have cancelled checks or credit card receipts that will show the price. Once you know what the original price was, you can use that as a starting point. A discontinued printer ink cartridge should be priced at least 10% below the original price. Often, you can expect to receive a 30% to 50% discount.

One of the main factors to watch out for is the expiration date of the ink cartridge. A product that is very close to the expiration date or even past the date may not be a bargain. Old printer ink cartridges can dry out and produce poor results. Be sure there are at least a few months left before the expiration date.

If you do locate a great deal on an ink cartridge that's past the expiry date, be sure to ask the store or web site for an increased discount. Also, find out what their return policy is regarding discontinued merchandise. Unless they offer a full refund on inferior products, even products that are out of date, you may be stuck with a defective ink cartridge. In this case, no matter how great a deal you received, it was still not a bargain.

Sometimes just locating discontinued printer ink cartridges can be challenging. The best way to locate a product that has been discontinued is by typing the product name or number into your browser or favorite search engine. If there are ink cartridges out there for sale, this information should come up in the search results.

Usually, even products offered on popular auction sites will be included in the search results. When purchasing from an individual, it is very easy to negotiate a lower price on a discontinued printer ink cartridge. Be sure to ask about their return policy though.

Overpaying for printer ink can be avoided by following a few simple rules. Know the original price and don't be embarrassed to ask for an additional discount if the product will expire soon. Ask about the return policy on discontinued merchandise.