When Is It A Good Idea To Buy Printer Cartridges In Bulk

2010-03-24

Developed originally in the late 1960s and early 1970s, ink jet and laser printers revolutionized the printing world with their ability to make fast and accurate copies at a reasonable price. By the end of the 1970s, several companies had developed printers and copiers that could sit on desktops rather than take up entire rooms. Initially, however, the printer ink cartridge efficiency of these machines was quite low. Inkjet printers had low dots per inch (DPI) levels, and the ink did not always come out dry when the page was finished. Ink cartridges for both types of machines were in their infancy, and could dry out or be used up at a startling rate. Buying in bulk was a bad idea, since it could waste both time and money.

Today, both ink jet and laser printers are far more efficient than their predecessors. Ink lasts much longer, in both liquid and toner form, and both types of printers are able to print far more pages without the need for replacement or repair. As well, many printers can now operate using a remanufactured print cartridge, which is made to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications, but it sold at a reduced cost. What this means for businesses is that it can be a smart idea to pick up a large quantity of high-quality printer ink for either their laser or ink jet printers. This can save on the purchase of new individual cartridges, or the need to continually refill old ones.

For any business considering buying printer ink in bulk but still holding on to an older printer or using old-model printer cartridges, it would be wise to seriously consider a switch to a newer printer. Not only will these updated versions be quieter and quicker than previous iterations, but their ability to effectively use the ink supplied and use it to greater effect will mean an overall savings in cost. As well, many newer printers come with options to increase printing speed or decrease the amount of ink used per page. These can be of great benefit if the documents being printed are simply for internal use and do not need to be of perfect quality. This reduced ink footprint on each page can double or triple the life of a print cartridge, and make the ink purchased in bulk last far longer.

The key when buying bulk printer ink cartridges, is to make sure that you are purchasing form a reputable supplier. Any decent online retailer should offer a full line of both OEM and remanufactured printer cartridges, and should be willing to deal with any problems that arise from the use of their products.