Cheap Printer Ink Buying Guide

4inkjets earns more kudos in reviews than just about any other printer ink company. One site that only reviews printer ink asserts that 4inkjets uses the highest quality ink the experts have tested, and the ink seems nearly identical to that sold by original cartridge manufacturers. Consumers who posted 4inkjets reviews at Pricegrabber generally give the company a thumbs-up, saying that placing orders is a snap and the products arrive quickly. Users also appreciate 4inkjets' competitive prices and product quality, which they contend beats out the third-party competition. The good news notwithstanding, 4inkjets also garners a number of negative reviews, although proportionally fewer than other replacement cartridge vendors. Some older posts at Epinions complain about leaky cartridges, ink that deteriorates over time, and slow deliveries; a handful of newer reviews found at Reseller Ratings echo these comments, one even reporting that the ink colors were screwed up, with the red cartridge filled with green ink and a yellow cartridge that printed gray. Still, 4inkjets finds its groove at this site with hundreds of five-star reviews.

4inkjets offers remanufactured, compatible, and OEM ink cartridges. Shipping for all orders under $50 includes a flat $4.95 fee, but orders exceeding $50 ship free in the contiguous U.S. The company offers a one-year guarantee on cartridges, and unopened merchandise can be returned for a full refund or credit. Customers also have one year to return a defective cartridge to qualify for a refund or credit. 4inkjets' customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 5am to 7pm PST, and Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 4pm PST. Live chat is also available.

In a business where quality products and good customer service often seem scarce, 4inkjets rises above the rest. Printer cartridges aren't always perfect and orders sometimes go missing, but prices are competitive and 4inkjets' return policy and track record for satisfying customers looks smoother than others.

123inkjets proves to be one of the better print cartridge retailers, according to reviews. An expert from a site devoted to assessing printer ink says ink from this company's cartridges is second only to 4inkjets and then goes on to commend its customer service. Slightly older 123inkjets reviews posted at Tech Support Alert agree, and assert that the return policy is "excellent" and the low shipping fees are much appreciated. At Viewpoints one user who claims to be a long-term customer reports never encountering a problem with 123inkjet cartridges, an assessment dittoed by scores of users at other user-based product review sites. Not surprisingly for this industry, we read a few reviews griping about one thing or another -- cartridges that quit after minimal use, print heads that need frequent cleaning, lack of compatibility, etc.

Consumers can order remanufactured, compatible, or OEM cartridges from 123inkjets. The company's customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 5am to 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 7am to 4pm -- all Pacific Time. Purchasers qualify for free shipping on orders greater than $55 and pay a flat rate of $4.95 for smaller orders. 123inkjets offers a one-year guarantee for remanufactured and compatible cartridges, which qualifies buyers for a full refund or replacement cartridge.

123inkjets scores higher with consumers than most printer cartridge companies. But, as with all the printer ink vendors we researched, 100 percent of customers are not 100 percent satisfied. On balance, customer service is superior to that of the competition and the vast majority of users find that 123inkjets ships quickly and delivers products that work well.

Expert Carrot Ink reviews consider the quality from this third-party producer to be quite good, according to reports found at consumer products review sites. Users seem to agree. In Carrot Ink reviews posted at Bizrate, where the company and the product earn an overall 9.1 satisfaction rating, purchasers say the company's compatible and recycled cartridges meet expectations. One user happily notes that photos turn out fine and cost pennies to print, another claims that the ink looks like name-brand ink at prices that can't be beat, and a third reports that cartridges always arrive full (unlike other unnamed suppliers). We did read some griping about the company's website, which a bevy of irritated customers consider cumbersome. On the other hand, Carrot Ink reviews claim that customer service is friendly and helpful and orders arrive promptly.

Carrot Ink sells printer cartridges produced by original equipment manufacturers as well as remanufactured and compatible ink cartridges. Free shipping is offered on all orders exceeding $50, otherwise a flat shipping fee of $4.95 is imposed. Carrot Ink maintains a toll-free number that's answered Monday through Friday during the 8am to 6pm CDT time slot. There's a full one-year money-back guarantee with no questions asked. This third-party vendor earns an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau for efforts to resolve customer complaints.

Although a handful of users grouse about the website and voice skepticism about how long the cartridges last, user enthusiasm for Carrot Ink quality combined with its simple return policy make this company's printer cartridges worth a look.

Inkgrabber is a bit of a crapshoot, according to reviews. On the one hand, experts at review sites dedicated to printer ink praise the low prices and the good quality. On the other hand, we found a variety of user complaints embedded in Inkgrabber reviews. Consumers who posted at Epinions, for example, assert that the cartridges don't work with their printers and that the wrong cartridges arrived at their doorstep. Inkgrabber reviews at Reseller Ratings are more discouraging; they report mishaps such as ink leaking inside the printer during installation, jammed gears, and muddled color printout. Many Inkgrabber reviews also grieve about poor customer service, claiming company representatives are rude, refunds hard to collect, orders hard to cancel, and the like. And yet, some users report positive experiences with the company and the products.

Inkgrabber sells remanufactured, compatible, and OEM ink cartridges. The company offers a one-year warranty on, and will replace, products that arrive damaged, leaking, or defective; however, customers have only a 90-day window for refunds. Inkgrabber foregoes shipping charges for orders greater than $75, which is a bit higher than most other printer cartridge vendors; orders less than $75 are shipped for a flat $4.95 fee. Inkgrabber maintains customer service hours Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm PST; consumers can call toll free or initiate an online chat.

Based on the reviews we found, Inkgrabber offers OK ink at competitive prices. But the number of user complaints is a concern, and the return policy stricter than that followed by other printer cartridge retailers. Customer service hours also are more restrictive.

Based on the reviews we read, Clickinks impresses only some purchasers. Several users gripe at Reseller Ratings about a range of problems, from poor products (e.g., cartridges leak, don't fit, or clog the printer, and some arrive half full) to poor customer service (e.g., shipments don't show up, representatives don't respond). Others report the opposite, citing positive experiences with both the product and customer service. Reviews skew negative at Site Jabber, as well; one customer says he was told to reconfigure the printer after calling the company because none of the six cartridges he ordered were recognized by the printer and other Clickinks reviews advise consumers to generally steer clear. Cheap prices are certainly an attraction, but not sufficient to overcome the spate of disappointing comments.

Clickinks sells remanufactured and compatible cartridges in addition to OEM products. Its free shipping pledge on orders greater than $30 is more liberal than that of its competitors; smaller orders are charged the industry standard of $4.95. The company will issue refunds within 180 days provided that the cartridge has not been opened; open packages must be returned within 90 days and at least 70 percent full.

Despite the generous shipping terms and some users' assertions of product reliability, the product and service problems reported by many others suggest a wiser course would be to search elsewhere for replacement ink cartridges.