Don't Get Boned On Toner
Toner for my old girl workhorse laser printer (the HP LaserJet 1300, which migrated to my house from Gregg's house about eight years ago after my Brother died) is $92 at Staples. I pay...$12.95 on eBay -- with free shipping! -- for off-brand toner. (This is a good thing, because I have to print everything when I'm writing in order to edit it.)
I also have an "all-in-one" that prints color, scans, and faxes, that I bought for $50 on super-sale at Staples and only use occasionally, like when I need to print up color fliers for an alt weekly conference. For that, I got an eight pack of toner (they're little) for $9.99 on eBay! I believe a four pack would have cost me about $40 at Staples.
Off-brand + eBay -- a beautiful combination.
And sure, it supposedly voids your printer's warranty to use these. The thing is, printers are cheap -- the deal is like a drug deal: they getcha on the ink. If my HP died, Gregg (captain of my technological life) would probably buy me a new one, but really, I'd rather have this 1300, a workhorse that I know and love, used!
(For me, there's always a cost to having a new techno thing in that I need to learn to use it, which is stressful! I love that I know this thing's quirks.)
Thanks for the tip. Printing things out for homeschooling is getting pricy. I get the equivalent of 6 small things of ink for around 80$ at SAM's club..
JosephineMO7 at October 13, 2011 8:02 AM
I wish I could have the same raving reviews of off-brand toner. I've tried several different types and ended up back on brand because it wouldn't work. The stuff clogged up the heads of the printer. I've tried several. What brand do you use?
NikkiG at October 13, 2011 10:12 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/10/13/dont_get_boned.html#comment-2608949">comment from NikkiGNo brand in particular. My printer uses powdered toner - maybe that helps. I get it from the classily named outfit "WeShip4ADollar."
Amy Alkon
at October 13, 2011 10:17 AM
Take good care of the printers you love. I have had any number of HP color lasers (sometimes it's cheaper to replace the printer than to replace the toner), but this last one I just bought does a great job when its "in the mood." Otherwise, it pouts and disconnects itself from the wireless network. Then I have to go take the network down while I reset the router. Grrrr....
gharkness at October 13, 2011 10:23 AM
> (For me, there's always a cost to having a new
> techno thing in that I need to learn to use it,
> which is stressful! I love that I know this
> thing's quirks.)
I'm that way about flip phones, but am embarrassed about it.
Well actually, what's embarrassing is the decline in software quality for flip phones as the market has moved to smartphones. Cellphone makers are deliberately making shitty interfaces for the less expensive products, because they'd rather have you paying $40 more a month for a data delivery service that doesn't work.
(PS- I had a smartphone when smartphones weren't cool... So it's not like I've lost and macho cred or anything, right?)
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at October 13, 2011 12:02 PM
I have not heard of much problems with 3rd party toner...usually just something like it is not exactly black (say brownish) or there is not much in there.
I have heard of lots of problem with 3rd party ink...bad color, clogging, etc.
The Former Banker at October 13, 2011 10:14 PM
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