Recommended source for inexpensive ink jet cartridges?

September 11, 2013 9:58 AM

I have an Epson XP-400 ink jet printer. I am trying to find a source online for replacement Cartridges. There are a lot of choices but I don't know who to trust with my money. I do not print any photos and its mostly used by kids for school work so long term durability of printouts is not a concern.
posted by mattholomew to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

I often end up reading the reviews on amazon, which carries quite a selection of 3rd party ink. And when the price is low enough I just go for it and take the risk. If three cartridges cost the same as one Epson one, it is worth trying, and testing it, in my opinion.

I have also bought from meritline and if you feel like playing the game have a look into Staples and their ink recycling policies. You can find often coupons to take $$$ off the price for original cartridges and if you recycle up to 10 used cartridges they will give you $20 next month . . . to spend on ink. It is slightly more complicated, but you get the idea.
posted by nostrada at 10:05 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

You may want to consider a continuous ink system. I used one with a different Epson printer and got two years of printing for a total cost of about $70.

I'm now using a similar system for my Brother and in two years have spent $25 on the carts and the ink. At this rate I've still got four years of ink sitting on the shelf.
posted by chazlarson at 10:37 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]

I've been hit and miss with this, but I figured I would just buy some from a couple vendors and see what worked. Oregon Toner Company's inks worked, so I'm buying from them from now on. For what it's worth, they have 100% eBay feedback with over 13,000 sales.
posted by cnc at 12:47 PM on September 11, 2013

I strongly recommend precision colors refill stuff- they sell Image Specialists inks, which are arguably the best in the industry. (Image Specialists doesn't sell to end users.)
These folks know from beans.
Two others who sell IS inks- Colorbat (quite a character, this one!), Inksupply (which is listed as the official North American distributor.)
posted by drhydro at 10:09 PM on September 11, 2013