How come toner for an inkjet printer is such different prices?

November 6, 2022 2:04 PM

What is up with the difference in the pricing in ink toners? Staples has one 12,000-page toner for the MFCL6700DW for $132. Precision roller has it for $30. Amazon has 4 for $200. Inkjet 7 for $150. Are these all the same quality? Any reason not to buy the cheapest?
posted by andoatnp to Technology (10 answers total)

Sorry to be pedantic, but if you have an inkjet printer, you don't need a toner cartridge. Toner cartridges are for laser printers.

So, if you do have a laser printer and you need a toner cartridge, get the generic one for $30. It'll be fine. It's not made by Brother. That's why it's cheaper. I have a Brother laser printer and have used cheap toner cartridges from amazon with no issues.
posted by jonathanhughes at 2:18 PM on November 6, 2022 [3 favorites]

Read the details VERY carefully to see if the cheaper ones require DIY to fill yourself; I've made that mistake.
posted by nkknkk at 2:32 PM on November 6, 2022

No difference, we have a dozens of Brother printers, including ones that use TN880. I've ended up going back to the "LD Products" brand for them, usually available on Amazon, but you can usually save a few bucks if you go direct to their site (check if they've got some holiday or themed coupon in the top heading, often you can save another 5%).
posted by Static Vagabond at 2:42 PM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

If you're wondering why, part of it is that institutions (businesses, government, schools, etc) have different needs than households.
posted by dum spiro spero at 3:35 PM on November 6, 2022

There is a huge (perceived) difference between OEM and compatible toner cartridges. I've gone back and forth over several years of having a laser printer. I usually start out, when I get a new printer, using OEM cartridges but eventually the cost difference gets to be so much that I can't resist exploring the compatibles. Having had problems before with compatible cartridges, I'm very judicious about researching a supplier/manufacturer. In fact, I usually buy compatibles on eBay, secure in my assumption that if the seller has crappy product it will show up quickly and loudly in the feedback. I don't always buy the cheapest compatible, but even the most expensive is far cheaper than OEM.
posted by DrGail at 5:16 PM on November 6, 2022

I've bought many different ink carts for my Brother inkjet MFC and so far I've yet to perceive a difference, but then, it had pretty much stopped printing one of the colors, but I really only use it for black and white anyway.
posted by kschang at 6:35 PM on November 6, 2022

Some of the cheaper ones are probably refilled and resold. Check the merchant-specific reviews if you go that route on Amazon, not just the overall product rating.

Also some big chains used to offer cheap (like less than $20) cartridge refill service, not sure if that's still a thing. Costco stopped doing it. Walgreens stores that still have a photo counter may still offer it.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:46 PM on November 6, 2022

ink toners?

There is ink, for inkjet printers, and there's toner, for laser printers (and never the twain shall meet).
Yours is a laser printer, so it needs a toner cartridge. It's made by Brother, and their laser printers don't care if they get an OEM cartridge installed, or some aftermarket one.
posted by Stoneshop at 1:25 AM on November 7, 2022

Ah, yes. OP's printer is a laser, and I haven't had issues with aftermarket toner carts in any of the Brother printers I've had either.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:09 AM on November 7, 2022

Response by poster: Yes, sorry for my confusing vocabulary. This is toner for a laser printer.
posted by andoatnp at 7:38 AM on November 7, 2022