Ink is a major cost for home computer owners, and buying printer ink cartridges online can be a great way to save money. This is because online stores are more competitive and less limited than big box stores and chains, and consumers have a variety of new choices for affordable printer ink cartridges that may only be available through the Internet. To understand how the cost of a printer ink cartridge is lower when it’s purchased online, it’s very helpful to consider how printer cartridges are priced in the first place.

Every printer ink cartridge manufacturer charges far more on a per-product basis than their cartridges actually cost. They’re able to do this because each ink cartridge for each new printer is completely different, and printer companies patent their designs. This prevents competition–the only companies that can create new ink cartridges are the companies that made the printers in the first place. Therefore, you’ll often see printers sold for well under cost, while the ink cartridges for those same printers cost much more than they’d cost in a typical market. Some other industries such as shaving razor manufacturers use the same general business model. While this is good for the printer companies, it’s not so great for the consumer, as each ink cartridge can cost anywhere from $30-$50, and even more for large, high-capacity printers. Physical retail stores also have to add a small charge to each ink cartridge in order to make a profit.

Online stores don’t have to make shelf space for ink cartridges, and as such, they can greatly lower the cost of selling the cartridges. Those savings are inevitably passed on to the consumer, since, as mentioned earlier, there’s tremendous competition between online businesses. This pushes the overall cost of ink down, and many websites offer affordable printer ink cartridges as a result. Some even offer their customers alternatives to new, name-brand cartridges. For instance, remanufactured ink cartridges are occasionally available, which use recycled parts from old cartridges to deliver the same quality prints at a lower cost.

When buying printer ink cartridges online, be sure to stock up–get two or three cartridges if you go through ink fairly fast, and you’ll improve your savings by limiting shipping charges. However, be careful not to buy more ink than you need. Remember that printer ink does have an expiration date, so buying boxes and boxes of ink cartridges is probably a bad idea. Doing the research definitely benefits anyone trying to find affordable prices. With a bit of careful online shopping and good printing habits, you can greatly reduce your printer ink bill and save money immediately.