[stemmer]

Anyone know of a good site in Canada to purchase laser printer cartridges... I have a Brother HL2030 and Staples wants $94 for a new cartridge (TN 350) as does Futureshop...

Cheers

[BartSimpson]

US$22 on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/TN350-TN-350-Bran ... B001LRG38O

[Choban]

Yah Amazon or Ebay, or do as I do and just buy a new printer for $50

[BartSimpson]

Choban wrote:

Yah Amazon or Ebay, or do as I do and just buy a new printer for $50

I remember working at Intel and they had these 1000 series desktop printers they'd bought for like $50 each on some deal and the replacement toner was around $105 so when you ran out of toner the PC Services guys would come around and just give you a new printer and throw away the old one. Or they'd give you the toner cartridge from the new printer and then throw away the rest of the printer.

I KNOW it made economic sense but the waste just went against my grain.

[westmanguy]

Soooo many people do that. I know when we used to have the standard shitty old printer everytime the ink ran out, rather then spend the ridiculous amount (i.e. $65) on replacement ink, my dad would just go out and buy a new printer for $50.

The ink industry really needs to get a grip.

[Strutz]

I get a kick out of the HP Inkjet printer we use at work. The "low ink" indicator comes on at a certain point and the stupid message "you really should change the cartridge now" window would pop up long before the cartridge actually ran out. I disabled the pop-up window long time ago and always find that we can continue printing for 3-4 weeks before the docs we're printing become faint. That's when I change the cartridge. Same printer has been in use for a few of years now so it doesn't do the printer any harm to let the cartridge run dry. HP likes to tell you that changing ahead prevents damage to the printer. Yea, right, it just prompts some customers to change them more often than need be.

The cartridges are ridiculousy expensive compared to just buying another printer, but to just toss out equipment like that is even more ridiculous as far as I'm concerned. The packaging waste is ludicrous too... a big cardboard box containing a plastic tray, holding a foil bag, holding a cardboard sleeve, containing a little plastic box that contains the ink.

[Yogi]

You hit the nail right on the head Strutz. Ink cartridges have a small 'sensor window' on them which then 'remind you that the ink is 'about to run out'. Not so! Actually have about 1/4-1/3 left. Remove the cartridge, and cover the window with a small piece of black electrical tape and then reinstall.

As far as new cartridges go, I have A Brother MFC, and quite right Stemmer, the ink is bloody expensive. I purchased a few refill kits and fill my own or visit Island Inkjet. Cartridges are a fraction of the cost.

[wildrosegirl]

I've always bought my ink at Costco (I've had a few printers over the years). Never had any problems.

[herbie]

Yogi wrote:

You hit the nail right on the head Strutz. Ink cartridges have a small 'sensor window' on them which then 'remind you that the ink is 'about to run out'. Not so! Actually have about 1/4-1/3 left. Remove the cartridge, and cover the window with a small piece of black electrical tape and then reinstall.

As far as new cartridges go, I have A Brother MFC, and quite right Stemmer, the ink is bloody expensive. I purchased a few refill kits and fill my own or visit Island Inkjet. Cartridges are a fraction of the cost.

Generic Brother ink cartridges $9.99 and I make a killing selling them. Matter of fact we only stock Brother and Canon models that will take generic cartridges and they are popular.
But think about it people. You CAN'T build a laser printer and sell it for $89. The ink is what makes the money. Like a cellphone, a Blackberry or iPhone isn't "worth" $99... it the goddam contract that's gonna hose you. LOSS LEADER.
Staples, Future Shop, Brother don't make dick selling the printers. I often buy out the nearest Staples or Future Shop when I see them on for less than wholesale.
I'm there, save shipping, and get the HST back anyway, they're just another supplier to me.
And I just LOVE when someone tells me they can buy them $15 cheaper at Staples (which is over 120 miles away!) and I can point and say "Not anymore you can't!"

[stemmer]

Herbie...are you suggesting you sell these printer cartridges for $9.99? Do you have an online store?

Cheers

[BartSimpson]

In theory, the little 'reminder' messages are supposed to tell you when to order more toner/ink - not necessarily that it's time to replace the cartridges.

[herbie]

Those are INK cartridges, not laser. Gimme till after the weekend I'll see if generic Brother lasers are available.

[stemmer]

Thanks kindly Herbie...