When it's time to replace you printer ink cartridge, buying
bulk ink will save you some money. You need to be sure the bulk
ink will be suitable for your printer, however. So how do you
find the best deals? 
 
The following your alternatives:
 
Original Manufacturer Cartridges
 
You can usually buy them for less if you buy them in bulk. If
your printer uses both a black cartridges and a color, you
likely use more of one than the other. If you're going to buy
them in bulk, just buy the one you use most.
 
The original manufacturer's cartridges will usually give you
the best quality prints out of any of the alternatives. They
are the most expensive, however.
 
Also, if you buy them in bulk keep in mind that they do dry
out. Most ink cartridges have a ""best before"" date on the box.
If they sit too long before you use them, the ink may dry out
(which means your bulk purchase savings will disappear out the
window).
 
Remanufactured (Refilled) Cartridges
 
There are many companies that sell remanufactured cartridges.
These are basically refilled OEM cartridges, but without the
hassle and mess of doing the refilling yourself.
 
The companies that refill them also usually do a more thorough
job of cleaning and testing them than you can do yourself, so
they tend to be more reliable.
 
These cartridges are much like the original brand of ink - they
will dry out if they sit too long. Don't buy more than you need
to last you for a couple of months, otherwise they may not work
by the time you use them.
 
Do-It-Yourself Refill Kits
 
These kits let you refill your empty cartridges and are the
cheapest option of them all. The bottles that hold the ink
until you refill the cartridge are also much less prone to
drying out, so these kits have a much longer shelf life.
 
The refilling process can be tricky, however, for some printer
models more than others. It can be quite messy if you aren't
careful.
 
Comparing the Costs
 
Let's compare the price of each of the above options:
 
An original HP ink cartridge for the V40 series printer costs
about $30 from most stores (black only).
 
If you buy this ink in bulk from a wholesaler, it will cost
about $100 for 4 cartridges, or $25 per unit.
 
You can buy remanufactured ink cartridges for the same printer
for $21 each, or less if bought in bulk.
 
Finally, a bottle of black refill ink for that printer will
cost you roughly $15, and will refill the ink 4 times. This
works out to $3.75 per refill.

About The Author: Frank Bolsom compares inkjet cartridge
refills, remanufactured cartridges and the original brands on
the Inketeria website. For more helpful tips and advice, visit
http://www.inketeria.com