Help! My printer is lousy at color....?

Question

I'm really disappointed in my printer; it seems to have never printed color very well but was a gift so.....I buy the discounted ink cartridges on line, do you think this could be it? Do you think the on line ink catridges are as good as the ones that cost an arm and a leg at say...Office Max? Can someone guide me to a good color printer?

Answer 1

The ink from the discount are refills and generally are bad and can definatly affect the print quality.
HP is the best in printers.
Don

Answer 2

I'm on my second printer so I can tell you from my experience with them. My first printer printed good (not superb) just good and adequate and it was a Canon. They don't make that model anymore (when it died I asked for another, that's how I know). And that's the problem, because when you finally find something good, after while they upgrade and you can't get another like it. ....HP changed out my computer so I had to choose something compatible. So I chose a HP printer, this time I chose another inexpensive model (about $75). It prints color ok but not like the last one I had.

I have to say that ALL the ink I've purchased has been brand name (either HP or Canon) the expensive (and not refilled) kind and I buy them at Staples (I drive there).

I figure that since the ink is good, the quality of the picture printed MUST have to do with the printer itself. Next time I won't get the cheaper model. And, I would choose another Canon.

Answer 3

People don't give "expensive (usually meaning, high-quality)" printers as gifts.

The part about the discounted ink cartridges was hilarious and suspect. Costing an arm and a leg won't improve ink cartridge quality as a rule.

You might be happiest stopping by OfficeMax or some such place, and having them print a test page on any printer you consider buying until you are satisfied that this machine is the one you want.

Answer 4

Well, think of it this way...would you rather buy a fairly high-price printer that will last you for the next 5years or more? or would you rather buy a cheap printer that will only last you a couple of years and then buy another one again?
I'm sure that buying the ink online is it.
It's not good to buy ink off the internet. How do you know they are not sending previously used cartridges?

Are you sure your buying the right cartridges? (Right size?)
Are you buying printer ink or photo ink?

I'd recommend buying Cannon's or hp's.
Although they are kind of expensive you know you are buying quality that is going to benefit you in the long run. Some of these printers come with extra features such as photo printing such as mine.

And if you have a business in which you will be using your printer the ink you buy can be used as a cash deductable.

Even though the ink is fairly expensive you know it is of quality that will last you and present excellent results unlike store brand names or brand names never heard of.

Answer 5

The outrageous cost of cartridges is fantastically common for ALL printers. the companies sell the hardware (printer itself) at an extremely low cost, then get better the fee of producing, plus make funds from merchandising the ink. It is clever, and explains why you may get a printer so low fee.

Answer 6

Try consulting your printer's user manual and see if there is a problem with the cartridge or the toner. You may not have put the color cartridge in correctly.

Answer 7

Honestly i prefer office max or office depot when it comes to buying ink. last time i bought ink from discount online stores....screwed my printer.

Answer 8

Youo are buying refills if you are buying online.Walgreens has started a new refill program. They clean and test the cartridges first. If you buy cheap, you get cheap.

Answer 9

get a laser color printer!