Good Experience at Staples and Canon ink: Hi, I went to Staples yesterday to buy a CLI-42 PM cartridge for my PRO 100 printer. Staples did not have any in stock on the shelf. The...

Chico 1948 Loc: Cincinnati

Hi,

I went to Staples yesterday to buy a CLI-42 PM cartridge for my PRO 100 printer. Staples did not have any in stock on the shelf. The manager approached me asking if he could help. Yes, of course I said. He got on a ladder and found a 8 pk that hadn't been put on the shelf. Price $126.99. I said I was only looking for a single cartridge and hoped for a better price on the 8 pk. He said that Staples does price comparisons on products as long as the listing is for a brick and mortar store, and he would see what he could do. Result, $80.99, $46 less than list.

I frequently read on this site about the cost of ink for photo printers and thought members would benefit from my experience. My wife says, never pay retail, always ask for a better price. Wise indeed.

Pete

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I keep one backup of each color.

The most convenient source for me when I want single cartridges is B&H. I click it, they ship it and I get it two to three days later. Most of the time it is free freight and not sales tax. Price is always at the retail $17 for Canon. Once I had to get three to get the free freight.

Should I decide I need cheaper cartridges, LD Products has private label cartridges for the Pro-100 at $6.50. https://www.ldproducts.com/

Someone is likely to post that Precision Color has a refillable system that can make printing really cheap!

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

The best prices for ink I have found is Atlex.com, at least for Epson ink. But they sell all brands.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Which reminds me, out of the last pack of ink, I have Light Gray left. TIme to reup.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Which reminds me, out of the last pack of ink, I have Light Gray left. TIme to reup.

Do you need a complete set?

Consider:
Printer: $340
Rebate: $250

Price after Rebate $120

With it you get 50 sheets of paper worth about $40 and an 8 color ink pack worth about $125.

So for a net $120 out of pocket you get $165 in supplies.

Looks to me like Canon is "paying you" about $45 to take one of their printers.

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

Chico 1948 wrote:

Hi, br br I went to Staples yesterday to buy a CL... (show quote)

I also have a Canon Pro100 printer and I keep a spare cartridge of each color in stock. When a cartridge goes empty in the printer I replace it with one of my spares. When I have replaced 3 cartridges I order new cartridges directly from Canon, I pay 16.99 per cartridge and receive free shipping along with several packs of free photo paper valued at a couple of hundred dollars. For me this is the best way to go.
I have accumulated more paper than I can use, so on occasion I sell some of the paper on eBay which brings the cost of the cartridges in some cases to almost free. I recently sold some paper for approximately $200.00.
Seems like a no-brainer for me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Chico 1948 wrote:

Hi, br br I went to Staples yesterday to buy a CL... (show quote)

I was looking for a single black cartridge for my iP4500 yesterday, and I saw that Staples had the same $126.99 box for the Pro-100. Thankfully, I didn't need it. I'm thinking of getting a continuous ink supply for that.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

I use an HP 8710 all-in-one machine. HP has a program where you never run out of ink for a small monthly fee. Mine is pretty much unlimited for around $10.00/month. Excellant program, I have never run out and I don't have to go looking for it. It is delivered to my door, and I pay for only what I use. It's the best ink replenishement system I've found!

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

bsprague wrote:

I keep one backup of each color. br br The most... (show quote)

There is a good way to ruin a perfectly good printer using 3rd party refilled cartridges that can fail and leak ink all over the inside of your printer. It happens a lot. I would not take the chance.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Chico 1948 wrote:

Hi, br br I went to Staples yesterday to buy a CL... (show quote)

You got lucky Pete!

Staples doesn't normally stock Canon inks... but you can buy online at their website and have them sent to your local store for pickup (usually within 24 hours). When you do that, there are no shipping charges.

You also can reduce your cost of inks at Staple by joining their Rewards program and recycling your ink cartridges. If I recall correctly, you get $2 per cartridge you turn in, limited to the number of cartridges you purchase from them (up to some monthly maximum). In other words, if you bought an 8-pack of inks like the set the Pro-100 uses, with their recycling program you can get a $16 discount from the retail price, making the net cost of a set for the Pro-100 $109 (plus tax).

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

bsprague wrote:

...

Consider:
Printer: $340
Rebate: $250
Price after Rebate $120

With it you get 50 sheets of paper worth about $40 and an 8 color ink pack worth about $125.

So for a net $120 out of pocket you get $165 in supplies.

Looks to me like Canon is "paying you" about $45 to take one of their printers.

Not quite... read the fine print.

The ink set included with the printer is a "starter set" that's only half full. They run out pretty quickly, so it's a good idea to go ahead and order a full set of inks along with the printer. You'll need them in short order!

"Starter" sets of inks are common practice with all the printer manufacturers.

I got my Pro-100 as a freebie bundled with a camera purchase. $0 out of pocket for the printer & paper. So all I had to pay for was the add'l set of inks (which were also on sale for $115 at the time). Those bundles are a good deal that they offer occasionally.

philo Loc: philo, ca

bsprague wrote:

Do you need a complete set?

Consider:
Printer: $340
Rebate: $250

Price after Rebate $120

With it you get 50 sheets of paper worth about $40 and an 8 color ink pack worth about $125.

So for a net $120 out of pocket you get $165 in supplies.

Looks to me like Canon is "paying you" about $45 to take one of their printers.

I believe that the ink that come with the pro 100 printer is only enough to start up the printer. they are not the full tank.

Jesu S

DAN Phillips wrote:

I use an HP 8710 all-in-one machine. HP has a program where you never run out of ink for a small monthly fee. Mine is pretty much unlimited for around $10.00/month. Excellant program, I have never run out and I don't have to go looking for it. It is delivered to my door, and I pay for only what I use. It's the best ink replenishement system I've found!

I'd be interested in signing up for such a program. How do you pay for only what you use? It sounds like you need to make the monthly payment whether or not you need ink that month. Can you explain how this works? Thanks.

philo Loc: philo, ca

Is it available for other makers.?

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

My Canon Pro 100 came it’s full ink cartridges and I have bought sets off of eBay that were from ebayers that purchased the printers when they were on sale for 49.99 after buying a Canon Camera. They then sold the cartridges, print heads and any other parts from the printers. Those cartridges that I bought were also full cartridges.