Lounge Lizards / Misfits / Free Thinkers / Bohemians & the Forgotten :: Young at Heart Only

[MikeE3]

Okay - Need some advice and thought this would be the best place to ask . . .

I have a very reliable, yet older HP 955c Printer that has yet to fail- Not like the new HP ENVY 455 Series I have. Anyway, given this and with how long a single balck ink cartridge will last me (3+ years) I'm on the search for HP 45 Ink Cartridge - of course at a reasonable price. I found them at a few major stores - Office Depot, Staples, Wallmart, etc - however they are all listed at $60 - $70+ for one. Even at the HP Store they were $60 for just 1. AND - Like one of the store salesman I visited - mentioned it would be cheaper to buy a new printer - but the thing is I already have one - just doesn't work as well.

So - of course, I'm "Googling" to see where else I can find it, only to see Amazon - is the same price as the major stores. Then there was "e-Bay" where there were a number of listing ranging from $10 and upto a 2 pack for $19.99 - even some with free shipping. The only caveat to most of them, is they are listed as "Expired" (different dates), but guaranteed to work. (hp 45 ink cartridge | eBay)

Well - I have not used e-Bay at all, especially given some of my friends bad experiences in the past .

SO:

1) What's your opinion? Good - Bad - Indifferent ? RUN - Away NOW, before wasting any money? Pay the $60 ?

2) Have you used e-bay and had good/bad results ?
(Yes I know some of you have - that's why I'm asking)


Thanks in advance for any information/advice . . .


.

I've used ebay quite often over the years. I haven't had a problem but I'm careful about what sellers and what products I'll buy. My prime rule, if the price is too good to be true for a given product ... I'll pass.

I'd be leary about buying rebuilt/refilled printer cartridges on ebay, somehow I just wouldn't trust the quality and/or if they'd work properly. But that's just me.

Ebay General: Be careful about buying big name brand items that are brand new like golf equipment, North Face clothing, etc. There is a huge black market in counterfeit high end items being sold on eBay. That's some other items I'd pass on getting from eBay.

We were paying at least about $100 2x a year to feed our HP printer. We bought a new HP printer and subscribed to the print cartridge plan for $5 per month. So far it's working out well for us. HP monitors the ink level and when you need refills they send them 'free' to the door. Our plan allows printing 100 pages per month. We only went over that at Christmas time when we were printing a number of Christmas Newsletters to send to folks who don't use email. If you run over you allotted limited each 15 pages over costs $1. I figure we're saving over $100 per year on those dang cartridges from Stapes or Costco.

 

[Uncle Willie]

Ebay General: Be careful about buying big name brand items that are brand new like golf equipment, North Face clothing, etc. There is a huge black market in counterfeit high end items being sold on eBay. That's some other items I'd pass on getting from eBay.

While I don't disagree, many of those name brand items "fell off the truck" or walked out the door at the warehouse the seller or family works at .. while I have never spent a ton of money on eBay, when I was hooked on Breathe Right strips before vaping miraculously made my snoring reduce to near nothing eventually, I was buying 30 packs that sell at Walmart for $12.00 and would get the same exact ones on eBay for $5.00 and free shipping ..

 

[r77r7r]

I have agree with Willie, Laserjet is awesome. If I really need color, I print it elsewhere. My B&W Canon was 50$ and refill was 12$. Fast and almost zero maintenance. Turns out that I almost never really need color prints.

 

[Bea-FL]

We too have a B&W laser printer and love it. The few times we need color we go to Staples.

Willie my two cents worth about e-bay. I won’t use it for anything. I had a very bad experience with them years ago and it took threatening them with a lawyer visit snd several weeks of calls to settle it and get my money back.

 

[Bea-FL]

20 years ago today at 8:36pm our life as we knew it ended. We’ve been going through the motions ever since. We think of Eric every day. He would’ve been 47 years old. We miss him so much.

 

[clnire]

Super cyber hugs to you @Bea-FL and Gary.

 

[Janet H]

20 years ago today at 8:36pm our life as we knew it ended. We’ve been going through the motions ever since. We think of Eric every day. He would’ve been 47 years old. We miss him so much.
View attachment 873231

 

[Janet H]

Good morning Cathy and Bea. It was a crisp 32 this morning and the deer are frisky. 3 yearlings couldn't figure out what was going on while 1 adult raced around and around our back 3 acres, just having herself a great time. The little ones wanted to join in, but I guess just didn't understand the game.

 

[rosesense]

20 years ago today at 8:36pm our life as we knew it ended. We’ve been going through the motions ever since. We think of Eric every day. He would’ve been 47 years old. We miss him so much.
View attachment 873231

You are in my thoughts. It is the hardest thing and thanks for the poem. It is so true for me. Even though it has only been 2 months, the edges are softening.

 

[Flowersoul]

20 years ago today at 8:36pm our life as we knew it ended. We’ve been going through the motions ever since. We think of Eric every day. He would’ve been 47 years old. We miss him so much.
View attachment 873231

You are in my thoughts. It is the hardest thing and thanks for the poem. It is so true for me. Even though it has only been 2 months, the edges are softening.

Comforting thoughts for both of you!

 

[Flowersoul]

Good morning!

Yesterday I spent the day with our dd and a good friend and laughed so hard our bellies hurt....we needed the girls day out!

 

[MikeE3]

20 years ago today at 8:36pm our life as we knew it ended. We’ve been going through the motions ever since. We think of Eric every day. He would’ve been 47 years old. We miss him so much.
View attachment 873231

You are in my thoughts. It is the hardest thing and thanks for the poem. It is so true for me. Even though it has only been 2 months, the edges are softening.

 

[oldbroad]

Good morning friends!

My pc is still kinda screwy..having a hard time with it...

so I'm gonna play some Euchre..that still works!

 

[DavidOck]

Morning, misfits.

Rain and 40 atm, heading for rain and 50

 

[Anise]

Good morning everyone! I hope everyone has a good day today!

 

[rosesense]

I hate wind. We either having so much rain the yard is a swimming pool or wind that knocks you down. C'mon spring.

 

[Uncle Willie]

I hate wind. We either having so much rain the yard is a swimming pool or wind that knocks you down. C'mon spring.

Hola ..

I second that emotion ..

 

[Uncle]

First - Something that I learned a long time ago and that I am reminded of almost every day . . . It never fails, unless Ya' are willing to ask the question or even put it out there - you'll never get the answer/help your looking for and NEED . . . Just Sayin' . . .

AND - THANK YOU ALL - For responding with advice/suggestions/answers to "My" queries . . .

Dan :: I stopped using inkjets some years ago and went with laser, it's just much cheaper ..

You are probably correct, but I already have 3 printers and a new updated model to a laser ain't gonna be happening, especially given that I don't print that many documents any longer and cannot justify the expense either . . . ​

what I did when I was using inkjets was use a refill kit such as this one ::

https://www.amazon.com/Refill-BCH-C...ll+Kit+for+HP+45+51645A&qid=1583431497&sr=8-1

It's not hard to do and refilling always worked out fine for me .. .

Although I tried re-filling tanks before years ago, it didn't work out well for "Me" (ink all over my hands/desk) . . . However, willing to give it a try again . . . So - Ordered . . . ​

as well, eBay is safe, IMO .. the Buyer Protections are strong .. I would personally not hesitate to use them .. no different than an Amazon 2nd party seller .

I agree with Willie. We haven't used E-bay much lately, but over the years we've used them often and haven't had any problems. If I remember right there are seller ratings right on the page with the item to be sold so that's something you can check. They don't want problems because nobody would buy from them.

I've used ebay quite often over the years. I haven't had a problem but I'm careful about what sellers and what products I'll buy. My prime rule, if the price is too good to be true for a given product ... I'll pass.

I'd be leary about buying rebuilt/refilled printer cartridges on ebay, somehow I just wouldn't trust the quality and/or if they'd work properly. But that's just me.

Ebay General: Be careful about buying big name brand items that are brand new like golf equipment, North Face clothing, etc. There is a huge black market in counterfeit high end items being sold on eBay. That's some other items I'd pass on getting from eBay.

Willie my two cents worth about e-bay. I won’t use it for anything. I had a very bad experience with them years ago and it took threatening them with a lawyer visit snd several weeks of calls to settle it and get my money back.

As for e-Bay - Thanks for the heads-up about what I should consider/be cautious about and relating your experiences . . . However, like @Bea-FL, I and another friend were "Burnt" (he to the tune of 5K) long time ago . . . So - I am still very hesitant to make any purchases from there even with what Ya' have all said . . . Maybe, if there is something I really NEED and can't get else where I might given them a try later . . . Just Sayin' . . . ​

We were paying at least about $100 2x a year to feed our HP printer. We bought a new HP printer and subscribed to the print cartridge plan for $5 per month. So far it's working out well for us. HP monitors the ink level and when you need refills they send them 'free' to the door. Our plan allows printing 100 pages per month. We only went over that at Christmas time when we were printing a number of Christmas Newsletters to send to folks who don't use email. If you run over you allotted limited each 15 pages over costs $1. I figure we're saving over $100 per year on those dang cartridges from Stapes or Costco.

If I really need color, I print it elsewhere. My B&W Canon was 50$ and refill was 12$. Fast and almost zero maintenance. Turns out that I almost never really need color prints.

We too have a B&W laser printer and love it. The few times we need color we go to Staples.

Lets just say this - while subscribing to HP' print cartridge service is a fine idea and something I even considered when I was in college (1994-1998), but didn't see it as being financially viable solution at the time . . . In reality, I have been using the same Black/Color Cartridges in HP 955c since 2001 and in the ENVY 4500 Series for the past 3 years (I think those cartridges have dried up by now and NEED to be replaced too) . . . So - As Ya' can see/tell the value of printing anything in "Draft Mode" and similarly like a number of others, I never ever printing anything in color unless Ya' have too - can be very beneficial in a number of ways . . . BTW: I think if I have printed out 20-40 letters or minor documents in that time is saying a lot . . . ​

SO - Here's the outcome of all this . . . Found a listing on Amazon for the HP 45 Ink Cartridge for $29.99 which was much more reasonable (although still a lot for 1 "Ink" cartidge) then the $60-$70 elsewhere (or most of the questionable listing on e-Bay) . . . Went back to Office Depot and they price matched . . . Now - I have a Newer Cartridge, that I can use now, and the older one that "died" to use when the "Refill Ink Cartridge' gets here for later use . . . So All-In-All A WIN - WIN ! ! ! : thiumbs:

Once Again . . .

.​

 

[Uncle]

@Bea-FL & @rosesense . . .

.​

 

[Uncle Willie]

Man, I remember when I used to use inkjets .. leave it sit for a while and you'd have to run the durn "cleaning cycle" and watch as your ink supply went bye bye ..

I still have an old inkjet that I used back in the days when I had the Studio and was mixing and producing demo CD's / DVD's and commercials .. it has a tray that you put a printable CD / DVD in and it would print custom graphics and text on the disc .. I should drag that thing out and see if I can still get it to work .. might be worth a little coin these days ..

Dan, I don't know if you had joined us yet when I wrote a little bit about my time producing early work by Lea DeLaria (she's from my area) .. a delightful woman with a voice like an Angel .. if you watched "Orange is the New Black" she was Big Boo .. I still maintain an archive of her music from years ago and maintain sporadic contact with her ..

Lea DeLaria - Wikipedia