Credit to everyone who is trying to recycle their ink cartridges, but I still have concerns about these printers and their consumables. Ink jet printers are just plain hard on the budget and the environment, and the cartridges can't be refilled indefinitely, many only once and very few more than two or three times. Many applications don't really need an ink jet, I see lots of these printers being used in places where a laser or dot matrix would be much better suited to the job. Often people buy them because the initial printer cost is very low, frequently because it's heavily subsided by the expensive cartridges, sometimes the printer is sold for less than a full set of cartridges. However, when you consider the price of ink and special paper, it's multiple times cheaper to take your digital photographs or images to a shop and have them use their state of the art printer worth thousands to print them for you. No need to clutter up your house with another printer, no need to change cartridges or anything. Best of all it's not more work, you can either go out to the store to buy cartridges or you can go to the store to have your pictures printed. The only major difference is price and quality, both of which are better. Some places do it mail order or over the internet now, so you could have your prints sent to you. Of course some people do need a colour printer at home or in their office, there are genuine needs, but then it's fair to point out that the price of colour laser printers has dropped a lot now, and they're much better suited to high volume applications, but also don't dry up if not used for a while. They also work out much cheaper in the long term. Anyone who can justify their need for a high quality colour printer, for example a high volume of prints being made, can probably justify the initial expense of a colour laser as it will save them so much money in the long term.

Try Print Pal, I've used others and have been happy with cartridges. But I save the most by buying "bulk ink" and refilling cartridges two or three times before replacing. If you're doing only photo, you can do the self service at places like Walmart for under 30 cents each, don't remember the exact number. Your numbers about say 35 Cents just for ink with the Vivera set, maybe more with the Canon. To this you have to add the cost of the paper, what another 50 cents per picture? Of course you save on the gas if printing your own actually saves a trip. My Lexmark X8300 series AIO printer has smaller, lower cost cartridges than most other Lexmarks, I like that because the print head is in the cartridge and when it wears out (from refills) it cost less to get a new set of print heads.

kit, I don't know if laser toner cartridges are similar to 'ink' cartridges. I don't have that particular printer, but here is my experience with filling an 'ink' cartridge. After a lot of work, and prying, I finally got my cartridge apart (the top off), and got it refilled. When I put the cartridge back together and in the printer, it gave me an error message...out of alignment or something. I think I damaged the cartridge somewhat when I pried the top off. It 'was' a real chore. After several attempts, I got the message to go away and the printer working. I think what I will do in the future, is drill a small hole in the top of cartridge, fill with ink via the needle, and then either put a piece of tape on the hole or a small dot of glue. I'm with you...cheaper to get a new printer, than buy cartridges...what a shame. Sue

Wish we had a Staples. Our cartridges are close to what your's cost. Like $38/black and $38 for color. Thats at Walmart, much higher in town here. It hurts to buy them, when you think of how cheap printers are now days you can buy a new one for the price of ink!