So much money!! Why?

I always leave them in until I can see a difference in the quality of the print.

My latest printer has a large black cartridge and half a dozen smaller color cartridges--one for each color. I really think it's a money-saver. Some colors run out so fast, others last a long, long time. So I'm not tossing a multi-color cartridge just because 1 color has run low. I really like the multiple color cartridges.

I wait until it WON'T print anymore. Usually get another 5-10 pieces done before that happens. I have changed carts in the middle of a print job, and have not been able to tell the difference. FYI - I work as a photographer at a local college and have used MANY printers...

I don't use a printer at home. I save things I may want to print and use the University's printers. We get an allotment each semester and I don't even come close to using mine. I love just having a laptop at home without the tower, speakers and printer.

I wait until it won't print anymore.

When that alert pops up on my 3-in-one, I take the cartridge out and put it back in, going through the process as if it was a new cartridge - works for many more copies. When it no longer prints, I put a new one in.

I will until it clunks and says that cartridge is dry.
I get all new cartridges once a year (I have 6 colors) and an extra black one, for about $100.00.
Ang, have you tried looking at Newegg.com or WalMart.com to see if you can get yours cheaper? What kind of printer is it?
Mine is a good-quality Canon, and it works great!
I tried generic ink in the one I had before, it stopped working within two days.

We have the HP all in one Photosmart printers. I tried re-filling them myself a while back, but the ink was all gobby and leaked out and ruined one of our printers.

Kodak is doing a marketing blitz touting how cheap their ink cartridges are. "why pay more". Well, my step-father bought a Kodak printer last year, and when it says low cartridge, it won't print anymore. It shows half-full on the gauge, and won't print any more. The software decides when it needs to be changed.
You can't refill these either. So it's very expensive, even if the cartridges are cheaper, if you are throwing them out when they are half-full.

When my printer tells me that the ink is nearly out I do keep using it. However I have to keep an eye on the gauge for the color cartridge- my printer will start using the color ink to print if the black is completely gone. It just combines whatever color it needs to make black ink.

I have a HP Photosmart, and I am happy with the ink usage. Mine is the kind that has 5 different colors cartrides and one black. That way if you are using a lot of red or blue or yellow - only those tanks need replacing, not the whole tri-color one - that might still be half full, but out of one color hue.

Have HP, and when it is out, no more printing. But did get a good deal on the HP web site. Some colors go faster than others.

Mine is like iowagirls and yours. HP All in One. I keep using mine when it say's it's low, until the color is fading. I'm going to try taking it out and putting it back in next time.
Leslie

I keep using it til it gets too light to see.I have a lexmark now with just 2 cartridges and they cost me 60.00 at walmart.

I had the kodak printer for a short while,in less than a year the printer heads needed to be replaced TWICE.Sure they sent me new ones free,but what a pain in the butt,So we dumped it,rather DH did.
Kathi

This one I am using now I got this spring, it is a Canon. It has been saying for some time I need to replace the cartridge, but I just keep using it. I am not printing photos or cards so it works for now. I think I liked my HP better. It still works, I may have the kids hook it up to my new computer and see if I like it better than this one. I used to take the HP cartridge out and give it a shake and it would work for awhile.

Sue

I keep printing uhtil the quality is too bad.

I have an HP all-in-one printer with 6 cartrides. Sometimes, I do change when the low indicator pops up, but not always. I use the build-in features of the printer to see how low the cartridges are. I may print a report or just look at the printer's graphics display. If there is 8% to 10% left, I'll print a bit more; If its down to 5%, its change out time.

I not sure how the modern printers manage the ink supply these days. Before I retired, I had bad experiences with early ink jets, noteable, a Tektronics printer. If this one ran dry and any air entered the supply side of the print head, the pulse pump would loose its prime and would not oeprate again until primed. It could not re-prime itself as it needed to re-establish surface tension with the ink supply. It required a service call to get it going again. Paying a tech over $200 just to prime the print head was too much. Obviously, this printer was replaced during the next office equipment upgrade cycle.

These comments apply to printers with fixed ink jets and with cartridges that hold only ink. [On some printer models, each cartridge has the print jets built into the cartridge, and on these, you can run those to empty without any prine problem.]

Because of past, but very old experience, I do not run a fixed print head dry of ink. I do not wish to take a chance of loosing prime and having to re-establish it, although, I suppose the new printers have addressed that problem - I simply do not know and it is not explained in the instructions that comes with the printer. The instruction is: Change the cartridge when indicated.

Have you heard of the monks who sell ink? It is an amazing story...and all of the profits go to charity.

They were on something---I think the national news---this past week.

Here is a link that might be useful: Laser Monks

I didn't have time to read all the responses, so forgive me if someone already suggested this. Take your empty catridges to Walgreens, they can refill them CHEAP! Try it! I was so pleased.

I keep printing till I can't read the output. Then I buy HP cartridges (black and color) at my local computer store. I tried those refilled recycled ink refills but they were junk.

I buy nothing but remanufactured ink cartridges for my cheap little HP printer. I have had wonderful luck with those and they are far cheaper than new brand name carts. I print with them until they simple completely run out.

Helen

My last printer was ruined by a leaky refilled cartridge. My dad always either got them refilled or did them himself and usually never had a problem. The first time I did it and ruined printer. Had to get new one. Wanted a fax/copier/printer one anyway. But the stupid printer was ruined when my son had a school project due the next day. Husband had to run out before best buy closed and buy a new one.

I keep printing until it doesn't print at all. when it starts to get low, I switch to "better quality" print, so it will turn out a little darker.

I only use black ink. I seldom need colored printing, so I never change the color cartridge. I just select, "Print color images in black and white," when I print something with color in it.

I wait until it says the cartridge is dry. Shortly after that the color of the output gets really bad.

I hate that mine "forces" me to print out those goofy alignment pages--wasting all that ink!! Nothing I print out is ever that important.

Take the cartrige out and shake it, then put it back. Lasts for quite a while after that.