The costs associated with printing at a computer lab are astounding, but what’s to be done? Students need to print. Most of them pay for the privilege of using the computer lab as part of their tuition –- the costs added on top of this base amount can quickly add up for both the students and the lab.
As someone who understands the print industry, I would like to share a few different ways to reduce the costs associated with printing. There are many different option,s each presenting a variety of benefits, though it may be worthwhile to see if your computer lab may introduce each of the following.
The following is a brief overview of what’s available when you shift from purchasing from brand names and choosing supplies from third party manufacturers and suppliers.
Compatible Printing Supplies
Many third party suppliers will offer compatible printing supplies.
These are supplies that aren’t brand name but offer the same design and quality that you will find in supplies offered by the major brands like HP, Brother, Dell, and others. Compatible toner or ink cartridges do not void the warranty of the printer.
Savings associated with using compatible supplies can be upwards of 50 – 70 percent.
If you want to size up the available options near you, it may be worth paying a visit to http://www.inktechnologies.com for price comparisons.
Remanufactured Printing Supplies
Remanufactured cartridges are those that have been taken in-house as third party supplies and “topped up” with new ink or toner. This is equivalent to trading in a product, having it fixed, and getting the model back.
The savings with this option are almost the same as compatible versions minus the amount required to accept, refill, and send back to the consumer.
There is a lot of discussion about remanufactured printing supplies but the general consensus is that, depending on the company you choose to purchase from, they’re effective and inexpensive.
Refill Kits
The third option, which requires a do-it-yourself approach, is what’s known as a toner (or ink) refill kit. These have been around for some time and are available through many vendors both online and offline.
A refill kit is a good option for saving money on printing. A user simply follows the instructions, refills the cartridge with the supplies, changes the cartridge chip (depending on model), and continues along their merry way.
Certain requirements may be in place at a university, preventing computer lab assistants from using refilling products, but if the option is available it can save the university thousands of dollars each and every month-– and it’s extremely easy to do once you’ve done it the first time.
Many sites that offer these third party supplies often have coupons and other discounts available to universities and educational institutions. Contact a customer service representative, present your needs, and you’ll often finish the call with many options to reduce the costs at the computer lab.