I've ruined two Brother Printers using generic ink and only just now found out that the generic ink is what's causing the problem.  Why it's possible to buy cheap ink that then ruins the printer is beyond me, but just a heads up to anyone looking to save money on the ridiculously priced ink, the savings could really cost you big time.  And yes, the manufacturer does recommend you use only Brother Brand Ink, but of course they do...they want you're money too.  Only in this case, it's because the machine was made that way. 

From my experience, the cheaper the printer the more you will pay for ink cartridges. When I got my first computer a few years ago, it came with a *free* printer. It was a Lexmark. While it was nice to have a printer, I quickly found out that the cartridges did not last very long. Lexmark also recommended using only their ink cartridges. The cost of a new black ink cartridge cost $33.

I have a HP printer now, that I just bought last year (was on sale) at Office Depot. It also scans, and makes photocopies. Before I bought it I checked to see what ink cartridges it used. I was thrilled to see that that the cartridges could be bought for around $17 each. I just bought both the black and color cartridges(twinpack) at Office Max. They were on sale for $29.99 and I had a $10 off coupon. So I paid less than it would have cost to get them refilled at Walgreens. I did the Walgreen's refill a couple of times. but for some reason the cartridges did not last very long, plus I ended up getting ink on my hands when trying to install them in the printer,

I have an HP and I always use my cartridges down the last drop. It means having to hit the "ok" button everytime I want to print a page because I keep getting the low ink screen. I agree ink is crazy expensive. We had to block our daughters access to the printer because she was printing out full page pictures of our beloved dog. I had a cow that day.

I have a Brother MFC-5440CN that i bought remanufactured by Staples for $29.88 after Rebate last black Friday. I've used generic ink in it with no problems. This is my second remanufactured printer of that model. The last one only lasted a year. But at $29 who cares? The brand-name ink costs more than that. At that price I can change printers instead of buying ink LOL.

I have a epson stylus color 777...paid $140 for it about 7 years ago...and it still works fine, and I get the cheap ink for it, because before I bought it I looked at the price of ink for it....that was why I bought that one....a couple times in desperation I had to buy ink for it at Wallmart, and I noticed the ink I paid almost $30 for was the very same ink I would get over the internet for $10...same Chinese manufacturer and everything...so Im sticking with my cheap internet ink...

neighbor had her printer go out, and was gonna have someone oout to repair it...$80 just to look at it...that wouldn't include what was wrong with it....I told her to forget that, dump that printer, go buy another...which she did...don't know what brand she got tho..

 another friend, went a bought a cheap lexmark, and is paying $75 for the ink cartridges...(I'm assuming the black and the color)...can't even find cheap ink for that over the internet....

 Instead of paying that for ink...I'd just get another printer, when the ink runs out...put that one in a garage sale for a few bucks...not very conservative, but alot cheaper....Heck he can buy 2 printers for what that ink costs for that lexmark...

But I did read not too long ago, that these printer companies are trying to shut down those cheap  ink sellers over the internet also...

But if mine quits..I'll sure look at the price of ink, as that will be the answer as to which one I'll buy...

The last time our HP all-in-one printer ran out of ink, I took the cartridges to Walgreens to have them refilled.  So far, I haven't seen any problems, and they seem to be lasting about as long as the brand new ones.  I also saved some extra money because I signed up for Walgreens emails and every once in a while they have a $5 coupon on $20.  The black ink is only $10 (color is $15), but if you shop at Walgreens anyway, it's a bargain.  I think they even had a $10 off $40 coupon recently.

" I took the cartridges to Walgreens to have them refilled."

hey that's a idea...never heard of that...gonna suggest that to my friend who pays $75 for printing ink....his first printer was a Epson, and he got thekit, where he could fill them himself???? and he said it wrecked the printer, cause the ink dryed out...that's what he thinks happened anyway....but now he's just got a cheap Lexmark, so even if it wrecks it, wouldn't be toomuch of a loss...

 I did not know that walgreens did that...we have a new store going up in the neiboring town...I will have to check on that...not for me, at least not now...cause that's about what I pay formy ink over the internet...

 thx for that hint....  

 You are right that some time it is expensive too fill up cartridge frommanufacturer of that printer's company.But i think you have to fill ink from there, for  work your printer and its ink regularly.Because sometime for cheap ink,we have to pay big price for it.

 I have a friend who has his ownprinter shop.I will try there first fir filling cartridges.He said he will fill it at low price from others.So first i wll try then i will sujjest.

 I ws just about to post something on this subject. I took my HP colour printer cartridge to Price for a refill last week. I first used it today, and the picture came out faint, full of lines, and all aqua blue. I am taking it back tomorrow.

Thanks for the warning about generics. The HP cartridges are really expensive for both colour and black, but they work. 

I hope I get a refund from Price Chopper.