Are you a savvy Sam‘s Club shopper searching for ways to spend less on printing? With the high cost of ink cartridges taking an increasingly large bite out of budgets, many consumers are on the lookout for alternatives to paying full price for name-brand printer ink.
One common strategy is to refill empty ink cartridges rather than buying brand new ones every time the ink runs dry. But does Sam‘s Club, known for its wide array of discounted goods, offer ink cartridge refill services to help its members save?
In this ultimate guide, we‘ll walk through Sam‘s Club‘s ink cartridge offerings, the environmental impact of reusing cartridges, and some alternatives to keep your printing costs as low as possible.
Does Sam‘s Club Refill Ink Cartridges In-Store?
The simple answer: no, Sam‘s Club does not currently refill empty ink cartridges for customers in their stores.
This may come as a disappointment to some, as the wholesale retailer does sell a variety of ink cartridges. However, there are a few key reasons why Sam‘s Club likely doesn‘t provide cartridge refilling:
-
Potential for mess and spills. The process of refilling ink cartridges can be tricky, requiring precision and the proper equipment to transfer the ink without leaks. Retail environments may not be conducive to this somewhat delicate operation.
-
Liability concerns. If a refilled cartridge were to malfunction or leak and damage a customer‘s printer, Sam‘s Club could be on the hook. Printer manufacturers generally assert that using non-OEM ink voids the warranty.
-
Profit motivation. Like most retailers, Sam‘s Club makes more money selling a new cartridge than in refilling one for a lower price. With ink‘s high profit margins, they probably prefer to sell OEM cartridges.
What Printing Products Does Sam‘s Club Offer?
While you can‘t get your empty cartridges refilled at Sam‘s Club, they do stock a wide range of ink, toner, and printing supplies for most major brands of printers, usually at a discounted price compared to other stores.
Here‘s a rundown of what you can expect to find in Sam‘s Club‘s printing section:
- Ink cartridges for HP, Canon, Epson, Lexmark, and more
- Toner for laser printers from Brother, Dell, Samsung, etc.
- High-yield (XL) cartridges for a lower per-page cost
- Both color and black ink cartridges
- Specialty ink for photo printing
- Multipacks and bulk cartridge sets for even greater savings
- Generic replacement cartridges from third-party brands
One potential downside is that Sam‘s Club may have a more limited selection of ink for older printers that are no longer in production. For the broadest array of cartridges, an office supply store like Staples may be a better bet.
Helpfully, Sam‘s Club‘s website has an "Ink & Toner Finder" tool where you can enter your printer‘s make and model to find the compatible cartridges they sell.
In addition to ink and toner, you can pick up copy paper, label makers, combo machines, and even new printers while making your Sam‘s Club ink run.
The Importance of Recycling Used Ink Cartridges
Did you know that over 375 million empty ink and toner cartridges end up in landfills each year? The plastic and residual ink in these cartridges can take centuries to decompose, leeching chemicals into soil and groundwater.
Luckily, the recycling options for spent cartridges have grown in recent years. Most office supply retailers like Staples, Office Depot, and Best Buy will accept empty ink cartridges for recycling, often with reward programs to incentivize customers‘ green behavior.
Many manufacturers also offer their own recycling initiatives for their branded cartridges:
-
HP‘s Planet Partners program has recycled over 875 million HP cartridges since 1991. Each month, they recycle an average of 4 million ink or toner cartridges!
-
Lexmark‘s Cartridge Collection Program has kept 100 million Lexmark toner cartridges out of landfills, remanufacturing many into new cartridges.
Several online retailers like 123inkjets and 4inkjets will pay you for mailing in certain brands of empty cartridges, which they then clean, refill, and resell.
The bottom line: 97% of the materials that make up ink cartridges can be recycled or reused in some form. So whether you‘re dropping empties at Staples, Sam‘s Club, or sending them to the manufacturer, recycling ink cartridges makes a big difference for the environment.
Where Can You Get Ink Cartridges Refilled?
Let‘s say you‘re committed to reusing your ink cartridges to save money and preserve precious resources. Just because Sam‘s Club doesn‘t do refills doesn‘t leave you entirely out of luck!
Costco, Sam‘s Club‘s main wholesale club rival, previously offered ink cartridge refills starting at $6.99. However, as of March 2020, Costco has discontinued its in-store refill services, now directing customers to recycle their used cartridges instead.
But a few nationwide retailers still offer to transfer ink into your empty cartridges, giving them new life:
-
Walgreens has ink refill stations in some of its stores, charging around $10-$15 per refill. Colors tend to cost a bit more than black ink.
-
Office Depot/OfficeMax provides refilling services starting at $9.99 for black and $14.99 for color. Your refill comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
-
Participating Staples locations will refill HP, Dell, or Canon cartridges, with prices ranging from $10 to $25 based on cartridge type and ink color.
It‘s always wise to call your local store to ensure they have ink refilling capabilities before schlepping your old cartridges over. Even within the same chain, not every branch can do refills.
Your friendly locally-owned office supply store may also be happy to fill up your cartridges, possibly for an even better price than the big-box stores. It never hurts to ask!
If you strike out finding a local spot, online ink retailers like Rapid Refill, Ink Filling Station, and Costco Ink allow you to mail in your cartridges for refilling at reasonable rates.
Is Refilling Ink Cartridges Really Worth It?
The big draw of refilling is the cost savings. Refilled cartridges often run 30-60% of the cost of buying a new OEM cartridge. Over time, that discount can really add up, especially for heavy home or office printers.
However, refilling may not be the right choice for everyone. Some potential drawbacks to keep in mind:
-
Quality. Refilled ink may not be as precisely formulated as the original manufacturer‘s ink, leading to defects, leakage, or inferior printouts.
-
Shorter cartridge lifespan. Each time you refill, print heads and internal components experience additional wear. Most cartridges can only be refilled 5-7 times before print quality noticeably degrades.
-
Compatibility. Not all cartridge models can be refilled easily. Some designs are very difficult to refill properly without damaging the cartridge.
-
Warranty concerns. Most printer manufacturers insist that using non-OEM ink voids the warranty of your device. However, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to deny warranty coverage solely based on the use of aftermarket ink.
More Ways to Minimize Printing Costs
Beyond pursuing affordable ink options like refilling, you can save a pretty penny on printing with a few behavior changes:
-
Reduce unnecessary printing. Many documents can be read, edited, and archived digitally, avoiding hard copies whenever possible.
-
Use economy print settings. Selecting draft mode or grayscale-only cuts down on the amount of ink used per page.
-
Invest in a high-capacity printer. Models like the Epson EcoTank use refillable ink reservoirs that yield thousands of prints at pennies per page. A black-and-white laser printer is also much cheaper to run than a color inkjet.
-
Choose high-yield ink cartridges. These cartridges cost more upfront but print significantly more pages than standard cartridges before running dry.
-
Subscribe to an ink replenishment service. HP Instant Ink, for instance, automatically mails you new cartridges when your printer runs low. Plans start at $1/month for 15 pages, with unused pages rolling over.
-
Try third-party or remanufactured cartridges. While not quite as dirt-cheap as refilling your own, compatible cartridges from LD Products or 123inkjets offer more reliability and a better value than OEM.
Conclusion
While Sam‘s Club may not be the one-stop shop for refilling your empty ink cartridges, it‘s still a comprehensive source for discounted ink, paper, and printing supplies.
If you‘re set on reusing cartridges, Walgreens, Staples, and Office Depot remain your best in-person bets. In a pinch, online refill services will gladly receive your mailed-in cartridges.
But whether you refill your cartridges, opt for high-yield tanks, or switch to an ink subscription, the key is to think critically about your ongoing printing costs. With the wealth of affordable ink alternatives on the market, there‘s simply no reason to pay full freight for name-brand cartridges.
By adopting more sustainable printing habits like recycling, refilling, and reducing waste, you‘ll save money and help preserve our environment. Using refilled cartridges prevents nearly 3.5 pounds of waste from entering the landfill per cartridge – no small difference!
Happy printing!
