Which printer brand to avoid if wanting to use generic ink?

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

It looks like my ~9 year old Kodak ESP3250 printer is finally having enough issues that I need to replace it. For years I've had no problem using generic inkjet carts in it - about $5-7 for the black, and about $6-$8 for the color cart. (which has all 4 colors in it) Despite uninstalling then reinstalling the driver for my Kodak, and also replacing the color inkjet cart, I am getting strange photos printing out that look sort of like negatives in parts of the photos.

I print very rarely in color, but I want it to work well when it does, and I don't want to have to pay a lot more for ink.

Kodak only does large scale industrial printing these days, so I'll have to go with another manufacturer. I've heard from a number of folks to avoid HP especially, because they have a history of pushing driver updates that disable third party inkjet cartridges.

Can anyone recommend a certain manufacturer where you have never had any issues with using third party inkjet cartridges? Having all of the colors in a single cartridge like I'm
used to would also be a plus, I suppose.

Thanks for any help! I need to print out some color photos for my son's 4-H display board for judging early next week. I'm just hoping not to get stuck with a brand that is
unfriendly to generic inkjet cartridges.

 

[Micrornd]

THIS WORKS FINE WITH GENERICS
FWIW, I've used an Canon MP830 since they came out in my home office.
I only use the cheapest cartridges on Ebay. (yeah, but I eat well )
It uses 2 blacks and 3 color cartridges and I have worn out 2 print heads and replaced the power supply since 2007.
It just keeps on chugging along, but it was also one of their top of the line printers.
YMMV

 

[RedTail]

I would like to add HP F335 to this list

 

[corkyg]

This is confusing . . . the OP asks which brand to avoid, and then responses seem to indicate specific models of brands that do OK with generics. Please clarify your responses.

 

[fire400]

Brother lasers are awesome with generic

 

[jhansman]

In all fairness to the mod, the OP's question might better have been put "Which printer has no problem with third-party carts?" Just sayin'...

 

[allisolm]

I have a Brother MFC-J410W All-in-One Printer and have never had a problem with generic cartridges. I pay maybe $10 for 4 sets of cartridges. I don't know if newer models are as forgiving about the ink.

In my experience, if the Amazon listings for replacement ink are all or almost all original ink or remanufactured cartridges, the printer doesn't do well with generic ink (my husband's HP Deskjet 3051A for example.) If the listings are full of compatible generic cartridges, they work.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I believe HP printers did a firmware update that won't let you use generics. But I believe I read somewhere that they will be changing this policy in the future.

 

[daveybrat]

Brother lasers are awesome with generic

I have a Brother MFC-J410W All-in-One Printer and have never had a problem with generic cartridges. I pay maybe $10 for 4 sets of cartridges. I don't know if newer models are as forgiving about the ink.

In my experience, if the Amazon listings for replacement ink are all or almost all original ink or remanufactured cartridges, the printer doesn't do well with generic ink (my husband's HP Deskjet 3051A for example.) If the listings are full of compatible generic cartridges, they work.

Agreed, Brother printers are probably the best for generic cartridges. In fact, they are my top printer brand i recommend at my store.

 

[Staples]

I have an HP Photosmart 6525. Probably 5 years old. Worked fine with the ink it came with. I've only bought generics since and the colors are all screwed up, even black and white prints look like they use some dark color. I've bought many different generics so I assume that when HP detects non official carts, it sabotages it so it looks like crap. It prints well enough to read and that is all I care about for the once in 6 months I have to print something.

I know the printer is sold at a loss and the ink costs a fortune to hopefully make up for the loss but I think the model is ridiculous. I want to buy a printer for the real price it cost to make it and buy official ink carts for a 100% markup, not 10000% like they are sold now. I want to know if such a thing exists.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I know the printer is sold at a loss and the ink costs a fortune to hopefully make up for the loss but I think the model is ridiculous. I want to buy a printer for the real price it cost to make it and buy official ink carts for a 100% markup, not 10000% like they are sold now. I want to know if such a thing exists.

That's pretty-much Brother printers and generic ink in a nutshell.

Pay up-front for the printer (often $50-100, maybe more these days, but most definitely worth it), because you can buy generic ink for $1-3 per cart (separate carts for each color, too).

Totally worth it, I'm a Brother printer fanatic through and through.

Though, watch out for the "ink pad sponge" used for cleaning, they can fill up over time, and then need to be changed. Also, possibly print heads replaced.

 

[Charlie98]

I have a pretty old (10+ year old) Canon MF6550 B/W laser... it is an anvil of reliability. It doesn't gag on generic carts, but the carts themselves are sometimes the problem. I get my generic carts from Newegg... sometimes their brand, sometimes not.

I also have a Canon 8200 series color laser printer, it too is very reliable and doesn't have problems with generic carts. It is not as fast as the B/W Canon, even though it's probably 5 years newer, but it's not a high production model like the 6500.

I've gone through about 4 inkjet printers before I spent the money on a laser... I'll never go back.

 

[Red Squirrel]

If you don't print often also make sure whatever you go with that it's a laser, don't even consider bubble/inkjet as the ink dries out. I have a 10+ year old brother laser printer and it still prints fine with the cartridge it came with. I bought it when I was almost done college and after that I didn't print a lot and still don't, but it's still nice to have a printer when I do decide I want to print something.