Combo Ink Review: Printer Ink Stores

ComboInk sells printer supplies, focusing on compatible and remanufactured ink cartridges and toner since 2003. Their Build a Combo feature lets you mix and match cartridges to create custom bundles, with prices that decrease as you add more items. (Worth noting: they share ownership with CompAndSave, TomatoInk, and potentially one other in our review, which explains the similar pricing you'll see across these sites).

Pricing could be better or worse than buying from manufacturer

When you're shopping for printer ink at ComboInk, you'll find quite a range of prices and options. (However, while they have product pages for dozens of printer models, some of these pages turn out to be empty when you click through - so it's faster if you use the search bar.) Their HP cartridges start around $7 for individual colors, though you might notice some OEM (original manufacturer) cartridges like the HP 64 series cost more here than buying direct from HP. They make up for this with competitive prices on some of their remanufactured cartridges - for instance, their remanufactured HP 26 ink cartridge is $9 less than competitors. When it comes to Epson, they offer compatible multi-packs like the T49M 4-pack at market-competitive prices, while Canon fans might appreciate finds like the compatible BCI-3eBK black ink cartridge at just $2.99 (compared to $27.99 for the OEM version).

10-15% off your first order

Despite some higher prices on manufacturer cartridges, you can still find ways to save money with ComboInk. When you first join, you'll get a choice between two welcome offers: either snag a 10% off coupon code right away through their popup, or boost your savings to 15% by signing up for their email list. (It's refreshing when a company lets you choose how much marketing communication you want to receive - and rewards you either way.)

Build your own custom ink bundle and save more

The Build a Combo feature lets you create your own custom ink and toner bundles, giving you more control over your printer supply purchases and helping you save money along the way. Here's how it works: you'll start by searching for your printer model or cartridge number, then pick the cartridges you want to bundle together - and the cool part is that the price per cartridge drops as you add more items to your combo. (For example, that HP black ink cartridge that normally costs $9.99 could drop to $7.99 each when bundled with cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges.) Once you've built your perfect combo, you can either save it for future orders or add it straight to your cart, making it super convenient to reorder your favorite combinations whenever you need them.

Save on shipping by being an email subscriber

You'll get your ink cartridges in 2-10 business days with their standard Combo Mail shipping, which costs $3.99 for orders under $50. The good news is that shipping becomes free once you spend over $50 (before tax and after any discounts). And, as long as you're an email subscriber, you'll get free shipping on all of your orders. Want your order faster? They offer several express shipping options ranging from Next Day to 3-Day delivery, though rates vary based on the courier. Just keep in mind that orders need to be placed before 2 PM PT on weekdays for same-day processing.

Free returns for 10 days

You'll be glad to know that this company offers a pretty generous return policy that puts customers before profit. If you're not happy with your order within the first 10 days after delivery, you can get a completely free return and full refund when using their standard shipping option. Even better, you have up to 365 days to return defective cartridges for a refund - just make sure you have your order details handy. For non-defective returns within this period, you can choose between store credit with no restocking fee or a refund with a 15% fee. (Try their troubleshooting guide first, though - it apparently resolves 95% of issues.) OEM cartridges have stricter rules - they must be unopened and returned within 15 days of purchase.

Customer service that actually cares about your printer problems

You'll be happy to know that when your printer starts acting up (and we all know they will at some point), this company has your back with solid customer support. They maintain an impressive "A+" Better Business Bureau rating and a 4.6/5 average rating from recent customer reviews. You can reach them through live chat or phone support seven days a week, or send an email that they'll respond to within 1-2 business days. Customers frequently mention prompt delivery, and when issues do pop up, the company provides personalized responses to resolve them quickly. (And yes, they might even hook you up with a discount while they're at it, as one happy customer discovered.)

Our top choice

While you won't find a low price guarantee at ComboInk like their sisters offer (sadly, no price matching here), their unique Build a Combo feature could still make them very much worth your while. We think being able to mix and match cartridges to create custom bundles that get cheaper as you add more items could end up saving you money in the long run. Plus, 15% off and free shipping on every order is really appealing. We're also pretty pleased with their customer service and reputation. For all of these reasons, ComboInk is our top printer ink pick.

Learn More  ➜

On the Combo Ink website