Comp and Save Review: Printer Ink Stores

If you're tired of paying sky-high prices for printer ink (and who isn't?), you'll want to know about CompAndSave. Founded in 2003 in the Bay Area, this online retailer specializes in discounted printer ink and toner. They're part of a family of at least three sister companies including TomatoInk and ComboInk, and their business model is pretty straightforward: buy in bulk directly from manufacturers, sell exclusively online to keep costs down, and pass those savings on to you (though you might wonder why they needed so many separate websites to do it).

Price matching made simple

If you've ever found yourself frantically searching for printer ink deals right before a big presentation, you'll appreciate CompAndSave's straightforward price match guarantee. Here's the deal: if you spot the same cartridge cheaper somewhere else, they'll match that price - just send them a link to prove it. But keep in mind that this doesn't apply to special offers, clearance items, or limited quantity deals. They'll verify the competitor's price and stock availability before matching, and remember - they won't match prices that have already been price-matched elsewhere.

They might not have your printer's ink

When shopping at CompAndSave (or any of its sisters), you might feel like you're playing a game of cartridge roulette - they advertise carrying all major printer ink brands, but finding the specific cartridge for your printer can be hit-or-miss. You may find yourself clicking on the listing for your printer, only to find it empty of printer ink replacement options.

Might not beat competitor pricing before the price match

Here's the scoop on pricing: while you might find better deals elsewhere (like a HP 63 combo pack that other sellers offer for $23.99), CompAndSave's robust satisfaction policies and price match guarantee can make the slightly higher prices worth it. Take their HP 63 combo pack at $32.98 for example - it's significantly cheaper than the $56.99 OEM price, and if you do find it cheaper elsewhere, their price match has you covered. The smart move is to check all three sister brands (CompAndSave, TomatoInk, and ComboInk) before making your purchase.

Free shipping on carts $50+

At CompAndSave, you'll get free standard shipping on orders over $50, or pay just $3.99 for smaller orders. If you're an email subscriber, that free shipping threshold drops to $35 (plus you'll get 15% off your first order). Need your ink in a hurry? They offer various express shipping options, from next-day to 3-day delivery (though prices vary by courier). (And here's a pro tip: orders placed before 2 PM PT on weekdays ship the same day, so time those urgent ink runs carefully.)

"A+" BBB rating and 4.5 stars for customer service

If your printer starts flashing error messages, you'll appreciate CompAndSave's highly-rated customer service team. With a perfect "A+" BBB rating and a 4.5-star average from 28,000 reviews, they've built a solid reputation for handling issues quickly and effectively - CompAndSave has the most reviews out of any of their sister brands. If you do get a defective cartridge (which is rare), their team proactively reaches out to make it right, and they've got detailed troubleshooting guides for common issues like unrecognized cartridges. Since CompAndSave shares customer service resources with TomatoInk and ComboInk, you should be able to expect the same level of support across all three (though why they need three separate brands is anyone's guess).

Free returns within 10 days

If you've ever had that sinking feeling when your printer spits out a streaky test page with your new cartridge, you'll appreciate CompAndSave's flexible return policy. Within the first 10 days of delivery, you get free returns with a full refund (including up to $3.99 in shipping costs) for orders shipped via Standard Mail. Even after that initial window, you've got options up to 365 days from purchase: for defective cartridges, they'll set up a return for a refund, and for non-defective ones, you can choose between store credit (no restocking fee) or a refund minus a 15% restocking fee. Just remember to get a Return Authorization Number first, or they won't be able to help you.

Very high rating

You'll find that CompAndSave shares a very high rating with TomatoInk, as both companies offer price matching to keep costs competitive. What makes CompAndSave slightly different is their amount of customer reviews - they've clearly invested more resources into maintaining their online presence and staying on top of customer service interactions, so they've amassed more than 28,000 of them. All three sister companies are bound to be served by the same customer service team, though, so it's not necessarily something that should make you choose CompAndSave over another of its sisters if you find a better price there.

Learn More  ➜

On the Comp and Save website