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Monday, February 10th
TomatoInk believes that it's important to do business in a way that's good for the environment. That's why this certified member of the Green Business Network uses remanufactured and compatible cartridges (made from recycled materials). But no, they don't use tomatoes in their ink. The name was meant to convey a fresh, friendly, colorful feeling. TomatoInk has been in business for over 20 years (and, by the way, our research indicates that the company has the same owner as our #1 and #2 sites).
Competitive pricing, for the most part
Let's take a look at how TomatoInk measures up with respect to selection and pricing. On our first test case, the Canon Pixma MX922, this retailer is right up there with the competition. We found a 5-pack of high-yield/XL compatible cartridges for $23.75, and single-color cartridges for $4.99 each. Our second test case, the HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color M251n, was also available, but it was much more expensive than TomatoInk's rivals at $91.96 for a 4-pack of remanufactured toner cartridges, single-color cartridges for $23.99 each.
Get a discount
While we browsed the TomatoInk site, we got a pop-up with an instant discount code to save 10% or a 15% savings if we entered our email to sign up for store updates and offers. We always appreciate retailers that don't make us subscribe to emails we're probably going to immediately delete, just to save on our order. You'll also get free shipping if your order is over $50, and you'll pay $3.99 for orders under that amount.
Customer-friendly return policy and guarantee
What if you're not completely satisfied with your printer ink from TomatoInk? If you decide to return your purchase within 10 days of delivery, you'll get a full refund - and they'll even cover the return postage. But, if you're like us, you probably order your refills in advance and you might not even get around to using them for a few weeks (...or longer...). As long as you make your request within 365 days of delivery, you can get a refund on defective cartridges or on unopened ones; just be aware that in the latter case, you'll be charged a 15% restocking fee if you choose a refund instead of store credit. Still, that's pretty generous compared with other retailers of printer ink.
Super-solid reputation
We're happy to report that TomatoInk has a good reputation, starting with an "A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and no complaints filed there. Although you won't find thousands and thousands of shopper ratings for this printer ink store, what's out there is still very reassuring. There are plenty of compliments for TomatoInk's customer service, so don't hesitate to reach out if you have a question about your printer before you place your order. We were happy to see several comments from long-term customers who've never had an issue with their cartridges from TomatoInk.
Easy to reach customer service
We were also impressed by how quickly we were able to reach TomatoInk's customer service team. We were confused by the wording on the site that described some toner cartridges as "replacement” and didn't know if that meant OEM, remanufactured, or compatible - and even at 10AM on a Saturday, we were still able to connect with an agent on live chat in less than a minute. (By the way, he confirmed that TomatoInk uses the term "replacement” to refer to remanufactured cartridges.)
Excellent choice when buying printer ink
Overall, TomatoInk is a great place to shop for printer ink. You'll still want to comparison shop with the other top-ranked retailers we evaluated, because this one won't always come in with the lowest price and there's no price match guarantee. But, if you find the cartridges your printer needs here at a price you like, you can trust that your experience will be a great one - and that you'll have no trouble getting help if anything unexpected pops up. TomatoInk is one of our preferred stores for buying printer ink.
Do you find yourself running out of printer ink? It always seems to happen at the worst times. While a variety of local stores carry printer ink, They probably don't carry it for all brands of printers - and stocking issues mean they may not have any available at all.
Fortunately, there are numerous online retailers that offer cost-effective toner and ink cartridges that still allow you to maintain high print quality. These retailers cater to both personal and business printing needs. And you can typically save significant money buying your printer ink from these online stores.
Printer Ink cartridges come in three primary categories: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), remanufactured, and compatible. OEM cartridges, produced by brands like Canon or HP, are the priciest option. However, purchasing OEM printer ink from an online retailer can save a considerable amount compared to local stores.
Remanufactured cartridges are refilled OEM products, offering the right fit for printers at a lower price than brand-new ink. Most remanufactured ink and toner retailers that you'll find online offer pre-filled cartridges, but sometimes they'll provide you with a kit and you do the filling yourself (which can get messy).
Compatible printer ink cartridges are made by third-party companies that guarantee the same fit and print quality as OEM cartridges after rigorous testing. These cartridges are often the most cost-effective option, as they don't require a brand-name premium. But, you'll want to make sure that the retailer offers some kind of quality guarantee - since you also run the risk of damaging your printer or voiding the warranty by using products outside of the OEM/remanufactured spectrum. Worth the risk? That's up to you, but many customers have used compatible cartridges for years with zero problems.
Choosing any of these options could lead to savings between 30-70% over the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Many online retailers provide promotional discounts, free shipping on qualifying purchases, and bulk discounts. Ready to save? As you shop for your printer ink online, there are a few things to keep in mind:
To help you find the right ink and toner cartridges for your printer, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and reviewed today's most popular printer ink retailers. Take advantage of this information to make your printing easy and affordable!
Select any 2 Printer Ink Stores to compare them head to head