Hobbicolors

[nche11]

I know that. What I am trying to say is if the ink is shipped to a reseller from USA it may be possible to find a reseller in USA and order from USA. You are not likely able to order from the manufacturers. You do have to pay shipping if you buy from a USA reseller. You have to pay shipping too from a UK reseller unless you can go to its store to buy in person. The shipping from USA may be higher but that cost may be factored in the price tags of local resellers already. From what I have seen on the internet the prices offered by USA sellers (shipping not added) are almost always lower. You do need to add shipping then evaluate if the deals are still better. I have seen people paying flight tickets from Europe to New York to buy iPones than back to Europe. They said the deal, flight cost included, was still better. Obviously you don't do that to fly to USA to buy ink then back to UK. Perhaps you are being an American you do not realize that USA is a paradise for shopping in general. Price of notebook computers is another example that ordering online from USA can be a better deal than trying to buy locally.

 

[pharmacist]

Perhaps you are being an American you do not realize that USA is a paradise for shopping in general. Price of notebook computers is another example that ordering online from USA can be a better deal than trying to buy locally.

Well, a few years ago I had an american lady who used to come every 2-3 months to Europe just to buy some prescription-only medical creams for treating her skin disorder. Here in Belgium the price for people without health insurance for a tube was $60, the same tube in the USA was more than $400. She needed several tubes a month to treat her skin disorder and some other tablets, which 8-10 times more expensive in the states. So for her it was way cheaper to have a holiday for week in Belgium, enjoy the nice chocolates and the fabulous beer and get her necessary medication here with US prescriptions for literally a penny (well compared to the US prices). And the flight and the cost of staying in the Hilton Hotel was still included in the deal and yes the savings with these costs includes was so considerably, that she keeps travelling until now. Not sure she is now entitled and covered under the new health insurance reforms in the USA.

 

[marceltho]

What are we talking about now.......using third party ink, compared with OEM ink is WAAAAAAAY cheaper, wherever you buy your ink in the UK, or Hobbicolors in the USA
I wonder what the price difference, for the same amount of ink, INCLUDING shipping, is......between buying in the USA or in the UK, because isn't THAT what we are talking about ?
And calculate this price difference over the amount of prints that you do with that amount of ink.....voila ! It is perhaps 2 cents or less, for that amount you just buy your most preferrable ink, but I guess that is another discussion.

 

[wilko]

If you live in the UK the Euro and Dollar exchange rates are poor value. Purchases from the States are subject to VAT if over 18 in value. UK Customs are liable to hit you with VAT and the Post Office charge a 10 collection fee. Sometimes you get away with it but it's a gamble.

Hobbicolors ink is unbeatable value if you live in the USA. At the moment Octoinkjet ink from Websnail is the best value if you live in the UK but if Hobbicolors had a UK distributor it may be a different story.

 

[marceltho]

Purchases from the States are subject to VAT if over 18 in value. UK Customs are liable to hit you with VAT and the Post Office charge a 10 collection fee.

Now it is more clear to me, thought the difference was only a few 's

I live in Canada, no duties on stuff from US, no Post Office handling fees.
The UW-8 set ( all colors ) cost me including shipping only 32.06 ( didn't want you to feel more bad though.....)

And I buy stuff on Ebay ONLY from people who ship with USPS, as UPS has the same mentality as the Royal Mail. I sometimes wonder who makes more money, Ebay or UPS....

 

[leo8088]

Cost is not always the decisive factor when considering where or which brand of ink to buy from. I have found that cost difference among the most recommended sources of ink are not wildly out of reach. For me the number one reason I choose Hobbicolors was its trouble free completely safe feature for print heads. This was the most important factor when I look for 3rd party inks. You will really hate it if you suddenly find that your print head is clogged in the middle of a print job and you have to stop to deal with whatever the problem is. What's good about a 3rd party ink if it will kill your print head?

There are of course other considerations when choose a 3rd party ink. Performance of colors of the ink is frequently the primary consideration among people. This is somewhat a more subjective issue. 3rd party inks will never be the same as OEM. You can custom profile good quality 3rd party inks for your preferred paper to achieve optimal colors.

You can save a lot from buying cheap inks on ebay. But you can expect your prints to fade in a month and possibly a print head clog within a few weeks. So cost should not be a decisive factor among others when choosing a 3rd party ink to buy.

 

[marceltho]

Cost is not always the decisive factor when considering where or which brand of ink to buy from.

You are absolutely right leo88, I had chosen Hobbicolors for the same reasons as you, and it doesn't mean that some other inks are bad as well.
I went for Hobbicolors for my Canon after reading a lot of topics on the ( excellent ) forum, but I guess a favor for ink or printer is as with cars....some like Canon, some like Epson ( had a lot in the past ), some like Ford, and others like Dodge....

And I still have a box full of purged OEM CLI-8 carts, I am thinking of filling a set with an other third party ink.

 

[RMM]

Marceltho, if you're going to try another ink in your Pro9000 please try the Image Specialists!

I'd like to hear your results.