HP 02 Series Ink Cartridges Save 32% off

• Print In 1.2 Million Colors
• Paper Quantity 150 Sheets
• Paper Size 4 x 6 Inch Borderless
• Glossy Paper Finish
• 1.60 Lbs (WxLxH) 3.10" x7.20" x 9..30"

I thought I was getting a terrific deal on 6 ink tanks, they look exactly the same as those that came with the printer and those that are packaged individually. But when I later bought a one-off replacement -not "custom" -tank I noticed the ink level bar on the printer LCD was not only full but also longer than the other bars! If the "custom" tanks hold only about half the ink, this isn''t the bargin it appears.

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I can confirm that the cartridges shipped with this photo value pack have a fraction of the ink capacity of normal cartridges. While there is nothing at all that indicates this in any of HP''s marketing materials (bad HP) it becomes clear when you install them. The ink level gauges on the printer show much smaller bars for these than the regular cartridges and indeed they do run out very quickly compared to normal cartridges.

Face it HP is all about making very large profit margins from selling ink, and they aren''t dumb. If you want to buy an ink combo pack of full cartridges you can search amazon for HEWLETT PACKARD 02 COMBO PACK you will find this listed as of today at $60 and not that much of a discount vs. buying single cartridges.

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There is a reason that the value pack is so much cheaper. The cartridges are not full! I just got off the phone with HP tech support and they confirmed this. The cartridges sold with the value pack are labeled as *custom* cartridges that have enough ink to print 150 4X6 photos. In fact, the tech support rep discribed the *custom* cartridges as having "way less" than standard cartridges, "less than 50% full". On a related note, I asked him if the initial cartridges that came with my new printer were full, and he said they should have been full standard cartridges.

So this value pack isn''t such a great value now, is it?

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As others have noted, these cartridges are not full cartridges, even though HP very cleverly avoids giving you that info. On their website, for a single cartridge purchase, the details list the ML in the cartridge, not so for the Value Pack.

I just bought the C6180 which requires that the "initialization" cartridges in the box be used first. Mine we''re faulty and now I''ve got to wait for HP to overnight new ones, even though I''ve got a value pack sitting here.

I should have known better. All 5 colors and B&W for $36 (plus photo paper) when individual cartridges cost $10. When you shop in a grocery store the merchant is required to tell you how much product you are paying for, why shouldn''t HP be required to do the same.

Shame, shame, HP.

Save 32% off

I thought I was getting a great deal by buying the "HP Custom 02 Value Pack" (6 cartridges with 150 sheets photo paper), until I noticed that the Staples price for the "HP 02 Color Combo Pack" (5 cartridges without black cartridge or photo paper) was significantly higher than the Value Pack! Go figure! For this equation to work, there must be a lot less ink in the Value Pack! I just wish that HP would disclose the facts. Makes me feel like I got ripped off.

***Update***

My suspicions have been confirmed! When I use these cartridges, I have discovered that the printer cartridge "ink level bar" only goes up part way. But when using one of the HP Color Combo ink catridges, the "ink level bar" goes up all the way and shows as full. Buy the HP 02 Color Combo Pack instead!