For quality printing, you need quality printer inks but how do you get them without breaking the bank? The good news is that there are ways to buy quality printer ink cartridges at affordable prices.

The first thing you need to consider is the type of replacement cartridge to buy. Your options are OEM, compatible and refurbished or remanufactured.

OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) are cartridges made by the producer of your printer. As such, they are made to the highest standards.

Compatible cartridges are produced by 3rd party firms under license from the OEM. These work out much cheaper that the originals. For everyday use, most people find compatible cartridges perfectly acceptable both in terms of quality and reliability.

Refurbished units are old cartridges which have been cleaned up and refilled. These are the cheapest and least reliable of the three options.

The OEMs maintain that only original inks can give the best results with a printer. While it's true that original cartridges offer the best performance, the fact is that for most users, compatible cartridges work perfectly well.

If you really need the highest printing standards coupled to maximum reliability, you'll need to buy OEM cartridges. No one knows the printer like the manufacturer so both cartridge and ink will be optimised for that model. The problem is that these items sell for a premium.

The good news is that if you decide to opt for getting OEM cartridges, you don't need to pay an arm and a leg. There are ways to get good deals even with original cartridges. It hinges on where you make your purchase and the volume you order.

High Street shops with their high rents and costly sales forces tend to charge the maximum for ink cartridges. To get the best deals on ink cartridges, the smart move is to buy online. You can browse the internet to find the best deals available. You'll find the prices at these online stores far more attractive than in standard shops. What's more, as they focus on printer accessories and not office supplies in general, they're sure to have a complete range in stock. You can also stock up on discount printing paper at the same time. You can just place your order at the web site for fast delivery, usually the next day to a mainland UK address.

Another great way to get quality cartridges at reasonable prices is to buy in bulk. Most dealers offer discounts when you order more than one unit. If you're in the market for hp f2280 ink cartridges, for example, buying one compatible black and colour ink cartridge pack costs 16.96 pounds whereas two or more cost 15.96 pounds per pack

It makes sense to buy in bulk and keep your items until needed. The good thing is that cartridges can last a long time. If you store them packed in their original boxes in a room with a steady temperature, OEMs should be good for between one and two years, while compatibles last even longer.

If you don't need to buy in bulk, you'll find that the better online vendors offer special twin pack deals. For example, if you're in the market for hp photosmart c4480 ink cartridges, you can get a compatible colour ink cartridge twin pack for just 28.94 pounds with free delivery.

When it comes to choosing an online printer ink dealer, you just need to use common sense to find a reputable firm. You should choose a company that's well-established and offers complete contact information including a physical address, telephone number and email address.

Make sure the dealer offers a reasonable return policy in case of problems. However you need to check your delivered cartridges are correct before opening them. No dealer will accept the return of an opened package.

You should also look for logos showing that the firm adheres to a code of standards. An example is the SafeBuy Web Code of practice. Dealers with this logo are certified to adhere to all relevant UK and EU laws which include such matters as returns policy and consumer data protection.

When your printer inks run out and you're looking to buy replacement cartridges, look online for the best deals. You'll get the keenest prices and free next-day delivery.