The Cheaper the Printer, the More Expensive the Ink June 4, 2015 Email It’s no secret that while you can get a printer for really cheap, the ink is really expensive, and it’s nearly impossible to get away with using an “unofficial” printer cartridge. This is no accident: printer companies like HP have argued that it’s costly for them to research and develop the ink. Consumer Reports and eBay have great articles on how to save money and buy eco-friendly printers, respectively.