Any electronic deals for college students?

[LuvOrlando]

Anyone know of any electronics deals for college students? With things changing I want both my college students to have their own printers for self sufficiency. The whole printer game seems so weird now so maybe if I focus on those geared towards students it will make more sense, I don't want any subscription plans if it matters.

 

[MrsPete]

Yes, we bought a printer for each of our children when they headed out to college. I don't know that they used them constantly, but they did use them.

I suggest you wait for back-to-school sales -- they aren't far away, and I think you'll save money.

 

[luv2sewtjr]

There aren’t many deals right now. A lot of people bought laptops and such in anticipation of working at home. I’m in the market for a new laptop for my daughter next year and I’m waiting.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

HP is having a Memorial Day sale now on their web page

 

[Cruising Engineer]

If your state has a "No Sales Tax Weekend" - usually near the start of school - great deals and no tax saves a lot of money, especially for two printers.

 

[mtannir]

When I bought my printer for school this year I used Facebook Marketplace and got a nice reliable HP printer for $15. I wanted to buy one new but it was way more cost efficient to get one used.

Target and Best Buy have some printers on sale but back to school sales are probably going to be a lot better than what they have now.

 

[wenrob]

It’s not the printer that will cost you, it’s the ink. For years people would by a new inexpensive printer because it was cheaper than buying ink for the old one. Now you’ll be hard pressed to find a printer that has the ink included. If it were me, I’d do the math and work out if it was worth buying a printer and ink (and eventually refills) vs paying to print at the school library or a place like Kinko’s for a few cents a sheet.

I personally got fed up with replacing ink at close to $70 a pop and bought a printer that has the tanks built in and only needs to be filled yearly. They’re pricey and bulky though, probably not what you’re looking for.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I hear you, my kids don't have to print much so they had been using their university printers without an issue. I even started doing Staples for prints but I don't want to be near anyone so thats the rub. Thing is IF my kids go back, up to them, I need to be certain they are completely self sufficient for my peace of mind.

I looked at HP and was going to grab a Laserjet that had $100 off but replacement toner runs around $100 so that was a bit high, esp since I know they won't use it much. I did a search and the same kind only personal use at Best Buy inkjet was the same cost and comes with toner for about 100 prints, and replacements run about $50.

 

[wenrob]

I hear you, my kids don't have to print much so they had been using their university printers without an issue. I even started doing Staples for prints but I don't want to be near anyone so thats the rub. Thing is IF my kids go back, up to them, I need to be certain they are completely self sufficient for my peace of mind.

I looked at HP and was going to grab a Laserjet that had $100 off but replacement toner runs around $100 so that was a bit high, esp since I know they won't use it much. I did a search and the same kind only personal use at Best Buy inkjet was the same cost and comes with toner for about 100 prints, and replacements run about $50.

You know, my brain didn’t even go there. The cost of ink cartridges being one of my “top things that make me crazy” I momentarily forgot we’re in the middle of a pandemic.

 

[lanejudy]

I agree, it's not the printer, over time the ink gets very pricey. A cheap printer may have expensive ink refills. Inkjets will be less expensive than laser printers. Check prices of ink to get the best idea of costs. Black ink is less expensive than color, so consider whether the student might need a lot of color prints or if using the Black&White setting can help keep costs down further.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

We bought our son a printer for college and yes he uses it some... but he gets some free printing at the school library so he used that more than the one at home.
If you buy one and he is going to live at school buy the smallest one you can. They do not have much room in a dorm.
Even though you said no subscriptions we have a HP printer and have a subscription to hpink its really a good deal cheaper than buying ink all the time. I think the cheapest package is $3.00 a month

Check nextdoor.com or craigslist you can find almost new printers sometimes free.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Thanks, the whole ink price thing did get ridiculous over time. For subscriptions the $3 a month is small, I just can't stand subscriptions because I forget I have them and sometimes I miss the card charge and end up with stuff way longer than I want it... which is, I guess, why companies like subscriptions.

Back in Feb I went looking at Staples and the nice sales guy listened to how we use it and suggested toner over ink because it wouldn't dry out being unused a month or 2 at a time

 

[CarlisleMom]

Check with your kids college. My daughter school has a ban on individual printers. A printer is available in each dorm, and at the library free of charge!

 

[Southernmiss]

Will your kids really use the printers? We bought our boys each one.

Their colleges made it so easy to print free on campus. My boys did their work in the school library and not in their dorms.

I get being worried in a pandemic. Sending our daughter off to her first year in August and she has an underlying condition.

Hadn't even occurred to me to get her a printer for safety. I really don't think a communal printer at college is a significant worry. The virus is mostly transmitted through aerosol droplets, not by touching objects.

 

[_19disnA]

This thread is similar to another recent one discussing printers. I would first see what the college recommends since it can be different at each school. I doubt anyone in college needs a color printer and the pricey ink cartridges usually cost more then the printer. Have had good luck using a basic B&W laser printer at home. If you don't print frequently, inkjet printers tend to clog. Have also tried those off brand inkjet replacement cartridges and mostly they were useless (poor quality, often clogged, etc.) so gave up on those. Laser printers use a dry ink powder that seems more stable when printing infrequently.

I would avoid buying used printers, especially online from some unknown person who might be unreliable. Printers have lots of complex plastic parts and mechanisms that can be easily damaged if someone wasn't careful in how they used it. Not sure what you do if someone ships you a used/broken printer. The last thing you want is your new college student trying to try find someplace to get a used printer repaired. All in one printers are usually more expensive and likely includes features a college student will seldom use.