Does Costco refill the cartridges? [Full Guide]
Refilling empty ink cartridges instead of buying new ones can save you a lot of money, especially if you print a lot of documents.
And, since you can buy ink cartridges from Costco, you might wonder if they also offer in-store refills. I did some research and this is all the information I could find.
Does Costco refill the cartridges?
Unfortunately, Costco does not refill printer cartridges. Costco did offer the service in-store before, but it has since been phased out. Instead, Costco members can purchase new ink cartridges in-store or visit Walgreens, Staples and Walmart that offer cartridge refills.
To learn why Costco discontinued this service and alternative places to refill your printer, read on!
Why did Costco stop refilling empty ink cartridges?
Costco announced that it will discontinue several in-store services in early 2021, including cartridge refills.
The reason for this has to do with a sharp drop in demand.
In an email to customers, Costco explained that the rise of social media and camera phones has reduced the need for in-store printing and related services, including cartridge refills.
As a result, you can no longer access Costco’s online cartridge refill center, and you will no longer be able to find cartridge refill information in the FAQs on the Costco website.
Where can I refill the ink cartridges?
If you are looking for an alternative store to refill cartridges, customers can visit other retail brands including:
Does Costco sell printer cartridges?
Yes, Costco does sell printer cartridges, although it no longer offers cartridge refills in-store! You can buy the following brands of ink cartridges from Costco:
- brother
- Epson
- life value
- Innovera
- Lexmark
- copy
However, while Costco is generally known for its competitively priced items, it’s not necessarily cheaper to buy printer ink in-store or online at Costco.
What other services did Costco eliminate?
In-store cartridge refills aren’t the only service that’s finding success.
Since the January announcement, all photo departments in Costco stores, including passport photos, film processing, video transfers and photo restoration, have been closed.
Costco also began closing some photo centers in 2019 and specifically closed the rest this year.
However, customers can still get Costco printed photo books, stationery and calendars through their online photo center.
In fact, Amazon has been found to cost much less per cartridge for the same ink.
in conclusion
Unfortunately no. While Costco used to offer cartridge refills in-store, it announced in early 2021 that it would be discontinuing that service.
Other services were axed at the same time, including in-store photo printing, photo restoration and home movie video delivery. A sharp drop in demand due to the rise of social media and smartphones is believed to be the main reason.
If you want to get printer ink from Costco, it’s still possible. You can no longer refill empty ink cartridges, but you can purchase new ink cartridges at Costco stores and online at Costco.com.
