When it's time to buy printer ink, some people naturally head back to their neighborhood office supply store while others log onto their favorite online ink supply source. Before you make your next printer ink purchase, consider the costs of your decision.

Purchasing ink at your neighborhood office supply store could be the most expensive way of getting ink for your printer. You may well be paying a higher price for your ink than is necessary. Often, the neighborhood store has little competition and their prices can be increased because of the high demand. Stores often have overhead that online companies don't have - sales people, buildings, etc. The consumer will pay those expenses.

So does that mean that you should never shop your local office supply company for printer ink? Actually, buying ink from your local store may be the safest way to purchase printer ink. Many of the online ink sources are selling ink that is not approved for your printer. You may very well void your warranty if you use ink that isn't brand specific.

Even if you don't have a warranty, some say that off brand printer ink may very well damage your print head. You may significantly shorten the life of your printer. If you weigh that against the potential to save a few dollars on a printer ink cartridge, you'll see that the long-term cost is probably too high.

Added to that is the reliability factor. If you're buying printer ink from an online source and you have a problem with the ink cartridge, you may have little or no recourse. Your local store is likely going to stand behind their products.

This also doesn't mean that all online printer ink sources are bad and not to be trusted. On the contrary, many of the online suppliers offer quality products at greatly reduced rates. You can often find printer ink that's specifically for your printer and pay less than you'd expect.

The best way to find great deals on printer ink is to shop around. Check out the prices at your local stores and compare them to the online prices you find. If you're considering off-brands, consider the potential cost of damaging your print head. You may decide it's not worth it unless you're using lots of ink and you're making significant savings on each cartridge.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Printer Ink Resources a website providing information on Printer Ink