Lexmark Impact S305

Pros: Any pro is so miniscule in comparison to the cons that it is unworthy of mention.

Cons: -Initial cartridge runs out shockingly quickly, as if it's been designed that way.
-I can't print black and white if I don't have ALL color cartridges full of ink. Really??

Summary: I first began to hate this printer after a couple weeks of use and about 30 pages of printing documents (purely text) when the black ink ran out. I tried to get it refilled at my drugstore (which would cost $5), they were unable because Lexmark makes it impossible for them to do so based on the design of the cartridge. I called all over and finally found the printer ink replacement for $25. That's 25% of the MSRP of this "low cost" printer. I couldn't believe it, so I googled the printer model to see if others had the same experience, they had. Frustrated users abounded at the "scam" that was being perpetrated: initial cartridges that ran out after a few days or weeks and exorbitant replacement costs necessitated by anti-competitive practices. I contacted Lexmark support and they confirmed there was nothing I could do but buy more ink.

After I broke down and purchased the black ink, I continued to print until one day, after printing something in color, I tried to print again in black and white. I had run out of cyan ink and so I could not print in black and white. Are you kidding?? Why do I need cyan ink to print with black ink? I set the Color/Black toggle switch on the printer to Black. I also set the printer properties in software to be black and white and I STILL can't print! I called up Lexmark support and their response was "Of course you can't print in only black ink unless you have all color cartridges."

Is this the business model of Lexmark? My impression prior to this purchase was that Lexmark was a high-quality printer producer with a good reputation. My experience, and the others I have read about, is the exact opposite. Designing cartridges to not be refillable, having them run out in a remarkably short period of time, pricing the replacements at 25% of the cost of the printer, and ensuring I can't print in black ink when I don't have cyan ink constitutes deceptive business practices. I will never purchase from Lexmark again and I will ensure that others know the basis of my decision.