Refilling your empty ink cartridges rather than buying new ones can save you tons of money, especially if you print many documents.
And, since you can buy ink cartridges from Costco, you might be wondering whether they offer refill services in-store, too. I did some research, and this is all the information I could find.
Does Costco Refill Ink Cartridges?
Unfortunately, Costco does not refill printer ink cartridges. Costco did previously offer this service in-store, but they have now phased it out. Instead, Costco members can buy new ink cartridges in-store or visit Walgreens, Staples, and Walmart, which provide ink cartridge refills.
To learn why Costco stopped offering this service and alternative places to get your printer ink refilled, keep on reading!
Why Has Costco Stopped Refilling Empty Ink Cartridges?
Costco announced that it would be putting a stop to a number of its in-store services early in 2021, including its ink cartridge refill service.
The reason for doing so is related to a steep decline in demand.
In an email to customers, Costco explained that the rise of social media and camera phones had diminished the need for in-store printing and related services, including ink cartridge refills.
As a result, you can no longer access Costco’s Online Ink Cartridge Refill Center or find ink cartridge refill information in the FAQs on Costco’s website.
Where To Get Ink Cartridges Refilled?
If you are looking for alternative stores for getting your ink cartridges refilled, customers can visit other retail brands, including:
Does Costco Sell Printer Ink Cartridges?
Yes, Costco does sell printer ink cartridges, even though it no longer offers ink cartridge refills in-store! You can purchase ink cartridges from Costco from the following brands:
- Brother
- Epson
- HP
- Innovera
- Lexmark
- Xerox
However, even though Costco is very often known for its competitively priced merchandise, printer ink is not necessarily cheaper when purchased either in-store or online at Costco.
What Other Services Has Costco Axed?
In-store ink cartridge refilling was not the only service to get the boot.
Since the announcement in January, all photo departments, including passport photos, film development, video transfers, and photo restoration in Costco’s stores have closed.
Costco also began shutting some photo centers back in 2019, and has closed the rest this year in one dedicated cull.
However, customers can still get photo books, stationery, and calendars printed by Costco through their online Photo Center.
In fact, it has been found that the same ink available from Amazon costs significantly less per cartridge.
Conclusion
Unfortunately not. While Costco used to offer ink cartridge refills in-store, it was announced early in 2021 that the service would be discontinued.
Other services were axed at the same time, including in-store photo printing, photo restoration, and home movie video transfers. A sharp decline in demand fueled by the rise of social media and smartphones was cited as the main reason.
If you want to get printer ink from Costco, that is still possible. You cannot get empty cartridges refilled anymore, but you can purchase new ones both in Costco’s physical stores and online at Costco.com.
