Guide
Saving at Cartridge Monkey
How UK Shoppers Cut Costs at Cartridge Monkey
Cartridge Monkey sells printer consumables and office supplies for UK customers, including ink cartridges, toner cartridges, solid ink, franking cartridges, printer paper, labels, photo paper and printers. Its range covers major printer brands such as HP, Brother, Canon, Epson, Lexmark, Xerox, Samsung and others, with both original and compatible cartridge options available for supported models.
This guide focuses on practical ways to reduce the total cost of an order rather than relying on an unverified promotion. It explains how to identify the right cartridge, compare compatible and original options, assess delivery thresholds, check any voucher before payment and avoid buying products that do not match your printer.
Start with the printer model
The most reliable saving is avoiding an incorrect purchase. Cartridge Monkey provides a cartridge finder where you select the printer manufacturer, family and model before viewing compatible products. Use the exact model number printed on the machine or its existing cartridge packaging. Do not rely only on a broad brand search: one printer range can use several different cartridge references.
You can also search by printer model, product name or order code. Once the results appear, review the product description and cartridge type before adding anything to the basket. This is especially important where a printer uses separate black and colour cartridges, high-capacity versions or maintenance products.
Compare original and compatible options
Cartridge Monkey lists branded and non-branded cartridges. Where a compatible option is available for your printer, compare its price with the original manufacturer product rather than automatically choosing the familiar brand. The retailer states that its own-brand compatible cartridges are intended as an alternative to manufacturer cartridges and that compatible toners carry a three-year guarantee.
Check the quantity and cartridge type as well as the headline price. A cheaper item is not useful if it is a single cartridge when you need a multipack, or if it does not contain the colour or capacity required. For occasional printing, buying only what you need can keep the immediate spend lower. For regular home or business printing, compare the cost of a full set or multipack where the product page clearly shows the contents.
Use the delivery threshold carefully
For UK mainland orders, the retailer’s delivery information states that standard next-working-day delivery costs £3.99 on orders under £50 including VAT and is free on orders over £50 including VAT, when ordered by 5:30pm Monday to Friday. This makes the delivery threshold worth checking before you pay.
Do not add unnecessary products simply to reach £50. First compare the cost of the extra item with the delivery charge you would otherwise pay. If you already need paper, labels or another cartridge soon, bringing that planned purchase into one order may be more sensible than placing separate orders. The site also lists faster paid services, so check that the standard option remains selected if speed beyond next-working-day delivery is not essential.
Check stock and dispatch timing
Product pages indicate stock availability, including statuses such as “In Stock”, “Out of Stock” and “Back in Stock Soon”. If a cartridge is needed urgently, choose an item shown as available and confirm the expected delivery option in the basket. The delivery guidance says orders placed before 5:30pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day, subject to the relevant stock position.
Where an order contains unavailable products, the retailer says available items may be part-dispatched, with outstanding items sent separately when they return to stock. That can be useful when you need one cartridge immediately, but check the basket and order confirmation so you understand what is expected in each delivery.
Before you pay
Cartridge Monkey’s ordering instructions say that a voucher received through its email newsletter can be entered on the basket page. If you are using Cartridge Monkey discount codes, look under the product list for the voucher box, enter the code exactly as supplied and select “Apply Voucher”. Only proceed once the basket shows that the voucher or promotion has been accepted.
A code should never be treated as active merely because it appears on a third-party page. Check the final basket total, the delivery charge and any product restrictions before payment. If no voucher field is visible, follow the retailer’s checkout process without assuming a code can be applied later. The retailer also invites customers to join its mailing list for exclusive offers and discounts, but signing up does not itself guarantee a particular saving.
Reduce repeat-order mistakes
Customers with an account can use the retailer’s “My Printers” and “Quick Reorder” features. Saving a printer can make future purchases faster and reduce the risk of selecting a similar but incompatible model. Before repeating an order, still check the printer currently in use, the cartridge reference, quantity and stock status.
Keeping a note of the cartridge code and the date it was last purchased can also help you order before supplies run out. This avoids paying for an urgent delivery service or buying an unsuitable substitute at the last minute.
Use recycling and returns information
Cartridge Monkey advertises a free cartridge recycling scheme. If you have empty cartridges, check the available recycling instructions before disposing of them with household waste. Recycling will not necessarily reduce the price of the current order, but it can help you make use of a service already offered by the retailer.
Review the returns information before opening packaging. The retailer states that faulty ink and toner cartridges can be eligible for replacement or refund within 12 months, while own-brand compatible toners carry a 36-month warranty. Change-of-mind conditions differ, and opened or sealed products may be treated differently, so confirm the applicable terms before ordering an uncertain item.
Quick checklist
- Confirm the exact printer model before searching for ink or toner.
- Compare original and compatible products where both are clearly listed for your printer.
- Check the cartridge number, colour, capacity and pack contents.
- Review the stock message before relying on a delivery estimate.
- Compare the basket total with the £50 free standard delivery threshold.
- Keep the standard delivery option if faster paid delivery is unnecessary.
- Apply a newsletter voucher in the basket only if you have received one and the retailer provides the voucher field.
- Check the final total, delivery charge and product quantities before payment.
- Save your printer details or use Quick Reorder only after confirming the cartridge reference.
For a final checkout check, review current Cartridge Monkey discount codes page information, then confirm any offer in the basket before placing your UK order.