Hi Dennis I am sorry that you have had this experience. I can understand disappointment when the cartridges seem to run out too quickly. Ink usage usually determines how long each individual cartridge lasts. High-density prints (like images and graphs) will use more ink especially if the paper is highly absorbent and the surrounding air is dry. Here are some things that might help lower your ink usage: - Set the printer to draft mode whenever possible - Using the black-only setting will save on colored ink usage. - Shut the printer down between uses - Always use the power button on the printer itself to turn it off. That gives it time to ‘park’ so that the cartridges are protected from excessive drying You might also consider subscribing to Instant Ink then you only pay by the page and not for the cartridges themselves. There is information about the program at: instantink.com Mary Chris HP Care hp.com/support