Brother LC3019BK Review: High-Yield Value? 8.3/10
“Original quality ink… but a full set of cartridges costs almost as much as the price of the printer.” That one line captures the core tension around the Brother LC3019BK Super High Yield Black Ink Cartridge: people like what it prints and how long it lasts, then wince at what it costs. Verdict: Conditional buy — 8.3/10 if you print a lot and want OEM reliability; lower if you’re a light user chasing the lowest cost per page.
Quick Verdict
For high-volume Brother MFC users, Brother LC3019BK Super High Yield Black Ink Cartridge is mostly a “yes” based on longevity and print consistency. For bargain hunters or occasional printers, it’s conditional: the same traits that earn praise (“lasts a long time”) are paired with recurring price frustration and occasional reports of unexpected consumption or messy failures.
| Call | What users highlight | Evidence (platform) |
|---|---|---|
| Buy? | Conditional | Strong longevity praise; price complaints |
| Biggest pro | Long ink life / extended capacity | Best Buy “ink life” mentions; Staples longevity comments |
| Print quality | Usually crisp, clean | Best Buy + Staples quotes |
| Biggest con | Cost feels high | Best Buy + Staples quotes |
| Risk flags | Occasional leaking / confusion on fit | Staples “leaked everywhere”; Birdeye fit-size complaint |
| Best for | High-volume office printing | Repeated “extra high yield” value framing |
Claims vs Reality
Brother’s official positioning for Brother LC3019BK Super High Yield Black Ink Cartridge centers on “up to 3,000 pages” and consistent, sharp OEM output. Digging deeper into user reports, the “long-lasting” claim is the one most consistently echoed—but it’s not universally experienced the same way, especially when users talk about how quickly ink seems to disappear in real-world patterns.
A recurring pattern emerged: users who value OEM predictability describe it as dependable, with better longevity than starter cartridges. Reddit wasn’t actually present in the provided community data; the community-style feedback here comes from retailer review platforms. A Best Buy reviewer (henlock) framed it as a clear upgrade over what shipped in the printer: “Original quality ink. The life is significantly greater than the cartridge that came with my new Brother printer.” That lines up with the “super high yield” promise in spirit, even if it doesn’t quantify exact pages.
At the same time, while officially rated around 3,000 pages, at least one Staples reviewer describes an experience that feels wildly out of sync with that headline. A verified reviewer on Staples noted: “Replaced all ink last Jan and now out of ink this Jan. i have only printed well under 100 pages and used more black only but all the color is gone.” That comment is about the cartridge ecosystem rather than black alone, but it’s still an important reality check: some users perceive ink depletion that doesn’t match expectations, especially when color depletion enters the picture on inkjet systems.
The “sharp prints” claim gets direct reinforcement from people who care about document clarity. A Best Buy reviewer wrote: “Easy to install and very good print quality. would recommend to anyone.” On Staples, another reviewer similarly emphasized results over drama: “The ink cartridges work fine. good quality printing, fast shipment.” For users printing contracts, invoices, or schoolwork, that consistency is the practical difference between “cheap ink” and “no surprises ink.”
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
The strongest throughline around Brother LC3019BK Super High Yield Black Ink Cartridge is longevity—specifically, the sense that it lasts longer than expected compared to smaller cartridges or the starter ink that comes with a printer. Digging deeper into user reports, this benefit matters most to home offices and small businesses that don’t want downtime. A Best Buy reviewer (henlock) summarized that upgrade feeling: “The life is significantly greater than the cartridge that came with my new Brother printer.”
For budget-conscious frequent printers, the “longer life” praise isn’t just about convenience—it’s about fewer replacements, fewer interruptions, and fewer chances to get stuck mid-job. Another Best Buy reviewer (unnamed in the excerpt, titled “good buy”) connected the XXL capacity to savings: “This extra capacity that the xxl cartridge has lasts a long time and saves money.” Even when the upfront price stings, some users judge value by how rarely they have to reorder.
Print quality is the second theme that repeatedly surfaces, and it’s framed in practical, workaday terms—clean, crisp output rather than photo-lab artistry. On Best Buy, one reviewer put it plainly: “Very good print quality.” On Staples, another shared a similar steady-state satisfaction: “I’ve never had any problems with brother oem ink cartridges. they work as expected and last a long time.” For users who need consistent black text (forms, reports, shipping labels), that “works as expected” reliability is the actual selling point.
There’s also a quiet “it fits and behaves” satisfaction among users who simply want the cartridge to be recognized and function without troubleshooting. A Staples reviewer focused on installation/compatibility success: “The extra high yield cartridge fit well and is working correctly.” For less technical users, that line signals a low-friction experience—insert cartridge, print, move on.
Praised themes (after the stories):
- Long-lasting supply compared to starter cartridges (Best Buy)
- Crisp/clean print quality (Best Buy, Staples)
- Straightforward install/fit for supported printers (Staples)
Common Complaints
Price is the most consistent pain point, and it shows up even in otherwise positive reviews. A recurring pattern emerged: users who like the output still frame the cartridge as expensive relative to the printer itself, which is an emotional trigger for many inkjet owners. Best Buy reviewer henlock nailed that sticker-shock dynamic: “The only downside is that a full set of cartridges costs almost as much as the price of the printer.”
On Staples, the cost concern shows up as a broader cost-per-page critique. A verified Staples reviewer wrote: “Cost per page is somewhat high compared with other printers of this type.” For households printing only occasionally, this complaint can feel even sharper: paying premium OEM pricing without consuming enough ink to “earn back” the value through high yield.
Reliability complaints exist, but they’re less frequent and more dramatic when they appear. One Staples review describes a catastrophic failure scenario: “Leaked everywhere… it fit in the machine exactly as it should have, but just leaked everywhere.” For users printing in a home office with carpet or near electronics, the implication is obvious: even a rare leak report can weigh heavily because the downside is messy and disruptive.
Confusion around sizes and model matching also surfaces, especially among users juggling multiple cartridge variants. On Birdeye’s review feed, one customer complaint focuses on physical size mismatch and the frustration of buying something that doesn’t suit their setup: “Now when it is time for me to use the black cartridge it is larger then the other 3… now i have a cartridge that too big and now i can use my printer.” For infrequent buyers, this kind of mismatch is the kind of “simple mistake” that turns into a complete stop.
Complaint themes (after the stories):
- OEM pricing feels high (Best Buy, Staples)
- Occasional severe leak reports (Staples)
- Confusing sizing/fit expectations across variants (Birdeye)
Divisive Features
High yield itself is divisive—not because users disagree it holds more ink, but because they disagree on whether the economics work out. Digging deeper into user reports, heavy printers often treat the bigger cartridge as the sensible choice because it reduces replacement churn. Best Buy feedback leans into that: “Lasts a long time and saves money.” For a small office printing weekly batches, fewer cartridge changes can feel like real operational savings.
But for lighter users, the math is less convincing, especially when the upfront cost is compared to the printer price or alternative supply strategies. That same Best Buy reviewer who praised longevity still flagged the tradeoff: “A full set of cartridges costs almost as much as the price of the printer.” The feature isn’t the capacity—it’s how that capacity interacts with a user’s print habits and tolerance for OEM prices.
Another divisive edge is expectation-setting around page yield. While marketing references “up to 3,000 pages,” some user narratives about ink depletion elsewhere in the set (including color) can make the whole system feel unpredictable. The Staples reviewer who said they printed “well under 100 pages” and still ran out of ink illustrates how quickly confidence can erode when real-world usage doesn’t align with the headline yield claim.
Trust & Reliability
Trust signals for Brother LC3019BK Super High Yield Black Ink Cartridge skew positive in the provided data because multiple platforms repeat the same basic story: OEM ink behaves predictably and prints cleanly. Best Buy’s small sample is strongly positive (4 reviews, 4.8/5), with one reviewer emphasizing authenticity: “Original quality ink.” Staples includes a longer trail of comments that reinforce the “works as expected” baseline—“I’ve never had any problems with brother oem ink cartridges.”
However, digging deeper into negative narratives shows two trust stressors: fulfillment/service issues and rare-but-impactful failures. One Staples reviewer’s complaint wasn’t about the ink at all but about delivery and customer support: “I order ink for my printer and it was not delivered… they did not resolved it.” That kind of experience can color product trust even when the cartridge itself is fine, especially for business users who reorder on deadlines.
On long-term reliability stories, users describe reordering and repeated satisfaction more than long “six months later” diaries. Birdeye’s summary-style feedback includes: “Reordered several times, and satisfied with them.” Even without a detailed timeline, repeated repurchase is a strong behavioral signal for ongoing reliability—particularly for offices that standardize on one cartridge.
Alternatives
Only alternatives explicitly present in the provided data are third-party compatible LC3019-style cartridges and compatible sellers listing “replacement” packs. Digging deeper into how these appear, the contrast is price-first: for example, compatible listings highlight much lower per-cartridge pricing and similar “high yield” claims, but the provided data doesn’t include user-review quotes for those alternatives—only marketing descriptions.
That creates a practical buyer dilemma: Brother LC3019BK Super High Yield Black Ink Cartridge is backed by user stories about “very good print quality” and “works as expected,” while the compatibles in this dataset are represented mainly by product copy rather than lived experiences. If you’re choosing based on real feedback here, the OEM option is the one with direct user narratives attached.
Price & Value
Pricing in the dataset clusters around the low-to-mid $50 range for OEM single cartridges, with a frequent emotional reaction to that number. A recurring pattern emerged: buyers accept the cartridge’s performance but resent the economics. Best Buy reviewer henlock’s quote is the clearest statement of that value tension: “A full set of cartridges costs almost as much as the price of the printer.” Staples echoes the same idea in a calmer form: “The price.”
Resale/market pricing snapshots in the data also show variance depending on seller and channel, with some listings materially higher than typical retail. That matters for buyers who wait until the last minute and then pay whatever is in stock. For practical buying tips grounded in community behavior, one Staples reviewer praised ordering when local stock fails: “Went to the store… wasn’t in stock… offered to order it. it was at my front door 2 days later.” The value story here isn’t “cheap ink”—it’s “predictable supply when you need it.”
If you print heavily, the “extra high yield” framing can make the price feel more rational because it spreads over more pages and fewer replacements. A Staples reviewer claimed: “We get a lot of printing out of each cartridge, and the printing is always crisp and clear.” For small offices, that combination—high throughput and stable output—can be the real return on investment.
FAQ
Q: Does the Brother LC3019BK really last longer than the starter cartridge?
A: Yes, multiple buyers describe it as a noticeable upgrade in longevity. A Best Buy reviewer (henlock) said: “The life is significantly greater than the cartridge that came with my new Brother printer.” That “starter vs XXL” contrast is one of the most consistent real-world themes.
Q: Is print quality actually good for documents?
A: Yes, most quoted feedback emphasizes clean text and reliable results. A Best Buy reviewer noted: “Very good print quality,” and a Staples reviewer wrote: “The ink cartridges work fine. good quality printing.” These comments focus on everyday document output rather than photo printing.
Q: What’s the biggest complaint people have about this cartridge?
A: Price. Even satisfied users call it expensive. Best Buy reviewer henlock said: “A full set of cartridges costs almost as much as the price of the printer,” and a Staples reviewer summarized the same feeling as: “My only complaint — the price.”
Q: Are there reliability risks like leaks or defects?
A: Most feedback is positive, but there are isolated severe complaints. A Staples reviewer reported: “Leaked everywhere.” Because the downside is messy and disruptive, risk-averse buyers often weigh OEM consistency against the possibility of rare failures and ensure they’re using the correct model.
Q: Is it easy to install and compatible with the listed Brother printers?
A: Generally yes, when matched to the correct printer model. A Best Buy reviewer said it was “Easy to install,” and a Staples reviewer confirmed: “The extra high yield cartridge fit well and is working correctly.” Some complaints involve confusion about cartridge size variants, so double-check the exact model.
Final Verdict
Buy Brother LC3019BK Super High Yield Black Ink Cartridge if you run a home office or small business on a supported Brother MFC and care most about “original quality ink” and fewer replacements. Avoid it if you print infrequently and mainly want the lowest upfront cost, because multiple buyers fixate on how expensive it feels.
Pro tip from the community: plan purchases before you’re empty—one Staples reviewer praised the fallback when local stock failed: “Offered to order it… it was at my front door 2 days later.”
