HP 711 Black Ink Cartridge Review: Conditional Buy (7.8/10)
A single line from a Staples review captures the whole promise of HP 711 Black Ink Cartridge for DesignJet Printers: “I need it and it works.” That blunt practicality is why many buyers keep paying OEM prices—especially when their plotter is mission-critical. Verdict: Conditional buy — 7.8/10.
Quick Verdict
For HP 711 Black Ink Cartridge for DesignJet Printers, the decision hinges less on print quality (which reviewers often praise) and more on whether you can tolerate occasional “bad out of the box” failures and retailer-side ordering friction. People who print intermittently but need reliable results tend to stick with HP; bargain-hunters mention cheaper alternatives but don’t always trust them for plotters.
| Verdict | Evidence from user feedback | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Conditional Yes | Staples reviewer: “could go with much cheaper knockoff but i keep with hp…” | Low-volume, reliability-first users |
| Strong print reliability (when it works) | Staples reviewer P.W.: “works like a charm… vibrant colors no clogging.” | CAD/linework and occasional color users |
| Shipping/order experience varies | Staples reviewer Benjamin G.: “It took three orders however to get it.” | Anyone buying online (plan ahead) |
| Occasional DOA/fault errors | Staples critical review: “showing faulty and cant be used.” | Time-sensitive jobs (keep a spare) |
| Brand trust motivates repeat buys | Staples reviewer Debbi B.: “hp inks are the better and more reliable solution.” | Long-time DesignJet owners |
Claims vs Reality
HP’s marketing for HP 711 Black Ink Cartridge for DesignJet Printers leans hard on consistency and low-hassle performance: “consistent, sharp, accurate results” and “virtually trouble-free” via cartridge “intelligence” (HP product copy via Amazon specs / HP store copy). Digging deeper into user reports, a recurring pattern emerged: when cartridges are recognized and healthy, buyers describe exactly that “works every time” experience—but a small cluster describes failures that contradict the “trouble-free” pitch.
One Staples reviewer summed up the best-case reality with: “i buy this ink once a year usually and it works like a charm each time. vibrant colors no clogging.” Even though the product here is black, that comment reflects a broader satisfaction with OEM behavior inside these printers—no fiddling, no cleaning cycles, no drama. Another buyer framed it as a risk-management choice: “could go with much cheaper knockoff but i keep with hp as i don’t use that much anyways.” For low-volume users, the “optimized printing system” claim translates to fewer surprises when months pass between print runs.
But the “more time, less hassle” message runs into a hard wall in the most time-sensitive scenario: a cartridge that won’t work at all. A Staples critical review posted June 7, 2021 says: “bad right out of the box” and “the cartridge is showing faulty and cant be used.” Another Staples review (S.H.) describes repeated errors after buying black and color cartridges: “kept getting error… i ended up throwing them away… i don't know if they were old or what.” While HP emphasizes that cartridges are tested and monitored, these experiences show that a minority of buyers encounter immediate “faulty/error” situations that can stop a job cold.
HP also positions line accuracy and smudge resistance—“pinpoint line accuracy,” “fast-drying, smudge-resistant prints” (HP copy via Amazon specs). User reviews provided here don’t directly mention smudging or line-width metrics, but they do reinforce the practical outcome: the cartridge “works,” and for plotter owners, that often is the metric that matters.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
“Tried and true” is the theme running through verified retail reviews of HP 711 Black Ink Cartridge for DesignJet Printers. A Staples reviewer who identifies as a “materials manager” called it a “tried and true product and good customer service. good combo!” That kind of comment points to a specific persona: workplace buyers who don’t want to babysit consumables. For them, OEM ink isn’t about chasing pennies per page—it’s about minimizing downtime and “rework,” echoing HP’s own positioning.
Long-term DesignJet owners also talk about reliability as something learned the hard way. Staples reviewer Debbi B. said: “i learned my lesson years ago using imitation ink and over the long haul hp inks are the better and more reliable solution.” For print shops, architects, or facilities teams running a plotter for years, that statement reads like institutional memory: one bad stretch with third-party ink can cost more in lost time than the savings.
There’s also an emotional “never again” reaction after trying lesser cartridges. Staples reviewer Skyway B. wrote: “my printer has " been with " lesser cartridges in the past and it gives me a great sense of relief to know that experimental phase is definitely over. once you’ve tried hp there ’s no going back.” For people managing a DesignJet that needs to just print plans, blueprints, or signage without troubleshooting, this “relief” is the core benefit.
After those narratives, the practical praise becomes simple and repetitive—in a good way. Staples reviewer Becky C. said the cartridges “work perfectly in our printer,” and another wrote: “it was perfect… just what we needed and it came right away.” These are not flashy compliments, but across consumables, that steady cadence signals satisfaction.
Summary of praised themes (from Staples reviews):
- “Works every time” reliability for low-frequency buyers (“once a year… works like a charm”).
- Confidence from long-term OEM users (“better and more reliable solution”).
- Reduced anxiety after third-party experiments (“great sense of relief”).
Common Complaints
The sharpest negative feedback is blunt: sometimes HP 711 Black Ink Cartridge for DesignJet Printers shows up and doesn’t function. The most helpful critical review on Staples states: “bad right out of the box” and “showing faulty and cant be used.” For a user printing deadline-driven drawings, this kind of failure isn’t an inconvenience—it’s a project risk.
Another recurring complaint is not about ink performance but the purchasing process. Staples reviewer Benjamin G. wrote: “the cartridge is fine… it took three orders however to get it.” That story matters because it changes the real-world cost of OEM ink: not just dollars, but delays and repeated ordering effort. For office admins or small businesses relying on shipping to keep a plotter alive, ordering friction turns “reliable printing” into “unreliable procurement.”
Error messages and compatibility failures also show up in one especially frustrated Staples review (S.H.): “purchased black and color cartridges and kept getting error… i ended up throwing them away.” The reviewer even speculates about age—“i don't know if they were old or what”—which aligns with a common consumer fear around ink: buying a cartridge that’s technically “new” but behaves like stale inventory.
These complaints don’t dominate the review set—Staples shows 4.69/5 with 35 reviews for the high-yield black cartridge listing—but they’re severe enough that anyone printing for a living will feel them. The pattern isn’t “slightly disappointed”; it’s “completely blocked.”
Summary of complaint themes (from Staples reviews):
- DOA/fault errors: “faulty and cant be used.”
- Ordering friction: “took three orders… to get it.”
- Persistent printer errors leading to waste: “ended up throwing them away.”
Divisive Features
Price and “OEM vs compatible” loyalty is where opinions split for HP 711 Black Ink Cartridge for DesignJet Printers. One Staples reviewer framed the choice as deliberate restraint: “could go with much cheaper knockoff but i keep with hp as i don’t use that much anyways.” That’s a low-volume persona: someone who can justify higher per-cartridge cost because their annual spend is limited and they want zero surprises.
But the same comment implicitly acknowledges the other camp: high-volume users for whom “much cheaper knockoff” is tempting. The data provided includes a generic 4-pack compatible listing on Amazon (Generic brand, three reviews shown, and described as “more affordable price” and “high yield”), plus multiple refillable/ciss listings from eBay/PicClick. Those listings indicate a real alternative ecosystem around the 711 series—yet the user feedback quotes here primarily support sticking with OEM due to reliability concerns.
So the divisive element isn’t print quality in these reviews; it’s risk tolerance. Some people see OEM as peace of mind, others see third-party as a cost strategy—especially when the marketplace is full of “compatible” and “refillable” options.
Trust & Reliability
Digging deeper into the “trust” angle, the strongest caution comes from buyer stories about cartridges failing immediately. The Staples critical review (“bad right out of the box”) and the S.H. report of repeated “error” messages highlight the nightmare scenario: you paid OEM money and still got an unusable cartridge. For cautious buyers, this is why keeping receipts and testing immediately matters—because the failure mode is binary.
On durability and long-term use, a different picture emerges: several comments are explicitly about repeat purchasing cycles. P.W. says: “i buy this ink once a year usually and it works like a charm each time.” Debbi B. adds a long-horizon perspective: “i have had hp plotters for about 15 years these large cartridges provide nice long life.” Those statements don’t read like first impressions; they read like maintenance routines. For offices that print periodically—plans, blueprints, or presentations—this reinforces the idea that OEM ink can be a predictable operating expense rather than an ongoing troubleshooting project.
Alternatives
Only alternatives explicitly present in the provided data are third-party compatible cartridges and refillable systems marketed for the 711 series. On Amazon, a generic “711XL Ink Cartridge Replacement… 4 Pack” listing positions itself as “more affordable price” with claimed page yields (listing text). On eBay/PicClick, there are refillable empty cartridges and CISS kits sold for HP 711-compatible DesignJets.
The trade-off is captured in a single Staples buyer’s logic: “could go with much cheaper knockoff but i keep with hp…” For low-volume users, the alternative’s main value proposition (cost) is less persuasive than the risk of errors, clogs, or incompatibility. For high-volume environments, the alternative ecosystem exists precisely because OEM ink can be expensive—yet the strongest quoted sentiment in these reviews still prioritizes reliability and predictability.
Price & Value
Pricing varies widely by source in the provided data, which affects how buyers interpret value. The OEM HP 711 80-ml black (CZ133A) is shown at $91.30 on one retailer listing (Digital Media Warehouse) and £54.99 on a UK HP partner listing, while Office Depot shows an HP 711 black cartridge (CZ129A, standard yield) at $42.00 with 4.3/5 across 94 reviews (rating count shown, but no individual quotes provided here). That spread makes it easy to see why shoppers compare options and sometimes look at resale/market listings like PicClick and eBay.
Resale/market listings also signal that buyers sometimes chase deals via secondary channels—PicClick shows an OEM “full set” sold listing, and eBay shows refillable/empty systems. But for “value,” the strongest user guidance isn’t a price tip—it’s a reliability tip. Debbi B.’s stance is value-as-total-cost: “over the long haul hp inks are the better and more reliable solution.” Meanwhile, Benjamin G.’s “took three orders” story warns that the real cost can include delays, not just the price tag.
Buying tips implied by user stories:
- If downtime is expensive, buy early and keep a spare (“bad right out of the box” is catastrophic when you’re on deadline).
- If you print rarely, OEM cost may be easier to justify (“i don’t use that much anyways”).
FAQ
Q: Is the HP 711 black cartridge reliable for occasional printing?
A: Generally yes, based on repeat-buyer stories. A Staples reviewer said: “i buy this ink once a year usually and it works like a charm each time.” Another noted: “work perfectly in our printer.” But a small number report DOA issues, so test it soon after delivery.
Q: Do people see printer errors or faulty cartridges with HP 711?
A: Some do. The most helpful critical Staples review said: “bad right out of the box” and “showing faulty and cant be used.” Another reviewer reported: “kept getting error… i ended up throwing them away.” These stories are less common but high impact.
Q: Is it worth buying OEM HP 711 vs a cheaper compatible cartridge?
A: For many buyers, yes—especially low-volume users prioritizing predictability. One Staples reviewer wrote: “could go with much cheaper knockoff but i keep with hp…” Another said they “learned my lesson years ago using imitation ink,” calling HP “more reliable” long term.
Q: How long does an HP 711 cartridge last in real use?
A: User feedback suggests “long life” for some owners, but exact page counts aren’t consistently reported in the reviews provided. A Staples reviewer with long-term plotter experience said: “these large cartridges provide nice long life.” Official listings reference different yields by model/size, so results vary.
Q: Are ordering and delivery experiences consistent?
A: Not always. Some praise speed—“it came right away”—while others report friction. One Staples reviewer said: “the cartridge is fine… it took three orders however to get it.” If you’re ordering for a deadline, planning ahead reduces risk.
Final Verdict
Buy HP 711 Black Ink Cartridge for DesignJet Printers if you’re a DesignJet owner who prints plans or drawings and wants the “works like a charm” peace of mind—especially if you print infrequently and don’t want to gamble on cheaper knockoffs. Avoid if you can’t tolerate a rare but severe DOA scenario like “faulty and cant be used” without a backup on hand. Pro tip from the community mindset: “could go with much cheaper knockoff… but i keep with hp”—a reminder that for many, the real product is reliability, not ink.
