printer ink

[bob]

I was just wondering why printer ink is so expensive.

 

[RBM]

My understanding is that many printer companies make little to no money on
the sale of the printer and therefore expect to make it by wicked high ink
prices. This is why they're installing chips in the OEM ink, to try to
prevent us from using less expensive third party stuff. I've read that Kodak
has decided to change this with a new line of printers they're introducing.
If they can produce a decent printer with reasonably priced ink, it could
put their name back on the map

 

[Rookie]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in (e-mail address removed):

I was just wondering why printer ink is so expensive.

Bying a bottle of suitable ink that is adequate for many refills does keep
the cost down

 

[Paul]

I was just wondering why printer ink is so expensive.

There was a shift in the marketing model, for printing
devices, some time ago.

The first company to mess around, was a company that made
thermal wax printers. The printers cost thousands of dollars.
The company didn't seem to be moving too many of them.
(An exec at my company owned one of the printers, and we
had to beg his cranky secretary, to run off the odd print
on it.)

They then decided to give the printer away for free. In
exchange, the customer was tied into a contract for minimum
printing requirements, and more expensive expendables. So
it was almost a "printing service" rather than a printer.

The idea has moved into cheaper printing solutions as well.
The fact that "chipped" cartridges exist, is the lock in,
with the idea being, that as long as a customer cannot
refill their own cartridges, the manufacturer has them
"over a barrel".

It means, for a person with a decent printing volume, they
are more than paying for that "cheap" printer they got.

In some cases, people pick up printers that are slightly
discounted, because the ink that comes with the printer,
makes it a cheaper solution than buying cartridges for
their existing printer. In retaliation, some printers
come with "teaser" cartridges, which don't have as
many prints in them, as a regular retail cartridge.

So it all boils down, to how best to "sucker" a customer
into buying a printer. I think it is clear, that most
consumers don't work out their final cost per print,
when buying these things. Because if they knew the price,
they'd be more aware that a "bargain" printer is not a
bargain at all.

To get the best deal, it means a prospective customer has
to evaluate the cartridge system. Are the cartridges for
each color separate ? That way, you're not paying to
replace colors that aren't getting consumed.

Are the cartridges "chipped" ? Has someone figured out how
to refill them ? Does anyone actually have the chemistry of
the replacement ink figured out ? Each ink is specifically
designed for the print head. Print heads have different
size orifices, and surface tension and viscosity play a
part. If the ink doesn't match, the print quality will
suffer. Or the head will be permanently clogged, requiring
replacement for the next experiment.

If you're doing any sort of volume, a laser printer is a
better answer. At least for black and white. For color
laser, the same rules would apply, with respect to whether
colors are separate, or toner cartridges can be refilled.
A laser has a more expensive printer price, but may be
a better deal, in terms of price per page printed.

I've even seen the same approach used in telecom equipment.
Between two competing companies, one sells the frame (the place
to hold all the hardware), at close to cost. Then, each plugin
module is priced up a bit (that is where the profit comes in).
Another company, charges a fortune for the empty frame, maybe
10x the material cost. Then, the plug in modules are priced
with a smaller profit margin. Each solution caters to a customer
that either wants a partially filled piece of equipment, or
a customer who is expected to fill every slot from day one.

So the printing industry has experimented with two models of
pricing as well. But the current pricing model is a gamble,
and relies on the consumer replacing carts, rather than throwing
the printer away after the initial ink is gone.

Paul

 

[CBFalconer]

I was just wondering why printer ink is so expensive.

To make money for the inkjet printer firms. The way to avoid it is
to spend a little bit more for a laser printer, buy a toner
cartridge every year or two, and save pots. This will restrict you
to black and white, unless you spend more.

 

[Joel]

To make money for the inkjet printer firms. The way to avoid it is
to spend a little bit more for a laser printer, buy a toner
cartridge every year or two, and save pots. This will restrict you
to black and white, unless you spend more.

I even refill my toner so I save even more. And if I have to replace the
toner then I go for third party which is about 1/2 to 1/3 the price of brand
name.

 

[sandy58]

My understanding is that many printer companies make little to no money on
the sale of the printer and therefore expect to make it by wicked high ink
prices. This is why they're installing chips in the OEM ink, to try to
prevent us from using less expensive third party stuff. I've read that Kodak
has decided to change this with a new line of printers they're introducing.
If they can produce a decent printer with reasonably priced ink, it could
put their name back on the map

I have an HP PhotoSmart 7960. I bought a cheapo cart the 1) had a wee
projection on the outer shell which didn't fit into the groove. (HP
lock-out) then after I had hacked this obstruction off & slid the cart
in (successfully, I thought) & attempting to print, got a screen
message telling me that I had a phoney in there. Obviously a bit extra
in the circuit-printing on the interface. Now a shop has opening in
Aberdeen which refills your own empties so until HP reduces their
prices drastically (which wont happen) that shop gets my custom.

 

[DaveW]

Simply because the business model of the Printer companies is to sell the
one-time purchase hardware printers at their cost, and then make their
profit on the never ending need for the consumers to buy cartridges.
Seriously.