2006-06-30 10:48:50 · 25 answers · asked by darren_hill_2000 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Printers
R eeping
A nother
P rinter
E xpense
2006-06-30 10:51:02 · answer #1 · answered by koolbreeze 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's a rip off. The business refilling cartridges with non-brand name ink make a good living at a quarter of the price, just shows how much the printer companies are making.
Often brand name refill cartridges for a printer cost as much as the printer did originally.
It's a false limited supply situation, created by the printer companies.
2006-06-30 22:30:42 · answer #2 · answered by Trish D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called the razor sales model because it was pioneered by the razor manufacturers back when you had metal razor handles that took razor blades. The deal is they sell you a razor handle for cheap because they knew you had to buy razors constantly to put into them. They lost money on the handles but more than made it up on razors.
So it is with printer manufacturers, or rather, printer cartridge manufacturers. You thought they sold printers. No, they really sell cartridges. They probabaly take a loss on the printers. The only purpose of the printer is to consume the cartridge.
Polaroid used the same model. They weren't a camera company, they were a film company.
The advantage to this is that if you only make a profit on a one-time sale, you have to constantly find someone new to buy something to feed a company that has continuous expenses. But, if you sell a consumable, you have a steady stream of revenue from each customer.
2006-06-30 10:57:53 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they can charge so much for them. A hidden cost. The printer costs like $25, then the cartridges are like $20 each. The inportant calculation to do is cost per copy. Probably like 25 cents a page for most printers these days. Supply and demand.
2006-06-30 10:51:41 · answer #4 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supply+demand+greed=cost
2006-06-30 10:53:49 · answer #5 · answered by Gray Matter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the corporations make a killing on them, and people are willing to pay. They use the profits to subsidize selling printers for next-to-nothing. I'd look into refilling the cartridges yourself. Just search online for ink refills (or toner if you have laser).
2006-06-30 10:49:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are buying HP cartridges, you are paying for new print heads every time you run out of ink. They are built into the cartridge. Try using a generic ink cartridge or refill pack instead of buying new cartridges every time.
It sucks, but we need them and they have them. It's sort of like gasoline.
2006-06-30 10:54:45 · answer #7 · answered by JustJake 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because companies can get away with it. Have you not noticed that store brands can always make things cheaper? The reason brand named items cost more is because you are paying for the name. Companies know people will buy the products at the higher prices if it is from Sony, Microsoft, HP, etc.
2006-06-30 10:56:10 · answer #8 · answered by Debra R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can sell the printers for less knowing that you'll have to buy the ink for the rest of the printer's life. One day we'll have a paperless world.... one day....
2006-06-30 10:51:53 · answer #9 · answered by biggy4269 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Printer manufactures rip you off.... My Epson carts work out at £0.40 each (maybe 80 cents to usa) I use continuous ink feed.
2006-07-01 04:18:13 · answer #10 · answered by johncob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they sell the printers so cheap, the ink is where they make the profit, switch to a laser I have a HP laserjet1020 well worth the money and is alot faster than inkjet
2006-06-30 10:56:59 · answer #11 · answered by johnman142 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋