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New cartridges for my all-in-one cost over £40, so I bought a colour printer for £28. When the ink went on that, I went back to PC World for replacements. Cost - £31.
How come?

2007-01-14 17:49:52 · 12 answers · asked by Bunts 6 in Computers & Internet Hardware Printers

12 answers

The ink is how they make their money. Your best bet is to find a brand that takes cheap ink.

2007-01-14 17:53:59 · answer #1 · answered by x4294967296 6 · 2 0

That's how the manufacturers make the money.

Some 15 years ago, I remember talking to someone high up the chain at one famous printer manufacturer. He told me that they could afford to give the printers away and live off the profit on the consumables.

Think about it. You buy one printer in 3 years (these days, you are lucky to get a printer to last more than 1 year), but will buy lots of ink.

To curb the problem of using other people's ink, the manufacturers put chips in the cartidges and change the shape with each model or two.

Always look at the price and longevity of consumables before buying any printer - Ink Jet, Laser, Impact or Thermal.

For lasers look for printer whose toner cartridge does not include the drum. A drum can be expected to last 10,000 to 20,000 pages, so why should you buy a new one with each toner! Some manufacturers have long life drums with a life of 100,000 pages (Kyocera).

2007-01-14 18:19:41 · answer #2 · answered by David P 7 · 1 0

Long ago the printer manufactuers realised they could make 10% profit once on a machine or several 1000% for the lifetime of that product. Thus they sell the printers virtually at a loss and then make up the profits selling propriety ink cartridges that only fit their brand of printer. a cunning plan indeed :)

Definately check out the cost of the consumerables before purchasing a printer!

2007-01-14 17:57:29 · answer #3 · answered by darklydrawl 4 · 1 0

Yeah that is a good marketing trick huh? That is just how they make money. My printer said it was out of ink. I just took the cartriges out and put them back in and relaigned it. I got months more use out of it.

Toner cartriges are the same way. We used to be told to shake them over the trash can when they got low because they really were not low.

2007-01-14 17:54:35 · answer #4 · answered by adobeprincess 6 · 1 0

Depends one what you are trying to print, the price you want to pay, and how fast you want to print it!!! Lasers are incredibly fast, tend to be more expensive, and do a really good job printing text. Its usually more crisp looking (especially high end lasers). Inkjets are slower, usually less expensive, but usually can out do laser printers when printing photos. For home use, I trust Inkjets. For work use, I trust Lasers and have a few Inkjet Photo Printers. For ALL use, I trust HP! They own the printer market!

2016-05-24 04:08:38 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

because the companies that make them make huge profits like that. You only buy a printer once, you buy ink cartridges time and again.

2007-01-14 18:23:17 · answer #6 · answered by gerrifriend 6 · 1 0

The printer manufacturers make their money on the ink and lose money on the printers ..why not buy recycled

2007-01-14 21:32:44 · answer #7 · answered by leonard c 2 · 0 0

thats the manufacture's catch cheap printers and make money on the ink

2007-01-14 18:41:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Because printer makers are hogs.
They just want money.They're even
going as far as to change the
cartridges to where you can't refill them
yourself.It's so stupid.Dell is the worse,
they sell them for to much cash,they
are mindless pigs.

2007-01-14 17:55:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

I know, same happened to me. I think its beacuse they assume we will get tired of paying so much and eventually just buy a new printer from them, being it is almost the same price.

2007-01-14 17:53:14 · answer #10 · answered by surfer_grl_ca 4 · 0 0

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