Why are inkjet cartridges so expensive?

[Rot 911]

I need a cheap all in one scanner/fax/copier. Went to Walmart and found a decent Lexmark for $40 with the full size ink cartridges. Thought I would just check and see what replacment cartridges would cost. Turns out to replace them both would cost me $44! This makes absolutely no sense. I would be dollars ahead to just toss this scanner when I need new cartridges. What makes the cartridges so expensive?

[legion]

They use the same pricing strategy as video game companies. Take a loss on the printer/game console, overprice the ink cartridge/video games.

[NICKG]

they make $$ on the cartridges, they rope you into a cheap printer and count on the hassle of changing out the device for a lazy op.....it is easier to buy ink thank reinstall a printer and software...you can get refill units at staples for like half of a new one and they are filled , not half filled

[TerryH]

Many times the included ink cartridge is substandard. Contains much less ink than an off the shelf replacement. Yes, they basically give us the printer in hopes of bending us over when buying ink. Check into refills. It is an option for some.

[wcc]

Get 'em cheap here:

http://www.eforcity.com/

I have an Epson printer and they are about $2.50ea here otherwise they are something like $30 at Bestbuy.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Because people are stupid enough to keep paying it. Use the drill&fills. Way cheaper.

Same logic as cell phones - give away the equipment for cheap and then make it up later.

[widebody911]

Because they can.

Back in the day, it was cheaper to get a printer on sale than it was to refill it, so people would just chuck the old printer and buy a new one when it ran out, sort of like a $75 ballpoint pen. The printer companies got wise and started selling printers with half-empty 'starter cartridges'

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by wcc
Get 'em cheap here:
http://www.eforcity.com/
I have an Epson printer and they are about $2.50ea here otherwise they are something like $30 at Bestbuy.

Holy crap, I just checked on the cartridges for my more expensive Canon printer and they are only $2.39! That is one hell of a deal!

[tobster1911]

The printer manf know about these cheep cartridges and are working on technology to make them not work....

Things like RFID (my field), "gas" gauges, expiration dates.

Keep your old printers alive.

[john70t]

But even knowing about these (quasi-fraudulent) techniques, people will still continue to buy items from the same manufacturer.

[stomachmonkey]

Different manufacturers use different approaches.

Some HP ink has a "shelf life". Beyond a certain date it prints like garbage regardless of how full or used it is.

Epson are the worst, their chips "estimate" how much ink is left so you could be tossing a cartridge that still has 20-30% life because the chip has "determined" it is empty.
Once the chip does that the cartridge is unuseable.

To refill this type on your own you can get a deveice off the net for like $5 that will reset the chip.

It's a total scam.

I have 3 stores locally that will refill my $30 HP plotter cartridges for $8 each.

[RANDY P]

From the killer of many trees anually -Get a Samsung laser printer, a used multi page fax off of craigslist (outbound) and efax for inbound scanning and recieving faxes.

"All in one" is marketing BS code for "jams easily POS and make operator frustrated."

Pretty much anything branded "Home Office" is trash IMHO.

[gr8fl4porsche]

www.123inkjets.com

I pay about $3 a cartridge for my Epson and they work just fine. About $22 everywhere else.

[Sonic dB]

www.eforcity.com

wow...thanks so much for this link!
Will save my small business hundreds and hundreds.
Now I am pissed at Staples for marking up so much
why...because they can!

[widebody911]

A few years ago, Lexmark tried to invoke the DMCA to prevent other companies from refilling their cartridges

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-979791.html

[ckissick]

I heard on the radio today that Kodak is coming out with a printer for printing photos, and their ink cartridges will be half the price of the competition. Not eforcity, but a step in the right direction.

[jyl]

Great link, thanks.

I hate inkjets. In addition to being expensive, they are slow and I'm always crawling under the table to replace the cartridge.

Mono lasers are very cheap ($99), color lasers are getting more affordable. My next printer will be a laser. I had a HP IIP laser back in the day, it would print all year on 1 toner.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Color lasers kick holy ass but they're (still) very expensive. IIRC the toner on my old office's color 11x17 laserjet was like $600 to replace 'em all.

[lendaddy]

I just dropped $550 today for a drum and four refills on my HP Color Laser. The drum was new @ $170 and the toners were refills.

Ouch.

[azasadny]

The price of ink cartridges is the reason why I only buy laser printers. You can use a laser printer cartridge for years and they are much cheaper per page than ink jets and the print looks better, too.