Why Do Ink Cartridges Cost So Much?

PCWorld.com ^ | 8/28/2003 | Tom Spring

[Born Conservative]

Consumers revolt over the cost of inkjet cartridges, even as printer prices plummet.

At $22 per quarter-ounce, a Hewlett-Packard color ink-jet cartridge is more expensive, by weight, than imported Russian caviar.

Observing such high prices, Connecticut research consultant Zel Dolinsky wants to know the reasons for them. "How come, with printer prices falling, ink prices are still so outrageous?" Dolinsky asks. "I'm appalled."

[BibChr]

I must have ben unclear. I appreciate your explanation, but I knew all that did all that, and it only takes me to a gif link, not an article, and a search on lazyboy at that site brought nothing.

That's why I asked not "Where can I find that same image?", but "What is that a picture of? A real recliner? Link?"

So... is that a real recliner? Do you have a link to it? I searched the Lazboy site also, and found nothing. I'm looking for a recliner.

See?

Dan
(c8

[bwteim]

Dan,

It appears that you just be may be in the market for the following recliner... it's been out almost 3 years....

Check out

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,37945,00.asp

La-Z-Boy Recliner Invites You to Surf in Comfort
Tom Mainelli, PCWorld.com, Wednesday, January 10, 2001
 
"Take surfing to a new level in a chair with WebTV, high-speed links, and a laptop tray (and drink holder). Microsoft WebTV Plus Recliner, lets you surf the Internet via your television from the comfort of your new favorite chair...."

[mafree]

I've had no luck with refill kits either. Some of the generic brands are ok, esp. for Lexmark. It's often cheaper to buy a new printer, esp. when they're on sale for $24 and come with both color and black cartridges.

Any way you slice it, I spend a good buck on ink cartridges for both home and office printers.

[HairOfTheDog]

I have purposely not changed it, and still am able to print, despite the graphic showing no ink remaining in my black cartridge.

Certainly.... I use it till it runs out, I don't live by the light.

I have a high-end HP color inkjet, and it's cartridges are particularly expensive.... Having not been really hungry yet, I haven't tried the third party replacements, and consider myself warned now not to expect much out of them if I do.

[BibChr]

Thanks very much for going to the trouble!

But when I go to Lazboy... it's nowhere! PC World should have linked more specifically. Maybe simply discontinued. /c8

Dan

[Yardstick]

Now I use an old-school straight razor.

Cool!

Why did you switch? How long did it take you to get the hang of the straight razor? Is there any difference is the quality of the shave compared to a disposable? Where did you get your straight razor?

[rdb3]

I switched because it was far less expensive than even the cheap disposables. Also, it took me about a month of daily use to get it right. Now you can't tell what I use as far as blades are concerned.

And I got it from my pop. Strop included.

Here is a good site to learn about it.

[wideminded]

I've been filling HP color and Black cartridged for years. For $100.00 you can purchase (3-Pints color + 1Pint Black) enough bulk ink to refill cartridges at a small business for over a year.

Where do you get this ink? I have tried a refill kit with HP cartridges. With great difficulty I was able to get two of the colors to work ... sort of. I even called the 800 help number that came with the kit. It appeared that I had a newer version of cartridges with a chip that tries to prevent refills from working.

[wideminded]

It's all gwb's fault with his ties to BIG INK

OK I admit it . You're funny.

[auggy]

I was at Walmart and needing a color and black cartridge for my Lexmark Z52. Walmart had a Lexmark Z25 printer on sale for $34. When I got home and installed the printer, I found they had a starter cartridge for the color and black ink cartridges. That has been a while ago and I am still printing with them. The starters are not as large as regular cartridges.

I often fill my own cartridges, (black only),with ink. I have had good luck with them, but I think your color photos ,seem to lose some of their quality.

[Jorge]

It's often cheaper to buy a new printer, esp. when they're on sale for $24 and come with both color and black cartridges.

LOL!

[MHT]

I just got my "universal" $10 generic inkjet from bestbuy.com (no shipping and handling fees)--and it seems to be working at the same level as the "real" Epson inkjets. I'm encouraged and plan to buy more of this bestbuy product (interestingly, it's only available online, not in the stores).

[Yardstick]

Thanks -- I might have to give it a try. It's like the "gourmet" way to shave, and cheaper to boot.

[rdb3]

It is less expensive.

This may be obligatory, but I'll say it anyway: Be careful. You'll get the hang of it.

[N. Theknow]

I'm printing right now with an Epson that cost 79.95 and uses two $30 carts. It ALMOST makes sense to replace the entire printer when the ink runs out, since a new one comes with two new cartridges.

When were you in my office?

I am on my fifth printer now.

BTW. Don't you just love the telemarketers that call and just want to "verify" the make and model of your FAX, Copier, printer, etc. for their "records."

One of the idiots was still there after I put her on hold for 10 minutes!

[Petronski]

However, NOBODY has come forward, and made a $300 ink jet that takes $10 cartridges.

You can get very close to that kind of economy with laser printers and toner refilling.

[gogeo]

I have three laser printers, an HP all-in-one, a Brother and an HP Series II. I like them all.

[sittnick]

BTW. Don't you just love the telemarketers that call and just want to "verify" the make and model of your FAX, Copier, printer, etc. for their "records."

I get about ten of those calls a week. Over three years I have developed a variety of ways to deal with it: 1. "We are a toner/ink cartridge company, can you beat $4 per unit?"

2. "Our whole company uses Coleco Adam printers. Do you stock those cartridges?"

3. We use Adobe Acrobat. We are now a paperless office.

4. Sure! Just let us fax you this form stating that if your cartridge leaks into our printer, that you will pay all related costs, including lost production.

5. Let me switch you to our "Printer SUpply Ordering Department!" (Then transfer to a dummy extension with voice mail that is never responded to. That is my current way of dealing with them.)

[stevesteve]

I'm considering buying the IMS Ink Refill System and would appreciate it very much if you would tell me if you have been happ with it now that you are using the right instructions. Also, have you seen it written up anywhere? I called the company to try to get some references to it but they didn't have any. Thanks very much.

---

To: Born Conservative

I bought the IMS ink refill system which looks like a ten year supply.

My only complaint was that the particular HP cartridge instructions I needed were not in the manual so I gambled on a "similar" cartridge. Bad idea!

When I went to the IMS web site there were the full instructions for the HP 20 cartridge...so next time I'm ready.

Screw HP and their $50 cartridges.

posted on 08/28/2003 2:35 PM PDT by JimVT