Printer prices absurd

  • Thread starter Thread starter sherwindu
  • Start date Start date
For BCI-6 inks I did a test of some major aftermarket brands here:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1003&message=12198835

Found out some interestng things in the process.

I have an i960 (got a $50 rebate on it, still wish I'd waited for the
Pixma i5000) and refill my MIS blanks with www.rjettek.com's OCP inks
presently, except for black for which I use WJ1109 Dark Black from
Image Specialists. MIS also has blanks for Epson printers I think
(www.inksupply.com).

I'd have to argue that the HP 56/57 are easier to fill than even the
BCI-3/6 cartridges, but as a fan of pens that let you view your ink
level I do like the transparent design.
 
Epson used to have a 2 year warranty on their inkjet printers, it then
went to one year, and HP, for at least a period of time, went to 3 months.

As you suggest, something's got to give. It's either going to be
printer prices raising, or warranties being further cut, or, no warranty
offered on 3rd party ink failures.

Lexmark will not go bankrupt, they have a larger base than just inkjet
printers, but they may leave the inkjet market at some point, although
as I understand it they have one of the more difficult cartridges to
successfully refill.

Art

[..]

Yes, inks are costly, yes, they are much more than they are worth, but as
some others have mentioned, you can't really expect the printer, the
warranty and the inks for free, or nearly so. And, I don't think it is
ethical to ruin your printer using unsanctioned inks or cartridges and
then expect the manufacturer to cover the warranty.
Click to expand...


Many don't think its ethical for Epson et.al. to charge such extortionate
amounts for ink, and most consumers aren't going to let minor details like
ethics affect what they do with their printers.

Let me give you an example:
Epson R200 - £70.00 (with set of 6 inks)
Set of 6 Epson inks for R200 (@ 10.99 each) - £65.94
Set of 6 expensive compatible inks for R200 - £18.12
Set of 6 cheap compatible inks - £6.89 (from
http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk)

*Why* would I want to buy Epson inks when I can get a complete set for less
then the price of ONE Epson cart? Granted the print quality and lifespan of
the prints might be slightly better, but do you think people who buy what is
effectively the bottom of the range printer are _that_ bothered by 100%
prefect prints that might last a few years more??

If the compatible's ruin the head, so what? After ONE set of compatible's
have been used - I've already saved the cost of a new printer! If it fails
during the warranty, so much the better as I get a new printer for free too.


If you want an Epson printer today, expect to pay for Epson ink cartridges
as part of the cost of running the printer, or be willing to risk 3rd
party inks and cartridges, but accept responsibility for failures to the
print heads or poor print results.
Click to expand...


You do that if such it your want. Most of us realise a good thing when we
see it and will continue to exploit manufacturers for as long as they try to
exploit us.

How much longer do you think it will be before somebody (probably Lexmark)
goes bust because their marketing model fails? - Probably a lot sooner than
you might first think.
Click to expand...
 
There is a price point where people will be willing to pay for a
prepared and guaranteed ink cartridge, regardless of what refill inks
cost. Refilling is a bit of a hassle, can be messy and can cause the
printer problems. The ink cartridges, in terms of manufacturing,
design, packaging, shipping, etc isn't free, and the retailer is also
making a good cut on it, so it's not like Canon, or whomever is
pocketing 100% pure profit on ink cartridges. My first Epson Stylus
Color cost $1000 CAN, monster size ink cartridges were about $35 as I
recall for the color, and less for the black.

As I stated, the EU may force the manufacturers t rethink the business
model eventually, when refill ink cartridge will be required.

Art
 
I think Epson is playing their trump card as being the fade resistance
and waterproof nature of those inks. Their image quality is also not to
shabby. They have directed their target market as being fine artists
and photographers who want permanence, a "ink and paper system" and a
wide range of sanctioned papers with fairly predictable results.

Art
 
I do not think Lexmark will do the world a favor.

Arthur said:
Epson used to have a 2 year warranty on their inkjet printers, it then
went to one year, and HP, for at least a period of time, went to 3
months.

As you suggest, something's got to give. It's either going to be
printer prices raising, or warranties being further cut, or, no
warranty offered on 3rd party ink failures.

Lexmark will not go bankrupt, they have a larger base than just inkjet
printers, but they may leave the inkjet market at some point, although
as I understand it they have one of the more difficult cartridges to
successfully refill.

Art

[..]

Yes, inks are costly, yes, they are much more than they are worth,
but as some others have mentioned, you can't really expect the
printer, the warranty and the inks for free, or nearly so. And, I
don't think it is ethical to ruin your printer using unsanctioned
inks or cartridges and then expect the manufacturer to cover the
warranty.
Click to expand...



Many don't think its ethical for Epson et.al. to charge such
extortionate amounts for ink, and most consumers aren't going to let
minor details like ethics affect what they do with their printers.

Let me give you an example:
Epson R200 - £70.00 (with set of 6 inks)
Set of 6 Epson inks for R200 (@ 10.99 each) - £65.94
Set of 6 expensive compatible inks for R200 - £18.12
Set of 6 cheap compatible inks - £6.89 (from
http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk)

*Why* would I want to buy Epson inks when I can get a complete set
for less then the price of ONE Epson cart? Granted the print quality
and lifespan of the prints might be slightly better, but do you think
people who buy what is effectively the bottom of the range printer
are _that_ bothered by 100% prefect prints that might last a few
years more??

If the compatible's ruin the head, so what? After ONE set of
compatible's have been used - I've already saved the cost of a new
printer! If it fails during the warranty, so much the better as I get
a new printer for free too.


If you want an Epson printer today, expect to pay for Epson ink
cartridges as part of the cost of running the printer, or be willing
to risk 3rd party inks and cartridges, but accept responsibility for
failures to the print heads or poor print results.
Click to expand...



You do that if such it your want. Most of us realise a good thing
when we see it and will continue to exploit manufacturers for as long
as they try to exploit us.

How much longer do you think it will be before somebody (probably
Lexmark) goes bust because their marketing model fails? - Probably a
lot sooner than you might first think.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Ink for the BCI6 Canon should be $2.50 per cartridge and the package
should be for 3 carts. That is 7.50 per color. The IP4000 would then
cost $37.00 unless they made a kit for $29.00. One pack with all of
them. They would save on packaging and we would get a fair price. It
would not pay for the hassle of refilling and worring about ink clogs.
 
measekite said:
How much more for the printer and how much less for the ink? I would
Click to expand...
pay 20% more for the printer to get 40% less for the ink. They will
still make a profit on both. They will probably make more gross revenue
on the ink because people would print a lot more and be less
Click to expand...
conservative.

I'm not sure they'd get the same revenue (what they need) with
that formula of price redistribution. Would you accept having
the printer perhaps double or triple in price to get the ink
down to the price you want?

Mike
 
Double is a little bit of a stretch. Triple is out of the question. In
the case of an i9900 that would make it $850 to around $1500.
 
measekite said:
I am sure this is what they need but not what the greedy bastards
Click to expand...
want.

Are you referring to the printer makers who want to support
the spouses and families of their employees as being the greedy
bastards, or are you referring to those who want the printer
makers to make hobbiest products for as close to free as possible?

I'm a bit confused about which bastards you referred to.

Mike
 
I do not think Lexmark will do the world a favor.
Click to expand...

Lexmark happens to make some excellent rugged and reliable laser
printers....

otoh, if their inkjet division disappeared I doubt any enduser on the
planet would shed a tear...
 
The Corporate bastards like in many companies.

Anoni said:
measekite wrote:


want.

Are you referring to the printer makers who want to support
the spouses and families of their employees as being the greedy
bastards, or are you referring to those who want the printer
makers to make hobbiest products for as close to free as possible?

I'm a bit confused about which bastards you referred to.

Mike
Click to expand...
 
I'll take an HP LaserJet over any Lexmark. I've worked on both and
there's nothing wrong with Lexmark, but there's much more right about
HP.
 
No one is forcing you to buy an inkjet.
If you don't like the prices, by all means,
don't buy them.

That will teach them a lesson!!
 
want.

Are you referring to the printer makers who want to support
the spouses and families of their employees as being the greedy
bastards, or are you referring to those who want the printer
makers to make hobbiest products for as close to free as possible?

I'm a bit confused about which bastards you referred to.
Click to expand...

He has the stupid habit of top posting, so one doesn't know which bit of the
discussion he is addressing.
I killfiled him a while ago.
 
Top posting is better. If you have been following a discussion you do
not have to wade thru stuff you read 10 times. Everyone should use it
as the default.
 
measekite said:
Top posting is better. If you have been following a discussion you do not
have to wade thru stuff you read 10 times. Everyone should use it as the
default.
Click to expand...

You can always bottom post and remove the irrelevant information from the
post you are quoting.
 
measekite said:
Top posting is better. If you have been following a discussion you do
not have to wade thru stuff you read 10 times. Everyone should use it
as the default.
Click to expand...

Trimming is even better than bottom or top posting.
 
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