Why bother?

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inkjet101

I went to Walmart to take a look at the HP printers. They had a
printer/scanner/fax model going for $69. Then I looked at the HP ink
cartridges. A combination pack with black and three colors was also $69!
Why would anyone bother to buy ink when you can keep replacing the
printer for the same price?
 
inkjet101 said:
I went to Walmart to take a look at the HP printers. They had a
printer/scanner/fax model going for $69. Then I looked at the HP ink
cartridges. A combination pack with black and three colors was also $69!
Why would anyone bother to buy ink when you can keep replacing the
printer for the same price?
Click to expand...
The ink carts bundled with the printer may well be low capacity specials
 
Peter said:
The ink carts bundled with the printer may well be low capacity specials
Click to expand...

All the major printer companies use this tactic simply to get a consumer
onboard using their product. Eventually that particular sale will end and
the consumer will have been caught with that printer model. It's nothing new
and the fact that these companies make their profit from the consumer
repurchasing of their ink cartridges proves that it works, since this
marketing method began about 8 years ago.
The vast majority of people using computers and their peripherals are
not yet invested to think, "Why does this ink cost so much?", or "Why can't
I refill this cartridge?". Most people think for the moment in this area.
The businesses make more money, most folks pay more for ink, and our
resources and environment continue to lose. Eventually we'll have a
catharsis, but it will take awhile 'til enough people get upset.
 
I went to Walmart to take a look at the HP printers. They had a
printer/scanner/fax model going for $69. Then I looked at the HP ink
cartridges. A combination pack with black and three colors was also $69!
Why would anyone bother to buy ink when you can keep replacing the
printer for the same price?
Click to expand...

Letter sized printers have such small cartridges it is hardly worth
using them to print photos. 13 inch printer are a little better, go to
17 inch and your print costs start to come in the range of the big box
store printers.
It is also hard to find profiles for the small printers so you are
hampered right from the start to get quality prints.

Tom
 
Jan Alter said:
All the major printer companies use this tactic simply to get a consumer
onboard using their product. Eventually that particular sale will end and
the consumer will have been caught with that printer model. It's nothing
new and the fact that these companies make their profit from the consumer
repurchasing of their ink cartridges proves that it works, since this
marketing method began about 8 years ago.
The vast majority of people using computers and their peripherals are
not yet invested to think, "Why does this ink cost so much?", or "Why
can't I refill this cartridge?". Most people think for the moment in this
area. The businesses make more money, most folks pay more for ink, and our
resources and environment continue to lose. Eventually we'll have a
catharsis, but it will take awhile 'til enough people get upset.
Click to expand...
In keeping with Jan's comments, did you ever hear of the "Gilette razor
sales model"? In the days of the original safety razor with the double edge
blades, they virtually gave away the razor and you then bought the blades
that fit it - for years, if not decades. The money is not made on the
device itself but on the consumables that are then sold for it. With
respect to the razor example, there were subsequently shaving devices that
passed up that the safety razor model - electric razors, multi-bladed razors
that last for many more shaves, and disposable injection molded plastic
razors. Oddly enough, there is now a retro interest in returning to the
shaving mug, shaving soap, brush, and safety razor mode of shaving.
Apparently, there are now online sites with instructions on the technique to
get the best shave with these materials. Having been there and done that,
I'll stay with what "progress" has brought us.
 
..
In keeping with Jan's comments, did you ever hear of the "Gillette
razor sales model"? In the days of the original safety razor with the
double edge blades, they virtually gave away the razor and you then
bought the blades that fit it - for years, if not decades. The money
is not made on the device itself but on the consumables that are then
sold for it. With respect to the razor example, there were
subsequently shaving devices that passed up that the safety razor
model - electric razors, multi-bladed razors that last for many more
shaves, and disposable injection molded plastic razors. Oddly enough,
there is now a retro interest in returning to the shaving mug, shaving
soap, brush, and safety razor mode of shaving. Apparently, there are
now online sites with instructions on the technique to get the best
shave with these materials. Having been there and done that, I'll
stay with what "progress" has brought us.
Click to expand...
Yes! I acquired one of these Gillette razors in 1954, and remember
my astonishment when the shopkeeper said "The razor's free, but the
blades are (can't recall that) a packet". So this is an old ploy.
I've been through the electric razor phase, but for many years I've
had a beard and have now reverted to my free Gillette (with brush and
soap) to shave my neck every few days. The razor would then, of course,
only take Gillette blades though other safety razor blades were on sale
at that time. I see that the blades I have here are Wilkinson (design
protection expired, perhaps?).
What surprises me now is that my blades say "Made of finest
Sheffield steel". With Britain's manufacturing base now completely
destroyed I had thought that steel is no longer made in Sheffield! But
perhaps they now make "Sheffield" steel in China!
 
inkjet101 said:
I went to Walmart to take a look at the HP printers. They had a
printer/scanner/fax model going for $69. Then I looked at the HP ink
cartridges. A combination pack with black and three colors was also $69!
Why would anyone bother to buy ink when you can keep replacing the
printer for the same price?
Click to expand...

I agree "why bother" to answer your question when it sounds like you
already answered your own quesion?
 
Peter said:
The ink carts bundled with the printer may well be low capacity specials
Click to expand...

I don't own any HP (I do have the older HP Smartsomething I bought 4-5
years ago and ony tested few pages) but I don't think there is any
difference between the ink cartridges come with printer and the one you buy
separately. I know Laser Toner is a different story but not inkjet.
 
I went to Walmart to take a look at the HP printers. They had a
printer/scanner/fax model going for $69. Then I looked at the HP ink
cartridges. A combination pack with black and three colors was also $69!
Why would anyone bother to buy ink when you can keep replacing the
printer for the same price?
Click to expand...

Here is the answer to your question. Ask yourself where you are. Now
look around you at the other shoppers. Look at the store you are in. Look
at a lot of the merchandise. Look at the clerks. There is your answer.
 
All the major printer companies use this tactic simply to get a consumer
onboard using their product. Eventually that particular sale will end and
the consumer will have been caught with that printer model. It's nothing new
and the fact that these companies make their profit from the consumer
repurchasing of their ink cartridges proves that it works, since this
marketing method began about 8 years ago.
The vast majority of people using computers and their peripherals are
not yet invested to think, "Why does this ink cost so much?", or "Why can't
I refill this cartridge?". Most people think for the moment in this
area
Click to expand...
They will get more stupid soon.

.. The businesses make more money, most folks pay more for ink, and

get better results.
 
In keeping with Jan's comments, did you ever hear of the "Gilette razor
sales model"? In the days of the original safety razor with the double edge
blades, they virtually gave away the razor and you then bought the blades
that fit it - for years, if not decades. The money is not made on the
device itself but on the consumables that are then sold for it. With
respect to the razor example, there were subsequently shaving devices that
passed up that the safety razor model - electric razors, multi-bladed razors
that last for many more shaves, and disposable injection molded plastic
razors. Oddly enough, there is now a retro interest in returning to the
shaving mug, shaving soap, brush, and safety razor mode of shaving.
Apparently, there are now online sites with instructions on the technique to
get the best shave with these materials. Having been there and done that,
I'll stay with what "progress" has brought us.
Click to expand...

The tooth fairy.
 
Letter sized printers have such small cartridges it is hardly worth
using them to print photos. 13 inch printer are a little better, go to
Click to expand...

and have the same size carts
 
Burt said:
In keeping with Jan's comments, did you ever hear of the "Gilette razor
sales model"? In the days of the original safety razor with the double edge
blades, they virtually gave away the razor and you then bought the blades
that fit it - for years, if not decades. The money is not made on the
device itself but on the consumables that are then sold for it. With
respect to the razor example, there were subsequently shaving devices that
passed up that the safety razor model - electric razors, multi-bladed razors
that last for many more shaves, and disposable injection molded plastic
razors. Oddly enough, there is now a retro interest in returning to the
shaving mug, shaving soap, brush, and safety razor mode of shaving.
Apparently, there are now online sites with instructions on the technique to
get the best shave with these materials. Having been there and done that,
I'll stay with what "progress" has brought us.
Click to expand...
I still use one of those old Gillettes. It's getting next to impossible
to find blades locally for it. They used to have them in every drug
store. All they have these days are those new multi-bladed offerings
that have 2, 3, or even 5 blades shaving you at one time. Can't stand
them. I find the more blades you have, the more drag there is, and the
less comfortable the shave.

But since I couldn't find blades easily locally, I turned elsewhere. A
couple of years ago I bought a package of 100 no-name "platinum" blades
that were imported from Israel on Ebay. Except for the lack of brand,
they look exactly like the last batch of Wilkensons I bought. Seems like
I paid about $12 for them. They work as well as any I've ever used, and
better than any of the multi-bladed things I've ever tried. If they're
still available when I need more, I'll buy them in a heartbeat.

Chalk up another win for refilling with non-OEM.

TJ
 
TJ said:
I still use one of those old Gillettes. It's getting next to impossible
to find blades locally for it. They used to have them in every drug
store. All they have these days are those new multi-bladed offerings
that have 2, 3, or even 5 blades shaving you at one time. Can't stand
them. I find the more blades you have, the more drag there is, and the
less comfortable the shave.

But since I couldn't find blades easily locally, I turned elsewhere. A
couple of years ago I bought a package of 100 no-name "platinum" blades
that were imported from Israel on Ebay. Except for the lack of brand,
they look exactly like the last batch of Wilkensons I bought. Seems like
I paid about $12 for them. They work as well as any I've ever used, and
better than any of the multi-bladed things I've ever tried. If they're
still available when I need more, I'll buy them in a heartbeat.

Chalk up another win for refilling with non-OEM.

TJ
Click to expand...

I was wrong. It wasn't Wilkinson. It was Personna. Good blades, whatever
the name.

TJ
 
TJ said:
I still use one of those old Gillettes. It's getting next to impossible to
find blades locally for it. They used to have them in every drug store.
All they have these days are those new multi-bladed offerings that have 2,
3, or even 5 blades shaving you at one time. Can't stand them. I find the
more blades you have, the more drag there is, and the less comfortable the
shave.

But since I couldn't find blades easily locally, I turned elsewhere. A
couple of years ago I bought a package of 100 no-name "platinum" blades
that were imported from Israel on Ebay. Except for the lack of brand, they
look exactly like the last batch of Wilkensons I bought. Seems like I paid
about $12 for them. They work as well as any I've ever used, and better
than any of the multi-bladed things I've ever tried. If they're still
available when I need more, I'll buy them in a heartbeat.

Chalk up another win for refilling with non-OEM.

TJ
Click to expand...

TJ - As I recall, there was also a device available that would resharpen
blades you had used. That would have been a reasonable effort with the
Wilkensen blades if they were, in fact, the excellent steel that they were
advertised to be. Equivalent to purging carts to restore them to as-new use
for refilling???
 
TJ - As I recall, there was also a device available that would resharpen
blades you had used. That would have been a reasonable effort with the
Wilkensen blades if they were, in fact, the excellent steel that they were
advertised to be. Equivalent to purging carts to restore them to as-new use
for refilling???
Click to expand...

I do not think reusing toilet paper is an option or is it
 
I went to Walmart to take a look at the HP printers. They had a
printer/scanner/fax model going for $69. Then I looked at the HP ink
cartridges. A combination pack with black and three colors was also $69!
Why would anyone bother to buy ink when you can keep replacing the
printer for the same price?
Click to expand...

As others pointed out, often times they only come with starter carts.
However this may not be true of Epson. I often see their base model
printers on the referb store for less than the price of ink, and they
come with ink. The R280 is a good example, only $55 as a referb. The
#78 pack runs $60 at local office stores. It was a better deal when
they had the r200-r220.

The problem replacing a printer on a regular basis is it takes a
little bit to learn how to use a given printer, acquiring profiles and
such. Knowing how to use a given printer tends to result in better
output than just throwing a document at it and expecting it to work
well. However you can buy into a given printer and pick up spares.
 
Burt said:
TJ - As I recall, there was also a device available that would resharpen
blades you had used. That would have been a reasonable effort with the
Wilkensen blades if they were, in fact, the excellent steel that they were
advertised to be. Equivalent to purging carts to restore them to as-new use
for refilling???
Click to expand...

I think there's still a gadget which works like a rotating hone or
strop. You put the razor head with the blade installed against a
rotating cylinder which is coated with a very fine abrasive. The surface
of the cylinder is made from a flexible material to maintain contact
with the blade edge. If that doesn't work, try putting the blade inside
a small cardboard pyramid for a few days. ;-)
 
inkjet101 said:
I think there's still a gadget which works like a rotating hone or strop.
You put the razor head with the blade installed against a rotating
cylinder which is coated with a very fine abrasive. The surface of the
cylinder is made from a flexible material to maintain contact with the
blade edge. If that doesn't work, try putting the blade inside a small
cardboard pyramid for a few days. ;-)
Click to expand...

Yes - the awesome power of the pyramid. Turns aftermarket ink into OEM.
 
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