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Thanks to the well informed reader Answermeaquestion & your clever system for notifying me about this comment on a backdated discussion which is really to the point. I'll stay tuned to this tip and website/company because I can hardly afford new ink at the present cost. My employer -- a Middle East university-- does not support any printing at all, and we must supplement intensively. I'm going broke!

Example of someone in the pocket of the industry she covers writing an "expose". Disgusting sell out of consumers. It's such an obvious scam but she doesn't dare say so. "bless their inky souls" what garbage.

Great article Anne. My wife and I started an online business selling remanufactured and compatible ink cartridges a few years ago (http://www.castleink.com). We too were outraged at the profits printer manufacturers were reaping from ink cartridge sales, and knew that there had to be an alternative. We've found that both compatible and remanufactured cartridges are really an economical and sensible option. They cost 1/2 the price and in our experiences work virtually just as well as the originals. The big printer manufacturers regularly tell customers calling their customer service line that these kinds of alternative cartridges void warranties and break printers - it's simply not true. There is actually a law which states that the use of remanufactured ink and toner cartridges can't void your warranty. It's quite a game these big guys play -- I'm was so glad to read your article which did an excellent job exposing the insane profit margins on inks. The only addition I would ma...(Read more of this comment)ke is to include a note about some of the alternatives. In these tough economic times consumers can honestly save a bundle (or at least chip away at home office costs) by giving remanufactured ink and toner a try.(Show less of this comment)

A B/W laser makes the most sense for me. A $50 cartridge lasts me for a year - a family of 4 with 2 teenagers.

Yes, I'm sure you are correct.

I have seen dozens of people that walk in and buy a package system because they have no experience with computers. They rely on the sales person to direct them to a system that will work for their application. It is a convenience, and most people have no idea what the cost per page is, until they start printing large quantities.

TF

Not the case at our house. My husband and I are involved with much volunteer work and we do tons of printing here, on our nickel. Years ago when we were buying our first inkjet, we researched and found the info we needed in PC Magazine. The winner was a Canon 610, 620, or whatever the # was at that time. In addition to being the best deal at that time, these cartridges are now readily available for even less at e-bay. We also use the refill services, which have improved, and we haven't had any problems. We once got a free Dell printer which we never even opened because the ink was only available from Dell, and it wasn't cheap. I saw many of those printers, also unopened, on e-bay going for practically nothing. People aren't stupid, and the info, I hope, is still available in PC Magazine, which is where I'll go if we ever need to buy another new one.

I would look at this differently. Generally a printer a home is a convenience for most people--a few (6-12)sheets a week most of the time. If you are a heavy user you would buy a laser. So $25 a year seems like a fair deal. My bet is most ink jet printer cartridges are sold to businesses with home based workers or for use in off network printers in mid level exec's offices---you get my point : To people who are not footing the bill and dont care.

sg

Posted by: PrinterDotCom on Twitter

Printer makers lose $30 on every $100 printer sale, users spend 3x more on ink than printer: http://tinyurl.com/m8dl6x