abitkt7raid
Mar 13th, 2012, 04:36 PM
I don't use a home printer, not for many years, anything I need to print for personal use (very rare) I just do at work. That being said, my mom wanted a printer for Christmas, I did some research and got her an HP wireless printer for $75, good reviews etc.. Printer is great, does what she wants, prints from her iPhone etc...
So now it's March and she's getting low on ink, I go to Costco and they have the "double ink" packs for around $120, to replace all color and the black... about $50 more than I paid for the printer.
I check Staples and they have the standard size inks for a bit cheaper, still costs about the same as the printer did. I checked the Costco West deals thread and there is an HP officejet 6500a Plus printer for 89.99 there... this looks to be a slightly upgraded model of the one I bought for my Mom for X-mas.
1. Is there some reason I should not just buy a new printer every 3-6 months versus paying for ink? How is it possible that a full function printer, with LCD screens, moving parts, shipping, handling, production.. as well as a set of new ink cartridges costs the same as replacement ink cartridges?
2. How has the ink scam perpetuated this long? I understand it exists in other markets, namely razor blades with 5000% markup, but those only cost a few dollars a month for most people even with that mark-up. How are consumers tolerating this?
3. Wasn't there a class action law suit about ink cartridges that showed empty based on time not use? What is going on here?
I am going to look into one of those ink refill services, but I have to do some research to see if it's a good idea.
/End Rant
So now it's March and she's getting low on ink, I go to Costco and they have the "double ink" packs for around $120, to replace all color and the black... about $50 more than I paid for the printer.
I check Staples and they have the standard size inks for a bit cheaper, still costs about the same as the printer did. I checked the Costco West deals thread and there is an HP officejet 6500a Plus printer for 89.99 there... this looks to be a slightly upgraded model of the one I bought for my Mom for X-mas.
1. Is there some reason I should not just buy a new printer every 3-6 months versus paying for ink? How is it possible that a full function printer, with LCD screens, moving parts, shipping, handling, production.. as well as a set of new ink cartridges costs the same as replacement ink cartridges?
2. How has the ink scam perpetuated this long? I understand it exists in other markets, namely razor blades with 5000% markup, but those only cost a few dollars a month for most people even with that mark-up. How are consumers tolerating this?
3. Wasn't there a class action law suit about ink cartridges that showed empty based on time not use? What is going on here?
I am going to look into one of those ink refill services, but I have to do some research to see if it's a good idea.
/End Rant