Image : http://www.flickr.com
Why Does printer Ink Cost So Much?
I know people who buy new printers just because of the high cost of printer ink! Sometimes, they find a printer that is more economical to use. Other times, they figure that the cost of a new printer with an ink supply will be cheaper than buying new ink supplies. So how can the price of printers be dropping while the cost of ink stays high?
Low Priced Printers Hook Consumers
I assume that companies hook consumers by keeping the price of printers low so they can compete in the market. They know they can recoup their profits when the buyer has to replenish their ink supply! I have seen inexpensive printers for $50 in the store. Those printers required ink refills that cost $35! They attracted customers to purchase by the low cost of the printer, but made their profit as the consumers needed to by ink refills.
Don't cell phone companies do the same thing? They hand out free phones, but force their customers to sign a monthly service contract which can last for years. If you try to get out of your cell phone contract before the end date you may have to pay a large penalty so the cell phone company makes sure they can profit on every single free cell phone they hand out!
Printer Research Costs Large Companies Billions of Dollars
Let's be fair. High quality ink does cost a lot to make, and major players spend millions of dollars every year on research. The task of developing inks that work with today's complex computer printers requires Ph.D. chemists and years of research. In addition, studies have shown that name brand ink does tend to work better than generic copies. There is no point in using cheap ink if will smear on the paper or dry out in the cartridge.
