Virtual Web Log

I saw an ad in a local computer paper for an inkjet printer that was listed at a great price. On the same page of the advertisement was another ad for ink cartridges for the same inkjet printer, and the printer ink was more expensive than the printer!

I thought maybe that there had been a misprint, but after seeing the same printer at the advertised location, the ink cartridge prices were more expensive than the printer. The salesperson came up with some excuse that the printer was a lost-leader promotion. My thoughts were that they were giving away these printers so that they could sell more ink.

The printer was a Lexmark, which has great print quality, but if they’re going to be selling printers for less than the ink, then don’t you think people will just buy the printers and then throw them away when the ink runs out?

It’s like these printers have become the Bic pens of the modern age. Instead of having to buy expensive ink refills for your retractable pen, you just now throw them away.

I guess I’ll never understand industries that require you to buy of an item to make that item work, like a Swiffer with its “replaceable” cloths. Like the packaging that always says “batteries not included”, soon the inkjet printer sellers might think that the ink cartridges might be something you’ll have to buy separately just to get the printer to print.

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