The High Cost of Ink Jet Printing
Thursday July 3, 2003
I'm desperately in need of a new ink cartridge for my printer but have been putting it off. It's no wonder. A story in This is London tells us that "Ink for home printers is now seven times more expensive than vintage champagne."
The author goes on to say that "Ignoring the [low ink] warnings can nearly double the printing output." A recent exchange on one of the HP forums suggests that perhaps many users are misreading the low ink warnings that some printers provide.
After finding that he was able to print hundreds more pages after the printer warned of low ink, one user asks "Could it be a ploy to get people to replace ink cartridges prematurely?" This reply offers another, less sinister scenario:
"The low on ink indicator is designed to provide a warning so you can have a replacement cartrdige on hand when the cartridge runs out of ink.
"The indicator is set to make sure that most users will receive at least one warning before running out of ink. You can continue to use the cartrdige until it actually runs out of ink."
While this exchange may have applied to one specific model of printer, it's likely that many users may interpret low ink warnings to mean "change the ink cartridge right now." Haven't seen too many printer or ink cartridge manufacturers rushing to change that perception. Dom Perignon, anyone?
The author goes on to say that "Ignoring the [low ink] warnings can nearly double the printing output." A recent exchange on one of the HP forums suggests that perhaps many users are misreading the low ink warnings that some printers provide.
After finding that he was able to print hundreds more pages after the printer warned of low ink, one user asks "Could it be a ploy to get people to replace ink cartridges prematurely?" This reply offers another, less sinister scenario:
"The low on ink indicator is designed to provide a warning so you can have a replacement cartrdige on hand when the cartridge runs out of ink.
"The indicator is set to make sure that most users will receive at least one warning before running out of ink. You can continue to use the cartrdige until it actually runs out of ink."
While this exchange may have applied to one specific model of printer, it's likely that many users may interpret low ink warnings to mean "change the ink cartridge right now." Haven't seen too many printer or ink cartridge manufacturers rushing to change that perception. Dom Perignon, anyone?
Comments
To be perfectly clear
Hewlett Packard recycles their ink cartridges by promoting that HP cartridges be returned for recycling, using a self addressed, stamped envelope. Allowing HP, through their “refurbishing and reselling” effort to conserve resources, using the various recycling facilities of manufacturers around the world contracted by HP. Thus, the mere fact that there also are other recyclers available to refurbish, and recycle ink cartridges, but except for lower cost, and the free choice of the consumer, HP has restricted the consumer the full use, and the operation of HP printers.
Smith and Roberson’s Business Law, ninth edition. West Publishing. Chapter 43; ANTITRUST.
“Characterizing a type of restraint as per se illegal therefore has a significant effect on the prosecution of an antitrust suit. In such a case, the plaintiff need only show that the type of restraint occurred, she does not need to prove that the restraint limited competition…..Tying arrangements. A tying arrangement occurs when the seller of a product, service, or intangible (the “tying” product) conditions its sale on the buyers purchasing a second product, service, or intangible (the “tied” product) from the seller….Because tying arrangements limit buyers’ freedom of choice and may exclude competitors, the law closely scrutinizes such agreements.”
Hewlett Packard has, unbeknownst to customers who purchased HP printers (tying product), tied as a condition, the purchase of new HP ink cartridges (tied product), or HP recycled ink cartridges, through the use illegal anti-competitive consumer practices.
Again, I say Hewlett Packard, play your silly games by cheating consumers on ink cost, and supplies. I say go ahead! But don’t stop me from the use of my printer.
Kodak is going after this head-on http://www.inkisit.com