Printer Ink Catridges...why are they so expensive?
Written on 4/14/2009 07:57:00 PM by Marc Crow
Printer ink is a necessity for anyone who has a printer, but spending the money to purchase new ink cartridges cost the same, if not more, than just buying a new printer.
It is estimated that American's spent $5 Billion dollars on ink cartridges last year. Printer Ink cost between $10.00 - $55.00 per cartridge (depending on the printer). A brand new HP Deskjet F2210 Printer, Scanner, and Copier All in One only cost you $29.00 at Wal-Mart and comes with ink cartridges.
The reason ink is so expensive, is the same reason you get a free phone when you sign a new contract with a provider, the same reason disposable razors are so cheap, but the blades cost more than the razor....business.
Companies want to make it seem like you are getting something for next to nothing, but when you go buy those refills at the price they are, they are making their money back.
Kodak has a new line of printers that use a new kind of ink cartridge. They claim to save you on average about $200.00 a year in ink compared to a basic HP Printer.
They have 2 ink cartridges that work in all their printers. A black cartridge for $9.99 or a 5 ink color cartridge for $14.99.
Kodak's comparable All-In-One Printer, Scanner, and Copier will cost you about $99.99 though. So, is it just another marketing gimmick? I think so.
Either way, a desktop printer, no matter the brand or the cost, is still going to print the same documents and photos. In my opinion, you are still going to pay about the same yearly for any brand of printer.
