Comments on: What is the Real Cost of Owning a Printer? http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:20:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Printer Refill Expert http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-4409 Printer Refill Expert Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:28:17 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-4409 I have to take exception to the statement that Average Consumers do not "print that much." The fact is that consumer printing is increasing at an exponential rate. Small offices (home offices), small business start ups, computer use at home for office work, kid's home work, etc... all demand paper with ink or toner. The problem is that printer manufacturers continue to increase the cost of the page by reducing the amount of ink or toner in each cartridge. You used to find up to 40ml of ink in HP's color cartridges. Now, you are lucky to find 5 to 8 ml's. They use this a 5% coverage calculation to figure how many pages you can print per cartridge and that doesn't work for most people. If you print photos, aren't you looking at 100% coverage? That's 20 times more ink usage per page than the manufacturer claims.... That's why I use sources other than the manufacturer's ink for refills. It used to cost me over $500 to buy all four cartridges for my color laser printer. Using high quality sources (such as sohojet products), I can get the same yield and quality for about $200. Just a thought for you guys... I have to take exception to the statement that Average Consumers do not “print that much.” The fact is that consumer printing is increasing at an exponential rate.

Small offices (home offices), small business start ups, computer use at home for office work, kid’s home work, etc… all demand paper with ink or toner. The problem is that printer manufacturers continue to increase the cost of the page by reducing the amount of ink or toner in each cartridge. You used to find up to 40ml of ink in HP’s color cartridges. Now, you are lucky to find 5 to 8 ml’s.

They use this a 5% coverage calculation to figure how many pages you can print per cartridge and that doesn’t work for most people. If you print photos, aren’t you looking at 100% coverage?

That’s 20 times more ink usage per page than the manufacturer claims….

That’s why I use sources other than the manufacturer’s ink for refills. It used to cost me over $500 to buy all four cartridges for my color laser printer. Using high quality sources (such as sohojet products), I can get the same yield and quality for about $200.

Just a thought for you guys…

]]> By: Peter de Jong http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-4397 Peter de Jong Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:44:19 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-4397 This cost of ownership calculation for inkjet printers cannot be right. Average consumers do not print much. Therefore printheads clog up. If the printhead is not exchangeable by the user (i.e. Epson) repair is very costly. User-exchangeable printheads can be integated with the inkcartridge or are separate units (HP uses both systems). That is why HP inkcartidges seem so expensive. They are not. The user-exchangeable printheads garantee the highest possible uptime for the printer together with the lowest possible operating cost. This cost of ownership calculation for inkjet printers cannot be right. Average consumers do not print much. Therefore printheads clog up. If the printhead is not exchangeable by the user (i.e. Epson) repair is very costly. User-exchangeable printheads can be integated with the inkcartridge or are separate units (HP uses both systems). That is why HP inkcartidges seem so expensive. They are not. The user-exchangeable printheads garantee the highest possible uptime for the printer together with the lowest possible operating cost.

]]> By: Tony http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-4147 Tony Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:53:43 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-4147 Kodak printers offer very low cost printing. I know because I bought one when the were first offered. However,I have spent AT LEAST 15 hours on the phone with their technical support as well as receiving 3 replacement printers and numerous ink cartridges and heads. Their tech support people are great but the fact remains the product is seriously flawed. They offered me a 30% discount coupon for the purchase of a new one. I passed. The 5500 All-In-One goes on the curb tomorrow. Kodak printers offer very low cost printing. I know because I bought one when the were first offered. However,I have spent AT LEAST 15 hours on the phone with their technical support as well as receiving 3 replacement printers and numerous ink cartridges and heads. Their tech support people are great but the fact remains the product is seriously flawed. They offered me a 30% discount coupon for the purchase of a new one. I passed. The 5500 All-In-One goes on the curb tomorrow.

]]> By: Sammy http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-3441 Sammy Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:29:10 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-3441 I now have my 3rd Epson Printer..I now have an Epson stylus CX6000. In one year I have spent over $300.00 on ink cartridges...I will never buy another Ebson. If the black runs out, the color is almost out even though I have never used them. And it will not work. I am going to try the Kodak soon. I now have my 3rd Epson Printer..I now have an Epson stylus CX6000. In one year I have spent over $300.00 on ink cartridges…I will never buy another Ebson. If the black runs out, the color is almost out even though I have never used them. And it will not work.
I am going to try the Kodak soon.

]]> By: One Stop Technology Shop http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-3380 One Stop Technology Shop Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:34:10 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-3380 [...] Research recently tested several modern printers in the $150 range for total cost of ownership. Their findings are eye-opening. Most surprising is that honors for the least expensive printing per page goes to two Kodak models, [...] [...] Research recently tested several modern printers in the $150 range for total cost of ownership. Their findings are eye-opening. Most surprising is that honors for the least expensive printing per page goes to two Kodak models, [...]

]]> By: Small Tables http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-2905 Small Tables Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:56:52 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-2905 the tables were made small to save on ink or to be unreadable ! the tables were made small to save on ink or to be unreadable !

]]> By: Gail http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-2892 Gail Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:09:34 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-2892 I have used Canon printers for 15 years, have owned 3 in that time, with prices ranging from $70 to &250. I buy Staples replacement cartriges. My current Pixma MP530 is 3 years old, prints great pics,faxes & copies. Black canon is $30 to replace. Get Staples replacement for $19. I don't print often, but when I do (gamer walkthroughs) will print 12 to 30 pages. Catridges last about a year. I have used Canon printers for 15 years, have owned 3 in that time, with prices ranging from $70 to &250. I buy Staples replacement cartriges. My current Pixma MP530 is 3 years old, prints great pics,faxes & copies. Black canon is $30 to replace. Get Staples replacement for $19. I don’t print often, but when I do (gamer walkthroughs) will print 12 to 30 pages. Catridges last about a year.

]]> By: SoHoJet http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-2824 SoHoJet Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:44:15 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-2824 Most people or businesses look for the latest features on printers... Can the printer scan? Fax? Copy? Does the printer work on a network? Wifi? Does it work with my OS? Can I print thousands of pages? Printer Manufacturers like HP, Epson, Dell and others work hard to make printers that work in a wide variety of applications. And they have done an excellent job. In fact, they have reduced the need for professional printers. Real estate agents no longer need to pay Kinko type prices and small businesses can print flyers on demand. The problem is that convenience comes with a cost. Most people that buy printers will buy on price and they end up with a printer they cannot afford to refill. Some companies provide options - such as http://www.sohojet.com. You should know that there are options to refilling your printer. FYI Most people or businesses look for the latest features on printers… Can the printer scan? Fax? Copy? Does the printer work on a network? Wifi? Does it work with my OS? Can I print thousands of pages?

Printer Manufacturers like HP, Epson, Dell and others work hard to make printers that work in a wide variety of applications. And they have done an excellent job. In fact, they have reduced the need for professional printers. Real estate agents no longer need to pay Kinko type prices and small businesses can print flyers on demand.

The problem is that convenience comes with a cost. Most people that buy printers will buy on price and they end up with a printer they cannot afford to refill.

Some companies provide options - such as http://www.sohojet.com.

You should know that there are options to refilling your printer.

FYI

]]> By: Joanne http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-2705 Joanne Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:56:45 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-2705 Why is it so hard to find a low cost printer that does a good job on photos, text and is reliable. I have gone to all sorts of sites and I find the entire process. I am looking for wireless, moderate speed, copy and scan, under $150.00 low operating cost. Got any suggestion....I am going to research the ones in your article. I guess my next option is to buy one, take it home, try it out and if it does not work to my satifaction, take it back...maybe they will get the hint. Joanne Ardary Why is it so hard to find a low cost printer that does a good job on photos, text and is reliable. I have gone to all sorts of sites and I find the entire process. I am looking for wireless, moderate speed, copy and scan, under $150.00 low operating cost. Got any suggestion….I am going to research the ones in your article. I guess my next option is to buy one, take it home, try it out and if it does not work to my satifaction, take it back…maybe they will get the hint. Joanne Ardary

]]> By: The American Consumer Institute - » Steve Pociask Quoted in Anne Kadet’s Article “Printer Ink’s Murky Math,” SmartMoney Magazine, July 2009. http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2008/11/07/what-is-the-real-cost-of-owning-a-printer-2/#comment-2671 The American Consumer Institute - » Steve Pociask Quoted in Anne Kadet’s Article “Printer Ink’s Murky Math,” SmartMoney Magazine, July 2009. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:56:06 +0000 http://www.theamericanconsumer.org/?p=452#comment-2671 [...] more information on this issue, see our ConsumerGram or find the cost of a printer on our Consumer [...] [...] more information on this issue, see our ConsumerGram or find the cost of a printer on our Consumer [...]

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