My inkjet printer died yesterday, just as I was preparing to print the first piece of fiction I've completed in more than a month. Today I shopped for and purchased a replacement.
Printers have become disposable commodities, made cheaply and lasting only a few years. The printer I selected--an Epson Stylus CX8400--was on sale for $79.99. (The store next door to where I purchased had the same printer on sale for $102.99. Go figure.)
The box containing the printer also contained four ink cartridges, which sell individually for $17.99. Therefore I paid $71.96 for the ink and $8.03 for the printer. So where do you think the manufacturer makes its money?
I'm tempted to purchase another $8.03 printer to keep on hand as a backup. Even if I never need it, I'll certainly use the ink that is packed in the same box.
Hey Michael,
ReplyDeleteA lot of time the starter ink cartridges contain less ink than the retail ones.
Stephen
(Still using the laser he bought in 1994)
Michael -
ReplyDeleteAs prolific as you are in terms of output, suspect an inexpensive (under $100) laser printer would be much more economical in the long run. All those ink jet cartridges have to cost more than a laser toner cartridge.
Susanne (whose HP Laser 4L is even older than Stephen's!)
A fair bit of what I do requires color and I've yet to find a decent color laser for a price I'm willing to pay. Perhaps what I really need are two printers: a black-only laser for manuscripts and a color inkjet for everything else.
ReplyDeleteSusanne,
ReplyDeleteYou have a 4L too?
Except for the small paper tray, I do love that printer.
Michael,
Last week I saw color laser printers for a hundred bucks, but didn't price the toner.
Stephen