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Why does my ink/toner cost more than the printer?!

July 31, 2017

We have all had that thought when buying ink or toner: “It would be cheaper to just buy a new printer than replace this cartridge!”. You may have even bought a new printer, rather than splurging on the ink cartridge. That solution isn’t practical or sustainable. It doesn’t feel good. It feels like you’re being ripped off.

So, why do ink cartridges cost more than printers?

There are a few things which explain the cost of ink versus the cost of printers, and the huge discrepancy.

Glass Half Full

The ink included in a standard consumer printer is often less than half full! Printer manufacturers are able to give you a “free” cartridge with the purchase of your machine because they are actually giving you very little ink to begin with. The cartridge included with the machine, naturally, does not last very long, and consumers must then return to purchase a full price cartridge.

Recouping Costs

High ink and toner prices are how manufacturers make their money. You only buy one printer but repeatedly buy ink. By essentially giving you the printer for free, the pricey ink allows manufacturers to continue to generate revenue.

Not All Created Equally

The price of the cartridge does not tell the whole story. You need to look at the “yield” -- how many pages you get per cartridge and then do the math to calculate the price per page. Often, the cartridge that costs more will also print more pages (not always though!).

Business printers typically print more pages per cartridge than the consumer printers sold in big box stores pages.

To find out more about printers, ink, and toner, contact us today. See how we can provide better value, saving you time, hassle, and money.

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