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Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Printer Industry?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the next-you'll-tell-me-blades-are-overpriced dept.

Greyfox writes: "Here is an interesting story about the printer industry versus ink-cartridge refillers. Anyone who's bought a low-cost inkjet knows that you can spend over half the cost of the printer on ink. So it was only natural that an industry would spring up around refilling the cartridges. Well the printer industry has apparently been fighting back, trying to protect their market share. As with all good stories, legislation is being considered. Worth a read." Sort of like spyware -- it's a back-and-forth battle.

4 of 438 comments (clear)

  1. Cartridges are ridiculously overpriced! by thaigan · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I recently spent over sixty bucks on refilling my Epson 760 because it was clogged. By the time I got it unclogged and my relatively simple tax form printed, I needed another $30 black ink cartridge. The printer companies have been ripping us off for awhile and I'm glad to see some alternatives.

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  2. What else is new? by Cmdr+Taco+(luser) · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I've always thought that ink jet (and laser) printer manufacturers were sticking it to us on refills/new carts. The bloody replacement cartridges for my HP printer cost about 1/4 of the original price of the printer. I think that's excessive and I doubt that the cart's must be that expensive. It's like Kodak of oh, so many years ago; I their case, it was give you the film, the rape you for developing it (I said, the olden days). They would hire people to go into independent film developers places of business and loudly complain about their poor photo-finishing, service, etc.

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    All things in moderation.
  3. They suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I don't know about you, but 1/3rd of the refilled laser jet ink carts. we get half to send back as bad.

    If I were in HP's shoes I would void the warranty on anyone who used refilled cartridges.

  4. Another stupid practice by Ryu2 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Combining all three or four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, sometimes even black) in one physical cartridge unit, so that when one color runs out, you HAVE to replace the others, even though they may be perfectly full still!

    It's pretty much the norm, I've noticed in the inkjet world.

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    There's 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.