That's how they make their money. Like digital cameras and their model specific batteries - they slug you every way they can.
I purchased a colour laser printer for $129.00 last year. At least the toner cartidges last longer than ink jet cartridges, so I figure by the time I have to replace the toner, it will still work out a cheap printer.
I do all my major printing at work, anyway.
I have the opposite problem. I bulk purchased massively expensive cartridges when I thought I was going to be writing a thesis. Then I duped the thesis and am left with the massively expensive cartridges and about 2 sheets a month to ever print.
I found my kids were printing out their uni powerpoint slides in full colour - the background was fully coloured including the text.
When I quickly realised that I had depleted the 4 colour cartridges on my HP 3600DN I had to buy more. The cost was over $600.
The printer was around $1500 as I recall.
Yes it's consumables which will kill you with printers. BUT I found that my old deskjet cartridges still work out as better value/cheaper per print than buying a new printer with supposedly cheaper cartridges etc. Only downside: it's one of those printers that have a colour and a black cartidge and when one colour runs out, no more colour printing. But I also found a half-way around that.
Although I knew it was the case that the cost of consumables was high I didn't realise it was so bloody high.
My Laser Printer must be 10 years old now - never had a jam or a problem - I always have a spare cartridge/roller combo on hand @$110 and they last around 12 - 18 months.
Like Ann above I try to externalise my costs when it comes to colour printing. Recession strategies will include externalising more costs.
Commenting by HaloScan
