“America is crazy”: Walmart customer discovers it’s cheaper to buy a whole new printer with ink in it than ink refills

  • Hasherm0n@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    A long time ago I worked at one of the big office supply stores and this was “true” back then too. The caveat was that the ink that came in the printer was usually only half full. The printers themselves were sold at a loss and the companies made their money on selling the ink.

    • Cort@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      I thought that’s always been the business model for inkjets since they were invented. Same as game consoles and Gillette razors. Vendor lockin is very lucrative since people are lazy and don’t understand sunk cost.

    • SpikesOtherDog@ani.social
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      11 days ago

      We would do this because the ink usually dried out before we could use the all. First chance I could afford a laser printer, I jumped on it. Found one in a rummage sale for $10. Toner was $15 for third party, cheaper than ink.