Why is Printer Ink so Expensive?
The quick answer is that ink is expensive so that the manufacturing companies can make a profit. Most printers are either sold at a loss or a very small profit. A manufacturer’s profit lies in the sales of the consumables needed to print. The manufacturer controls their propriety technology, and therefore, the prices of consumables for that specific device. This is the basic business model that nearly all manufacturers follow. HP, Brother, Epson, Canon, and the other big manufacturers make very little money in retail sales of printers.
They bank on making their profit on replacement consumables over the lifespan of the printer. Manufacturers know that the overwhelming majority of end users will purchase genuine OEM replacement cartridges rather than remanufactured or compatible third-party products. The perception that these alternatives are unreliable, inferior, or even damaging to the printer is often actively promoted.
Brands, such as Gillette and Schick in the shaving industry pioneered this business model. The price of the razor is made as low as possible, and the money is made retailing the consumable replacement razor blades.
Research and development is often cited by manufacturers as the main reason for the high cost of printer ink and toner cartridges. Great effort is, in fact, made by manufacturers when manufacturing cartridges. Inks are specially formulated for the various brands and models. Printers are specifically designed to work with their OEM replacement cartridges, and this influences pricing.
Is Non-OEM Printer Ink an Option?
Regardless of the brand or the technology it employs, ink cartridges intended for use in the device must be properly designed to ensure good print quality and acceptable yield while not damaging the device or malfunctioning. Genuine OEM ink is almost always of the highest quality and provides the safest option for printer ink cartridge replacements.
The problem is that this peace of mind comes at a premium price. A new set of cartridges for a high-end inkjet device may cost as much or more than the device itself. Compatible or remanufactured cartridges are available at a far lower cost but there is always the nagging doubt that they will not perform as well as the genuine item or even as promised by the third-party manufacturer.
Common complaints about compatible and remanufactured cartridges include low page yields and poor image quality. It is generally safer to use OEM products where budget allows.
The Effect of Covid-19 on Printer Ink Supply
The coronavirus pandemic caused many offices to close or led to companies working at a drastically reduced capacity. Counter-intuitively, while the demand for printers has declined, there has been a shortage of ink. One of the factors attributed to the shortage is the shortage of ethanol. Ethanol is used in solvents and printing inks but is also a key component in the production of disinfectants and sanitary products.
The demand for disinfectants and sanitisers skyrocketed due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, the price of ink is likely to remain high in the short to medium term.