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For laser printers (and ink jets as well), the cartridge you get with the new printer often has a much lower print capacity than a new (separately purchased) ca

For laser printers (and ink jets as well), the cartridge you get with the new printer often has a much lower print capacity than a new (separately purchased) cartridge. For example, the printer will come with a cartridge that can print 500 pages, whereas a new one would print 2,000. But otherwise, yes, the printer itself is a loss-leader, just like the razor industry.

AceStar 10y ago
If new printers included a full capacity cartridge, it would create a loop-hole where anybody could make money by buying new printers, discarding the printer and reselling just the cartridge from it. So they sell the new printers with half-full / reduced capacity cartridges to prevent this situation. Bottom line: don't buy a new printer when you run out of toner thinking you've "beaten the system". You probably haven't.
- stephenr 10y ago
  > If new printers included a full capacity cartridge, it would create a loop-hole where anybody could make money by buying new printers, discarding the printer and reselling just the cartridge from it. If the printer included a full capacity cartridge, the price would certainly be higher.
  - eb0la 10y ago
    I bet half-capacity cartridges are much more expensive to the business than full capacity ones. You need to produce a separate batch with different logistics and less volume than ordinary cartridges. In some cases it will need even a different testing line. At least, you save packaging because you don't need to put then in a fancy blister...
    - stephenr 10y ago
      Different quantities aren't limited to those sold with the printer. My Canon can take regular or XL cartridges - the only difference is the volume of ink inside.
zhte415 10y ago
>But otherwise, yes, the printer itself is a loss-leader, just like the razor industry. razor mention: This reference to the blue-white bar before the blades?

AceStar 10y ago

If new printers included a full capacity cartridge, it would create a loop-hole where anybody could make money by buying new printers, discarding the printer and reselling just the cartridge from it. So they sell the new printers with half-full / reduced capacity cartridges to prevent this situation. Bottom line: don't buy a new printer when you run out of toner thinking you've "beaten the system". You probably haven't.

stephenr 10y ago
> If new printers included a full capacity cartridge, it would create a loop-hole where anybody could make money by buying new printers, discarding the printer and reselling just the cartridge from it. If the printer included a full capacity cartridge, the price would certainly be higher.
- eb0la 10y ago
  I bet half-capacity cartridges are much more expensive to the business than full capacity ones. You need to produce a separate batch with different logistics and less volume than ordinary cartridges. In some cases it will need even a different testing line. At least, you save packaging because you don't need to put then in a fancy blister...
  - stephenr 10y ago
    Different quantities aren't limited to those sold with the printer. My Canon can take regular or XL cartridges - the only difference is the volume of ink inside.

zhte415 10y ago

>But otherwise, yes, the printer itself is a loss-leader, just like the razor industry. razor mention: This reference to the blue-white bar before the blades?