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Why would you buy an HP printer and try 3rd party ink, when you know the whole business model is subsidizing the printer and selling you expensive ink, and you

Why would you buy an HP printer and try 3rd party ink, when you know the whole business model is subsidizing the printer and selling you expensive ink, and you also know that the whole printer cartrige space is full of DRM roadblock? Do this: look at what a printer + as many 1st party refills as you'll need for several years will cost you. Compare that number across multiple manufacturers. If the number seems high - yes, you discovered why inkjets are impopular. If the number seems OK: buy that one and use 1st party ink. Alternatively: buy a printer from a manufacturer that says they accept, and always will accept, 3rd party ink. Expect to pay more for that printer, or not find one.

save_ferris 6y ago
> Why would you buy an HP printer and try 3rd party ink, when you know the whole business model is subsidizing the printer and selling you expensive ink, and you also know that the whole printer cartrige space is full of DRM roadblock? The vast majority of people don't know this because HP spends tons of money on marketing to distract consumers from the fact that they do this. Stuff like this is why consumer protection laws are so important: not everybody has the time, energy or mental capability to absorb the nuances of the business models behind the consumer products they buy. And billions are spent marketing to obscure these practices. Buying a consumer-grade printer shouldn't be such an effing minefield , but it is because they market heavily and lobby against consumer protections.
- Chris2048 6y ago
  consumer protection is just a workaround / band-aid on proper advertising laws. Corps can take massive liberties on promotion, then CP needs to negotiate where "too far" wrt misrepresentation is. How about product categories have mandated upfront declarations, e.g. DRM / no-3rd-party printers need to state as such, in an unambiguous way on the box in some mandated-minimum font size.
  - danaris 6y ago
    That sort of stuff falls directly under the "consumer protection law" umbrella.
- alkonaut 6y ago
  > but it is because they market heavily and lobby against consumer protections. Yes. > not everybody has the time, energy or mental capability to absorb the nuances of the business models behind the consumer products they buy Exactly. And while it could change (let's hope) - I think most people simply shouldn't.
krupan 6y ago
It’s been a while, but last time I shopped for a printer, hp had the cost per page of each of their printers right there in the specs

save_ferris 6y ago

> Why would you buy an HP printer and try 3rd party ink, when you know the whole business model is subsidizing the printer and selling you expensive ink, and you also know that the whole printer cartrige space is full of DRM roadblock? The vast majority of people don't know this because HP spends tons of money on marketing to distract consumers from the fact that they do this. Stuff like this is why consumer protection laws are so important: not everybody has the time, energy or mental capability to absorb the nuances of the business models behind the consumer products they buy. And billions are spent marketing to obscure these practices. Buying a consumer-grade printer shouldn't be such an effing minefield , but it is because they market heavily and lobby against consumer protections.

Chris2048 6y ago
consumer protection is just a workaround / band-aid on proper advertising laws. Corps can take massive liberties on promotion, then CP needs to negotiate where "too far" wrt misrepresentation is. How about product categories have mandated upfront declarations, e.g. DRM / no-3rd-party printers need to state as such, in an unambiguous way on the box in some mandated-minimum font size.
- danaris 6y ago
  That sort of stuff falls directly under the "consumer protection law" umbrella.
alkonaut 6y ago
> but it is because they market heavily and lobby against consumer protections. Yes. > not everybody has the time, energy or mental capability to absorb the nuances of the business models behind the consumer products they buy Exactly. And while it could change (let's hope) - I think most people simply shouldn't.

krupan 6y ago

It’s been a while, but last time I shopped for a printer, hp had the cost per page of each of their printers right there in the specs