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Inelasticity of demand from complementary goods comes into play when the complementary good is relatively very expensive or difficult to replace. Consumer prin

by crusso 13y ago

Inelasticity of demand from complementary goods comes into play when the complementary good is relatively very expensive or difficult to replace. Consumer printers cost about the same as an ink cartridge or two. Consumers aren't "stuck" paying for more expensive ink if manufacturers decide to start screwing them on the price. [edit: wanted to add this] Even with the ridiculously complementary goods of automobiles and gasoline, more expensive gas shifts consumer demand away from gas guzzlers.

johnward 13y ago
This is why some people will actually buy a new printer when their ink runs out.
- djpowell 13y ago
  The cartridges in a new printer will typically be "starter cartridges" and contain a fraction of the ink of a standard cartridge though.
  - johnward 13y ago
    This is true but I guess the people who do this either don't realize or still think it's a better decision.
jlarocco 13y ago
And if this were about typical consumers, I might agree. But this is about the government, who most likely has a contract with a supplier, locking them in to their ink prices when they buy the printer. And, if nothing else, getting approval to buy a printer will take longer and require more paper work than getting approval to buy ink.