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You Didn't Buy a Coffee Maker

You Didn't Buy a Printer

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You Didn't Buy a Printer

Printers Are Sold at a Loss

The loss leader

Manufacturers sell the hardware cheap — or at cost. The real business is ink. Always has been.

Printers Are Sold at a Loss

Pricier Than Fine Champagne

Liquid gold

Printer ink is one of the most expensive liquids on earth — more expensive than fine champagne, ounce for ounce.

Pricier Than Fine Champagne

Chips. Firmware. Dead Cartridges.

The lock-in

Chipped cartridges block refills and third-party ink

Firmware updates disable ink you already paid for

Cartridges quit with ink still inside

Chips. Firmware. Dead Cartridges.

The Razor-and-Blades Model

How it works

The Razor-and-Blades Model

HP Fined $14M for Ink Cartelization

Recent news

India's Competition Commission fined HP and partners for rigging government bids and fixing ink prices. Even HP's own resellers thought the prices were too high.

$14M Fine from India's Competition Commission For cartelization of ink, toner & PCs

HP Fined $14M for Ink Cartelization

You're Not a Customer. You're a Subscriber.

The takeaway

The printer was just the hook. Know the model before you buy.

You're Not a Customer. You're a Subscriber.
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