| Over the last several years the battle over high | | | | Chemistry |
| price ink/cartridges is beginning to solidify. The | | | | These days it is not all that difficult to figure out |
| lines are slightly clearer and alliances have formed | | | | the chemistry of just about anything. Patents are |
| here and there. Ink replacement, replacement | | | | even more difficult in this area. So, other |
| cartridges, discount printer ink cartridges and just | | | | manufacturers figured out the chemistry of the |
| plain OEM cartridges have found themselves vying | | | | OEM printers ink and were able to replicate |
| for position with their option being the best. They | | | | discount printer ink and replacement ink. Then |
| are almost all winners and OEM the only loser as | | | | they got to play the real fun game. The OEM |
| consumers look to cut costs on printer ink. | | | | printers had set their prices for a captured |
| Solid savings | | | | market and a fairly high price at that. The new |
| OEM manufacturers are most noticeably not | | | | manufacturers had a ready made price ceiling |
| giving up the fight but are ultimately going to be | | | | apposed to OEMs shooting darts at what the |
| forced to play nice with the new industry they | | | | market would bare. |
| brought upon themselves. In July 2007 savings of | | | | What is the right price? |
| up to 50-70 percent can be found by using | | | | It may be a little misleading to say discount |
| replacement ink or replacement cartridges. | | | | printer ink. Perhaps attaching a company to it like, |
| Although the savings are there, the buyer must | | | | discount ink for Epson would be a better idea. |
| beware because the quality of the ink needs to | | | | Since the OEM manufacturers were setting pricing |
| be compatible to arrive at; not only a quality print | | | | fairly high, to make as much money as possible |
| job but a safe print job that does not damage | | | | before new replacement ink companies came |
| the printer itself. | | | | along, the original price was not the real price but |
| The basics | | | | rather a starting point. Where the price goes after |
| What brought on this new industry of | | | | replacement ink and replacement cartridge |
| replacement ink and discount replacement ink was | | | | companies settle in is when discount printer ink |
| the original strategy that the printer companies | | | | can actually be called discount. |
| decided to follow. A valid pricing strategy by any | | | | The evolution of the printer and printer ink |
| means the printer manufacturers would offer the | | | | market is just one of several economic plays |
| printer itself as a loss leader and make their | | | | being carried out in a very new emerging market. |
| profits on the ink. This strategy is no different | | | | Computers and printers have not really been |
| than any other of its type. The printer companies | | | | around that long. A pricing system is still working |
| did their best to differentiate their particular inks | | | | its way through the marketplace for all products. |
| so that the chemistry would require a specific ink | | | | Saving money on printer ink today will, in all |
| for just their machines. For the most part this has | | | | likelihood, not mean anything in a year as the |
| worked, but only to a degree, and original pricing | | | | savings will be even more as prices continue to |
| starts to get in the way as it is now. This is | | | | settle. |
| where the new industry comes in. | | | | |