Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message -----
From: <orlandovl@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:20 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] Euro&Chipped Cart


>
> Read this article about chipped cart and the feeling in Europe'
> Maybr it is time we did something like this.
>
> http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2127877,00.html
>
>
>
> Vinny
> http:/www.wulfsden.com

The protection of consumers in Europe has been worse than in the USA for a
long time. There's no sign that that will become better in the near future.
That has disadvantages and advantages. The claim culture isn't so well
developed here as it is in the USA. And I bet that much of the consumer
protection is a result of that claim culture. I prefer the European culture
on that issue but that may change when the globalisation increases. There
have been no compensation deals in Europe when Epson delivered bad inks
(1270/1290) for example.

The users of 9600/7600 printers in Europe are confronted with a short supply
of ink carts and waste boxes. They think that Epson sends most of its
production to the USA as the chance they get a claim against them in the USA
is a lot higher than in Europe. The waste box shortage can be solved in
another way now but the shortage of carts remains.

If the EC really will force the printer manufacturers to abandon all cart
protection then there's a good chance the printer manufacturers will stop
manufacturing printers and carts or change their marketing policy. Both
alternatives are not in the interest of most consumers.
The consumers that outsmart the companies on their protection scheme get the
best deal when the protection remains. It is also the best market for third
party ink manufacturers as long as they can not deliver a better ink than
the printer manufacturers sell.

Ernst