Digital BW, The Print

flyfishingusa2002 wrote:

>Bob,
>Simple, Epson, along with all the printer companies rip all of us 
>off with their consumable prices. 
>

Sierra,

I've, in the past been, one of the most vocal critics of the 
cost-shifting to consumables (particularly inks).  However, I think I 
need to bring something I'm hearing through the grapevine on this note 
to the attention of list members.  More than one source in the industry 
(none of them from EPSON btw) has told me that EPSON has apparently 
decided to alter its pricing model a bit..  Apparently, given the 
European Union law on recyclable/reusable cartridges and pressure on 
other quarters, as well as the maturing and change in the market itself, 
they are moving from a model in which inks were the prime cost 
recouping/profit item to one where papers and consumable media are...

IF this IS true, I have no problem with EPSON building profiles into 
their software for all the new media they introduce (which would keep 
most consumers from using much other media) - that bar to changing media 
is not that high, but should be more than enough for the average 
consumer to choose to use EPSON branded media, while at the same time, 
they aren't imprisoned by high inks prices.. 

Of course, this is potentially a double edged sword for those of us 
here.  The profitability of alternative inks has been a driving force in 
the development of  and sustainability of 3rd party inks (especially the 
innovative B&W quadsets etc.).  Yet, I think the market is now mature 
enough and broad enough that those consumers/prosumers like us in these 
niche markets will still be willing to pay a premium for the niche 
products even if the cost of OEM inks drops...  With more people 
entering these niches all the time, and the continuing expansion of 
inkjets into every home, I think that both parts of the biz can remain 
quite profitable: EPSON, and others, as OEM manufacturers and the 3rd 
party people serving specific target markets.. Thoughts?

One last comment, IF the rumored changes are true EPSON deserves kudos  
for taking a more environmentally friendly tack (making recycling/reuse 
more viable), and for leading the OEMs in that direction...

As an aside, Sierra, I think "rip all of us off" is a bit too strong a 
way to characterize the cost-shifting to inks - it may be 
anti-competitive or a less than popular business model, but "ripping us 
off" implies outright theft and I really don't think that's a fair way 
to categorize it - this isn't anywhere near the level of after hours 
mutual funds trades or cooking the books - it's simply, to me, a 
business model I abhorred and couldn't support..  Not to mention that, 
in the case of those of us on the list we often have the best of both 
worlds, cheap initial printer costs and the availability of low-cost 
and/or specialty inks from other manufacturers (who see profit in those 
products)...

 
Keith Krebs

"Just some guy," and caretaker of the Multiverse's largest EPSON printer 
User Community (highly recommended by Vogon Poets and MegaDodo 
Publications), at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPSON_Printers/
 
"For the rest of you out there, the secret is to bang the rocks together 
guys"




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