Printer cartridges 'overpriced'
20/11/2007 16:38

The cost of printer cartridges is too high and leaves customers overpaying for the printer consumables, according to a new US report.

A study by the American Consumer Institute (ACI) claims that Americans are overpaying by around $6 billion (£2.9 billion) per year for printer items such as inkjet cartridges.

According to the ACI's new white paper, Inkjet Prices, Printing Costs and Consumer Welfare, the industry regularly prices office machines too low, while simultaneously hiking the prices of printer cartridges and consumables higher.

The ink within printer cartridges is currently more expensive per millilitre than champagne, perfume and petrol, the group claims.

Larry Darby, co-author of the report, commented: "When purchasing an inkjet printer, consumers should consider the full cost of printing, the cost of the ink used to print as well as the cost of the printer itself."

"Free or low-cost printers are 'fools gold' when they lock consumers into using high-cost ink for the life of the printer."

He added that this model of "comparing apples and oranges" while shopping for printer cartridges is "very confusing".

The ACI's findings echo a recent report from Kodak, which found that 74 per cent of Britons think printer cartridges are too expensive.

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