High Cost of Printer Cartridges Impacting Businesses

"Jim"* has a small computer repair business where, during the course of a normal day, he will print out work orders, estimates and receipts for his customers, purchase orders and checks for his suppliers and vendors, statements, flyers and product sheets he gets off the internet, and special offers he mails to both existing and potential customers about upcoming sales and events.

As recently as one year ago, the very idea of not being able to afford to do any of these things would have never have entered Jim's mind; not being able to afford as much printer ink as he needed was simply inconceivable. In addition to the four cartridges in his color laser printer, he'd kept a backup set in his supplies cabinet

That was then, and this is now, the saying goes. In addition to the slowdown in the economy, the cost of a set of cartridges seemed almost insurmountable: the best price Jim was able to find for Dell's 4BC5100 was still a staggering $531.99, a budget-buster if he ever saw one. He tried everything he could to extend the life of his cartridges: he'd shake them up and down and side by side cartridge to try to dislodge every last grain of toner; he'd use the "draft" setting on his printer; he'd only print out 15 color flyers instead of his usual 150, and post them on supermarket bulleting boards instead of mailing them out.

Even using these tactics, though, sometimes the print on his receipts and estimates was so faint his customers were forced to request another copy. It was embarrassing and it was eroding the good will he had built up over years of doing business.

The other day, however, while desperately seeking an answer to his printer woes online, he typed the keyword phrase Dell 5100cn into Google and discovered that a company called SuppliesExperts.com was selling a full set of cartridges that were 100% guaranteed to be compatible with his printer. Not only that, but instead of the $531.99 that Dell wanted, these would only set Jim back $159.00! He couldn't believe it.

But, was it legal? The sales person who had sold Jim the printer originally, told him in no uncertain terms that if he tried to use anything but Dell cartridges in his printer, it would automatically void the 5100CN's warranty.

Jim investigated himself, however,, and discovered -- to his relief-- that the salesperson had been less than honest, and that the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act, passed in 1975, states that a printer's manufacturer cannot refuse to honor its warranty just because the owner preferered to use a different — albeit compatible — product.

So, Jim tried the SuppliesExperts'com toner cartridge -- their 5100cn -- it worked fine, and he kept his business and his old customers never noticed a thing.

The preceding story is apocryphal, but it isn't that far from the truth. The truth is:

1. OEM manufacturer's brand-name cartridges often cost more than twice as much as compatible cartridges from SuppliesExperts.com
2. they carry a 1-year, 100% guarantee
3. free shipping is available
4. the manufacturer cannot stop somebody from using compatible
5. save gas - buy online!

* "Jim" is not his real name. As a matter of fact, he isn't even real; he is a composite.

BLATANT ADVERTISEMENT

5100cn compatible laser toner for Dell printers
$159.00 full set (BK/C/M/Y)
100% Guaranteed - Free Shipping!

Suppliesexperts.com