Laser toner prices are tied to gas prices – really!

Now, here's a scary thought: The price of laser printer cartridges can be expected to rise significantly over the next several months, with little end in sight.

Why?

Well, as the price of oil goes up, so will the price of laser printer cartridges. According to TheRecyclingGuy.com, for example, each laser toner cartridge produced uses three and a half quarts of oil.

THREE AND A HALF QUARTS!?! That's not cheap.In fact, when I play around with the the numbers, throw in a little fuzzy math and chaos theory, I might venture that -- with a gallon of premium here in Reno closing in on $4.50 -- about $3.38 of the cost of each OEM cartridge you buy is going to Exxon, Chevron, or some Saudi sheik.

Let's do some simple arithmetic: Please note, my major in college was English Lit., so I recommend you double-check the math 8^)

Between June 2007 and June 2008, the price of regular unleaded gas rose $0.98, from $3.11 to $4.09 -- or, about 8%. Extrapolating that 8% as a metric for toner price increases, this is what we arrive at:

• Using the HP compatible 12A cartridge example I employed in a previous post, we have today's OEM price from Amazon.com at $59.99.
• If the same price pressure that applies to the petroleum products in HP's products,
• by August (back-to-school-time) we might expect that price to increase by 16%, or even a little more, to $64.78. The math would seem to bear this out.

On the other hand, the equivalent toner cartridge from SuppliesExperts.com, our Q2612A, lacks the upward pressure of the OEM, because we recycle the most petroleum-dependent part of the cartridge -- the shell -- while replacing only the smaller parts with new ones -- OPC drums, wiper blades, other internal components -- and then, only as appropriate. And our cartridge sells for less than $30!

Now, I won't presume to predict that OEM prices will inevitably go up, and more than that ours will stay the same; but, given what's been happening the past few years, which seems more likely?

Shameless Ad

Samsung CLP-300 Toner
$74 for full toner set, or $16 for black.
Full 1 year, 100% guarantee. Free shipping.
SuppliesExperts.com

.


With inflationary pressures, income stagnation, and everything else that's currently plaguing us poor American consumers, in a few months we may not be able to afford to print our photos, write letters, print out emails, newsletters, Christmas cards, invoices, reports, or papers.

So, what's the answer? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Check your printer(s) to determine how much toner is remaining in each cartridge. Most printer software includes a utility the works much like a gas gauge (ironAic, isn't it?) that will give you an indication;
2. See how much extra toner you have on hand for each printer, as well as how much you might need over the next three to six months;
3. Research prices online and do your own math. Don't wait until the last minute . . . other wise prices may be much higher than today's.
4. Stock up as much back toner as 1) you think you will need over the next three months, 2) you can afford, in proportion to (1).
5. Buy online and buy today:

1. First, you'll save on the gas you would expend driving to the local Sam's Club, Costco, or Office Depot;
2. Next, shipping prices are bound to go up; FedEx and UPS are as susceptible to high fuel prices as any of us.

It's pretty obvious that the price of anything that uses petroleum products in its manufacture (such as laser toner cartridges) can only go in one direction -- up!