How does a printer company make money?
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The Secret: Where do printer makers earn their profit?
Ink and toner over the printer's life. The classic razor-and-blades model: printers are priced low, sometimes near cost, and the profit comes from proprietary cartridges bought again and again. Source: Wikipedia – Razor and blades model
Why They Stay: Why don't owners just buy cheap third-party ink?
Firmware and chips can reject non-original cartridges. Some makers push firmware updates that block cloned cartridges. Others sell ink subscriptions that keep buyers in the brand. Source: Wikipedia – Inkjet printing (business model)
Why They Leave: What's making buyers switch models?
Refillable 'ink tank' printers with cheap bottled ink. Tank printers flip the model: a higher upfront price with very cheap ink. Buyers who do the math on lifetime cost increasingly choose them. Source: Wikipedia – Continuous ink system