"Our long-term objective is to make printing a subscription."

Quote from the article:

“When people buy an HP printer, they consider it an investment. But HP thinks that when you buy a printer, the company is investing in you.”

  • bionicjoey@lemmy.caEnglish
    392·
    6 months ago

    But HP thinks that when you buy a printer, the company is investing in you

    That sounds gross, but I’m pretty sure what’s meant is simply that their printers are a loss leader, and the margins are supposed to be made up in the ink cartridges. Like here’s another way of putting it: when Keurig sells the coffee machine at a loss, they are investing in you hoping you will buy a lot of kcups to recoup the investment.

    • Sentient Loom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      46·
      6 months ago

      That seems fine on the surface. But they don’t just sell ink cartridges. They show them empty when there’s still ink, or if you only run out of one kind of ink. They’re sniveling backstabbing weasels who fuck over their customers. Fuck them.

      Plus, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen an affordable printer. I’m just going to get gouged twice.

      • bionicjoey@lemmy.caEnglish
        111·
        6 months ago

        Yeah I’m not saying HP are the good guys, just explaining the wording of that quote.

      • Drunemeton@lemmy.worldEnglish
        10·
        6 months ago

        I love my Epson EcoTank printer. $12/3oz. Ink is a fantastic bargain, and no chips to deal with as they’re just big, dumb, tanks.

        • PlutoniumAcid@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          5 months ago

          … and the inks report as empty before they are empty, regardless of brand. Still, cheaper to throw in a new 3rd party tank than throwing money at HP.

          My next printer will be an “eco tank” refillable printer - which probably has other special problems I don’t know about yet.

          • TurdMongler@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            5 months ago

            You can put brother printers on continuous mode and they will keep printing. When the quality starts to look bad, take the toner out and shake it. Put it back in. Volia.

    • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      10·
      6 months ago

      Similar with XBOX. Microsoft was selling Xboxes at a loss and making up revenue in selling games.

      Recently, Microsoft made the push to get their game rental service Xbox Game Pass onto competing consoles like Playstation and Switch.

      Savvy gamers will recall this is what SEGA did before bowing out of the hardware game entirely.

      If Microsoft is learning that loss leaders are ineffective, maybe HP needs to wake the fuck up and smell the coffee, too.