Inkjet Printer Cartridges

It's clear that inkjet printer cartridges are our generations classic example of the "razor-for-the-blades" (RFTB) marketing approach. In RFTB marketing, the expensive razor is given away, in order to sell many more of the even more expensive blades, down the road. With inkjet printer cartridges, it's all too obvious. I could swear (and I often do) that the cost of some inkjet printer cartridges seem to exceed the cost of the printer itself.

Far be it for me to criticize the inkjet printer manufacturers for the practice. I think that inexpensive color inkjet printers are pretty cool ... not perfect by any means ... but pretty cool. The idea that absolutely anyone can afford color prints would have seemed unfathomable in the early days of the desktop publishing revolution. Back then, desktop color printers were insanely expensive, and in the province of the well-heeled. These days, color inkjet printers are everywhere ... if only those darn cartridges weren't so expensive!

While I've bought many of my cartridges online, I've never once (nor will I ever) purchased a cartridge as a result of an unsolicited commercial email. I always purchase through a reputable retailer, just in case the cartridge is faulty and I need a replacement. I often wait until one of the big chains has a rebate coupon in effect ... then I'll buy multiple cartridges and reap the savings on the bulk purchase.

Nevertheless, I'm always looking for a less expensive inkjet printer cartridge solution. I've tried a number of different approaches, with varying success.

First, I tried refilling my color cartridges with a kit that I bought at Staples. That, unfortunately, did not go very well at all. Not only did I end up making a mess, but I ended up throwing out the cartridges I tried to refill. Now I have little doubt that someone could effectively refill their cartridges with the right kit (and with practice), but I gave up on the approach.

Next, I tried buying an el cheapo refilled set of inkjet printer cartridges. Easy enough, I thought. All I have to do is snap the new cartridges in the machine. And simple it was ... unfortunately, the quality of the cartridges I purchased just wasn't up to snuff. So I ended up biting the bullet by going back to the OEM cartridges.

Just last week, I heard about a new shop that opening up about a half an hour away. Maybe I've been living under a rock, but this one took me by surprise ... it's a franchise store that specializes in while-you-wait refilling of both inkjet and laser printer cartridges.

Think this is a good bandwagon to jump on? I went a Googling for inkjet printer cartridge refilling franchises and found out that for a mere $75,000 to $120,000 you too could have your very own franchise...