Why Is Printer Ink So Expensive?

It's easy to find a cheap inkjet printer. What's not cheap is the replacement ink. You might be shocked to learn that replacement ink cartridges can cost as much as the printer itself, if not more. This is because printers are often sold at a loss, the company expecting to make its profit on the ink. This strategy, also known as the "razor-and-blades model," is common in consumer goods, including printers, coffee makers (the ones that use disposable pods) and its namesake, shaving razors.

Printer manufacturers, however, claim there are several reasons why ink costs so much, beyond revenue. Here are the main reasons why printer ink is so expensive.

The razor blade business

The razor-and-blade business model provides a continued revenue stream for printer makers after a customer buys the hardware. It also locks that customer into an ecosystem. Just as some razor handles ...