Why bother buying ink?

This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on May 12, 2004). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

I bought ink for my printer today — an Epson Stylus C82.

The ink — one cartridge each of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black — cost me \$70 from Office Depot.

The printer, which isn’t even sold by Epson anymore, can be picked up on Amazon starting at \$39.

The current comparable printer from Epson — the Stylus C84 — can be picked up on Amazon (complete with ink) for about \$84, only about \$14 more than what I paid for the ink.

Why even bother buying ink anymore? Seems to me that it’s practically more cost effective to just buy a printer and use it until the ink runs out, junk it, and buy a new one. Go for a printer that’s a little bit cheaper than the C84, and I’d be willing to bet that it is cheaper to treat them as a “disposable” item.

That’s just flat-out ridiculous.

iTunes: “Masters of War” by Dylan, Bob from the album Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, The (1963, 4:34).