Technology

I didn't read the article but the straight reason is this: Printer companies adopted the "blades and razor" business model. The model was invented by Gillette, and if any of you here shave, you already know how it works.

1. Sell a new razorblade "system" for a loss price. Design it with a unique attachment system, locking purchaser into buying blades only supplied by that business.
2. Sell two pack blade replacement at about double the price of the original razorblade. 3 Stagger the prices of 3 pack, 4 pack and 5 pack, so they appear to add value, when actually the 5 pack cost of manufacture is still lower than the whole new razorblade "system" that was sold at a loss. But the 5 pack is marketed as "one free blade" based back on the two pack pricing.

Printer Companies did the same thing, sell a cheap inkjet at a loss (last Epson I bought was $49, a miniscule amount of ink and it had a scanner built in!!)

Now I offer you a challenge! (not really, you'll already know the answer if you have an inkjet and had to buy original refills).

A Brother MFC-L3760CDW is a colour laser printer/scanner/photo copier/fax/full duplex. It comes with (3 colours and black) enough toner for 3000 colour pages at purchase for a retail price $499.00

How much do you think it would cost you to get a inkjet printer, and enough ink to print 3000 colour pages? Also consider having a full duplex printer/photo copier/scanner/fax at your disposal.