Printer cartridges have become a huge profit source for many companies. This is why they try so hard to keep you from buying third party ink. Printer manufacturer’s have resorted to changing the container shape each time they release a new printer – to stay one step ahead of the price cutting ink vendors.

They have even have gone as far to create a special ’self destruct’ chip that will kill your ink cartridge when it gets empty. This is important because the third party market needs these old carts to refill and sell back at a reduced cost.

Many of the vendors have avoided any legal means of stopping the third party market. They just see it as a cost of doing business. Epson, however, sees things differently.

Last February they filed a complaint with the U.S. International trade commission against 24 companies that manufacture, import, or distribute after-market ink cartridges for sale in the U.S. At the same time they filed suit in the Portland US District court against those same 24 companies.

Most of them have settled, or simply stopped selling, and distributing the cartridges to avoid any further litigation.

All this legal action is important. If they can keep the other ink vendors out of the market, they can sell you a printer way below cost – and then take you to the bank when you need to get ink for it.

Next time you see that really cheap Epson printer at your local computer store think twice before buying it. They want to artificially keep the price of ink as high as possible. You will never see that cost until you start using the printer.

If you only print black and white, and are looking for a low cost solution..Find an old HP Laserjet 4 on eBay. They are built like a tank, and toner cartridges only cost about $40 (US) and last about 10 times longer than any inkjet cartridge.