Non-branded printer cartridges will save you a bundle
So says one supplier
15 Nov 2010 08:27 | by Andrea Petrou | posted in Business
People that switch from branded inkjet printer cartridges to private label versions could save themselves a bundle of cash, research has found.
In a YouGov survey of 2000 households, for Environmental Business Products, the company found that switching labels could save households a combined £440 million a year.
It also found that the average home gets through 4.85 cartridges a year. Half of those questioned admitted they only ever buy branded cartridges from printer manufacturers such as Hewlett Packard, Epson, Lexmark or Canon.
According to the research, branded cartridges typically cost £30 each, which creates an annual bill of £145.50 – the same as a television licence. It said if buyers of branded cartridges – approximately 10.1 million households – instead bought private label versions from high-street retailers and supermarkets, which are around 30 percent cheaper, they would save £43.65 per household per annum or a combined £440 million. Currently only 18 percent of households exclusively buy private-label versions.
Patrick Stead, founder and chief executive of Environmental Business Products, which -surprise, surprise – supplies private-label cartridges to many high street retailers across Europe said: “When most items in the shopping basket are rising in price, the printer cartridge is one product where there are easy savings to be made, so it is surprising that so many people continue to pay a premium.
“Buying a private-label ink cartridge gives consumers a saving of 25 percent to 35 percent which is very welcome at any time, but especially in the current climate. Once people realise there is no compromise in quality, regardless of misleading propaganda, they’re likely to stick with the cheaper option rather than returning to branded.”
The survey also found that 10 percent of households buy 10 or more cartridges a year, giving a potential saving of £90 each per year, if they switched to compatible cartridges. Additionally 66 percent say a cheaper price is likely to encourage them to switch from printer manufacturers cartridges to retailers’ versions, while 43 percent would be motivated to switch cartridges because of environmental credentials.
Filed under: Blogroll, Industry News, Inkjet Info | Tagged: Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark |
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