Quote from the article:

“When people buy an HP printer, they consider it an investment. But HP thinks that when you buy a printer, the company is investing in you.”

  • bionicjoey@lemmy.ca
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    8 months ago

    But HP thinks that when you buy a printer, the company is investing in you

    That sounds gross, but I’m pretty sure what’s meant is simply that their printers are a loss leader, and the margins are supposed to be made up in the ink cartridges. Like here’s another way of putting it: when Keurig sells the coffee machine at a loss, they are investing in you hoping you will buy a lot of kcups to recoup the investment.

    • Sentient Loom@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      That seems fine on the surface. But they don’t just sell ink cartridges. They show them empty when there’s still ink, or if you only run out of one kind of ink. They’re sniveling backstabbing weasels who fuck over their customers. Fuck them.

      Plus, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen an affordable printer. I’m just going to get gouged twice.

    • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      8 months ago

      Similar with XBOX. Microsoft was selling Xboxes at a loss and making up revenue in selling games.

      Recently, Microsoft made the push to get their game rental service Xbox Game Pass onto competing consoles like Playstation and Switch.

      Savvy gamers will recall this is what SEGA did before bowing out of the hardware game entirely.

      If Microsoft is learning that loss leaders are ineffective, maybe HP needs to wake the fuck up and smell the coffee, too.