OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

Well I've been jokingly saying for years this would happen and now it has:

Cost of HP 3420 printer (including full capacity #27 and #28 cartridge) = $59

Cost of #27 and #28 cartridge alone = $63

I need new cartridges for my printer so I save money by buying a whole new printer and then chucking it out!!! This just seem soooo wrong!

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

Maybe we can make money by buying the printers and then selling the cartridges for $62.

Then sell the printers without the cartridges on ebay for cheap and get a few dollars each.

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

Actually, you can sell the printers minus ink for full price on ebay. One of my friends does this whenever he runs out of ink. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

Yeah, it seems dumb on the face of it. But the printhead has the precision nozzles and all the electronics. What's the printer body got -- cheap low density pLastic body and a couple of steel rails for the head to ride on, soft rubber paper feed mechanisim, cheap led status lights?

Still, I'd rather buy a personal laser printer.

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

yeah, but the print heads are coming with the printer.

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ah this is true and everything would make sense if they ink cost say $50 and the printer + ink $60. Ever buy ink for an Epson 600 series? The printheads are NOT part of the cartridge yet the cartritges still cost a bomb. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">hehe Classic. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif More proof to my theory that things sell on e-bay for way more than they are really worth.

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

I'm assuming the Walmart website reflects your local pricing in the US.

Walmart link to the HP DeskJet 3420 Color Printer

Looks a wee bit more expensive at $78.42... including cartriges.

Also note that it says Online only. Okay... if some of your local stores are selling these they are likely doing it in their specific locations only, meaning they are in all likelihood store only specials and not going to stay that price very long. As I see it right now, someone is mistaken about the price.

Now let's move on to the cartriges...
#27

#28

for a total for the two together of $49.18.

Have I missed anything?

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

from David G

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think you can raise that from the realm of theory to established fact!

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The only thing you've missed I guess is a trip to the Walmart in Ancaster, Ontario. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif The prices I quoted were what I saw there today (in Canadian dollars and rounded off) The printer has definately been reduced in price. I bought one for my parents about 2 months ago for $99.99

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

"Also note that it says Online only. Okay... if some of your local stores are selling these they are likely doing it in their specific locations only, meaning they are in all likelihood store only specials and not going to stay that price very long."

Note the above again, please. It's probably on clearence and will be discontinued.

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think you can raise that from the realm of theory to established fact!</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">When people see something they want and start bidding on it, and then somebody else outbids them, it's very tempting to keep bidding higher in order to get the item. This is easy to do especially if the price is only going up by a couple of dollars at a time. They get caught up in the excitement and competition of winning the bid, and start to lose sight of how much the thing is actually worth.

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

Hate to spring this on you, but the original ink carts are only partualy filled.

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">HP doesn't do starter cartriges. They include the full cartriges in the packaging. Trust me it's my business to know this stuff.

http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/documen...cName=bpd09326

Note the part # for the 2 cartriges. They are the same as for the brand new ones. It would be far too cost inefficient to manufacture special half cartriges.

[ August 31, 2003, 04:46: Message edited by: Tigbit ]

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">HP doesn't do starter cartriges. They include the full cartriges in the packaging. Trust me it's my business to know this stuff.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True. I had heard about starter cartrdiges so I check the details on the box's and they did have the same amount of ink.

Tigbit: I wasn't disputing that it may be an instore special. Guess I should stock up on printers. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

It may be a good idea to do that. But remember printer tech is changing very fast (as is everything else) and HP is constantly making their printers better and better. Alot of the time their newer and better machines are also cheaper than the inferior ones they were designed after. Thus, you may not be able to sell them at any sort of profit if you hold onto them for too long. If you want some advice, look around at the other HP machines and look into their specs and make sure that you can sell the 3420 at a profit. You may just end up with all the machines you bought or end up selling them at a loss just to get rid of them.

P.S.
Some of the companies that still have starter carts are Epson, Lexmark and Canon... not sure about the others. Mind you their carts are also alot cheaper because they do not sell them with new print heads every time like HP does. The HP machine will Last longer because of this and that can be a major selling point, but let's face it they are really gouging you on the carts. I personally will not buy an HP because of this... it's just not cost effective in the long run.

[ August 31, 2003, 18:12: Message edited by: Tigbit ]

Re: OT HP - Walmart Explain This
 

I think it is Lexmarks fault. Back in the day when color ink jets were getting cheap enough that we could buy I went out and got a Lexmark 7000 series or some such (I remember the ad in PC World was of a naked woman that had a swim suit painted on her, and they say sex dont sell http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif ) anyway, I wondered why it was so low until I had to replace the ink (and the color was an all in one), ACK WTF? I thought I was getting shaken down, well since I printed alot of text, I then went to a laser and now have an Epson that has 4 different ink wells for any color print needs.

I will never buy a Lexmark product, I dont have a problem with a company making a buck, BUT when I walk out feeling like a victim...