Genuine Brother toner costs €48, the compatible one €13 — and there's no difference

Genuine Brother toner: the price-per-litre rip-off [P]Paying €48 for a genuine Brother toner when the compatible one costs €13 is the latest example of how the market tries to milk the consumer. For most users, the technical difference between the two is non-existent, exposing the unjustified markup on original consumables.[/P] Why are we paying €3,840 per litre of ink? [P]The debate in the forum isn't just about reliability, but about the absurd maths of the industry. Breaking down the price, we're paying nearly €3,840 per litre of black ink and up to €6,667 per litre for colour. It's a profit margin that borders on insulting, and it has led many forum users to the logical conclusion: the hardware is cheap because the real business lies in holding the user hostage through the official cartridge. The unanimous advice is clear: steer clear of inkjet printers that dry out if you don't use them and switch to laser, where compatibles work trouble-free for years.[/P] The disposable printer strategy [P]The old theory of buying a new printer every time the toner runs out is still alive, although laser has changed the rules of the game. Users with decade-old machines confirm they've spent less than €100 on compatible consumables in all that time. The top recommendation for anyone looking to save: buy refurbished office laser printers — robust machines with toners that cost just over €6 for thousands of copies.[/P] [P]The open question is how much longer this business model will last before the average user stops buying original cartridges out of sheer antiestéticar of losing a warranty that, in practice, is rarely ever claimed.[/P]

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