CTS - 2006 :: Cartridge Expert promises 50% savings and bumper profits

[Bob Crabtree]

Like a lot of HEXUS readers, we buy our replacement inkjet cartridges over the net and opt for low-cost, third-party alternatives, rather than expensive originals. But, from time to time, we do end up getting caught short and have to buy in store, and it hurts. But a huge number of people still buy from shops all the time - and that's why Cartridge Expert came up with a refill system that cuts the cost for consumers and allows store owners to make a whacking profit with a clearer conscience.

Inkjet printers are stupidly cheap, for one reason only - their makers draw their profit from the inflated prices of replacment cartridges. Indeed, it's not unusual to see deals where the printer costs much the same as a set of cartridges. Is this a scam? We'll let you decide but it is no coincidence that printer makers have followed the lead set long ago by the makers of razors and razor blades and which also acted as a model that's been followed by the makers of consumer electronics hardware, including Sony and JVC, who bought their way into the movie and music businesses.

More in this HEXUS headline.

[SpawnofSonic]

sounds like an interesting idea, could be handy, only concern would be ink quality and of course could the avg joe not make a hash of it...

[Bob Crabtree]

Sorry, I think I might have handed you the wrong end of the stick.

The carts aren't filled up by the end user but by the store staff - and the whole business looked to me to be utterly trivial to carry out.

Do I need to revisit the piece and make that clear?


Bob

[Benji]

the whole business looked to me to be utterly trivial to carry out.

Don't even get me started on this thing, I'm not sure what legal issues there might be if I did.

Benji

[DR]

... Go on

[Fony_Vaio]

'lo *

A quick word of warning to any persons interested in purchasing one of these, bear in mind I can't go into a lot of detail as I know things with potential legal implications. They cost a bomb to buy. You may be thinking of this machine as a potential new revenue stream, if you have a pre-existing business with staff that you expect to now take on the job of re-filling, be prepared for lots of inky mess all over their hands / clothes, etc. The ink 'recharging' process takes up to 7 mins (bear in mind that many carts need to be drilled before they can be filled), depending on cartridge, and you _have_ to stand around watching, in case something goes wrong and the thing begins dribbling ink all over the place (which it invariably does on many occasions).

Reliability is a big problem in my experience, with panels (the machine has vertically loading panel assemblies that recharge a certain series of carts) continually failing. They have to replace panels usually due to defective sensors (they require lots of maintenance).

Overall, I doubt that you could make a viable business venture out of this machine alone, given your competition (cartridge world and the plethora of remanufactured carts on the market, which will become increasingly cheaper as time progresses).

The business problems are thus:

1/ Your target market instantly thinks; "yipee! I'll take all my 10 year old carts to be filled, never mind that they're clogged beyond unclogging."

2/ Customers are rarely truthful about how old a cart is, mainly because they don't remember / care. If you actually weigh carts, you'll find many are just clogged and are actually not empty. It's up to you whether you kindly unclog the cart for the customer (which you have to do in order to re-charge, anyway), or you drain all their expensive ink and replace it with yours.

3/ What do you do when the re-filled cart doesn't work properly? You can either have a room full of printers to test them, or you can offer refunds (you lose time and money).

4/ You've bought an expensive bit of kit, and you can only buy your consumables (ink, cleaning fluids, little gel seals for the bottom of each cart, etc, etc, from one company. Given the poor reliability, there is also the issue of maintenance costs when the thing is out of warranty...

5/ Every time a new series of carts come onto the market, you have to purchase a new panel in order to recharge them.

I would seriously think twice before getting involved with this thing. If they sort out the reliability issues, it becomes cheaper, and you just employ a monkey with latex gloves and a lab coat to re-fill carts, then there's a possibility it could be profitable, although as I said before, given the competition, I doubt that.

Just my 0.02p


Fony

[TheAnimus]

just get a CIS - Continous Ink System. No messing, no cartridge changing

but that assumes your using a lifetime head system.

[Benji]

Well said Fony

[Andycap]

what can i say fony i have had the earlier version of the machine for over 12months now and i am about to put the new designed model in my new shop as its smaller plus it comes with 3 years warranty.

the machine does what it says on the tin you just have remember the training and dont put a monkey in to operate it.

and as for the refunds i have not had that many as we make a point of closely examining the customers cartridge before we refill it.

but thats my experience of their product, i must admit i do rather well making a few quid with this as i have them in computer repair shops .

[UltraMagnus]

hmm, a new member, that being his only post, slagging off a product that could potentially cost printer manurfacturers hundreds of thousands of pounds......

hmm, anyone smell 10 year old tuna?

[Andycap]

LOL tuna the cheek of it...

Nah mate the truth is i did a google search on cartridge expert to see if anyone was sellin one cheap and came across this post thats all ,but i can see what your sayin but that aint the case.

[UltraMagnus]

LOL tuna the cheek of it...

Nah mate the truth is i did a google search on cartridge expert to see if anyone was sellin one cheap and came across this post thats all ,but i can see what your sayin but that aint the case.

i was talking about fony not you, sorry

[Andycap]

Lol i should have read the reply properly bud.

[Benji]

hmm, a new member, that being his only post, slagging off a product that could potentially cost printer manurfacturers hundreds of thousands of pounds......

hmm, anyone smell 10 year old tuna?

On the face of it yes it does look that way however I know different. I am happy to discuss over PM's and hell I'll even give you my mobile number and we can chat about it if you want just so you at least can be satisfied it isn't 10 year old tuna