The Printer Scam

It  is assumed that everyone has a printer and it works.

A few days ago this sign appeared on my printer. I could not find the manual so I googled the error.

I discovered from a video that the manual recommends one thing – repair or replace – but the clever user found a way that you can get round the problem by cleaning the cartridge case.

The video presenter did not mince her words namely that this was a device to make the consumer buy  a new printer. If you take the repair option , this is likely to cost as much as new one

You are more or less forced to have a printer.

So the manufacturer has a captive market, one easy to exploit through pricing the printer cheaply but you then have to buy costly cartridges and the printer has built in obsolescence.   In my parents time, consumer objects were comparatively more dear but built to last . Now the culture of replacement cleverly branded as upgrading results in cheap but short lived equipment.