I have been trying to tell customers this forever. Maybe validation from PCWorld (Cheap Ink and Toner: Finding the Best Deal) will help me make the argument.
According to PCWorld “finding a low price is pretty easy, but finding an honest deal can be hard. It’s not just about checking multiple sellers, and digging into the shipping charges and return policies. It’s also about feeling comfortable with the vendor’s integrity and accountability. Proceeding with caution continues to be the rule of the game.”
I know that no one likes to go out and pay a small fortune for printer ink and toner. And for businesses, it can be a substantial expense. But, as in life, bargains can be too good to be true.
And I know it is often all about the bottom line, but printer uptime and time spent messing with sub-par suppliers contributes as much, if not more, to the bottom line than a few dollars per toner cartridge.
And like the PCWorld article, I am not referring to the refillers – they are a breed unto themselves. I am talking about users of printers and supplies from mainstream manufacturers like HP, Lexmark, Epson, Canon, etc.
For business especially, there is a value to a supplier that can answer the phone, get back to your messages promptly, handle issues smoothly and have a competitive price.
So you probably figure I am going to do my own little price comparison, to see how PMI fares against some of the companies PCWorld looked at. I am. I took the HP CE505X, a high yield toner cartridge from HP, and ran it through a few sites.
PMI – $157.00
Staples – $162.99
CDW – $162.99
NewEgg – $162.99
And, why not try the winner of PCWorld’s experiment? :
BlueDogInk – $130.99 [wow! really?!]
If you are curious how one could charge so much less than some of the biggest supply companies in the world (and PMI) and still make money, well…the answer is it is extremely difficult. They are undoubtedly selling the product below manufacturer’s cost, hoping to sell a lot and get a big back end rebate. Sounds logical, but it’s murder on the cash flow.
Anyway, let me know what you think about shopping online? Has cheaper been better for you?
Follow Me