🚀 go-pugleaf

On Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:11:47 +0000, Guy Macon
<http://www.GuyMacon.com/> wrote:

>
>
>
>Mr.T wrote:
>
>>
>>Guy Macon wrote...
>>
>>> There actually is a legitimate function for a small battery in a
>>> larger shell.  When Mattel ships toys that have a "try me" feature,
>>> we of course have to include batteries, but as usual with toys,
>>> every penny counts (some toys are produced at rates exceeding
>>> 100,000 per hour), so a cheaper, lower-capacity nbattery in a
>>> larger battery compartment makes sense. Not only is the battery
>>> cheaper, but the container ship from China charges a bit less
>>> if the container weighs less.
>>
>>Still sounds like a rip off to me, IF it is not stated the batteries are not
>>designed to last beyond testing. I can just imagine Xmas morning and the toy
>>lasts 2 minutes! At least when it says "batteries not included" you know
>>what to expect.
>>
>>Sounds a lot like the printer manufacturers only providing a "trial" amount
>>of ink, then charging more for the ink than the printer.
>>Yes there is a legitimate reason, FOR THEM :-(
>
>You don't consider being able to buy a printer/scanner/copier/fax
>for $49 to be a reason "for you" that you might want a amnufacturer
>to reduce production costs?

Oh, for gosh sakes, it's not to "reduce production costs" by a few
cents worth of toner- it's the "give them a razor and sell them the
overpriced blades forever" gambit. 

But it's especially greedy of them to sell it with only a partially
full $100 cartridge (or $500 worth of color cartridges), which carry
the full load of hardware and are "chipped" to prevent refilling.  

And they do reduce production costs-- by slapping together shoddy
product from dubious raw materials in 3rd world countries, and not
supporting it when the inevitable failures happen (in part by using
other 3rd world nationals to waste time and money at first world rates
over almost-free telecommunications links). 

>It's a trade-off and you have a choice; there are plenty of printers 
>with high purchase costs and low toner/ink costs if that's what you 
>want. I personally bought a high purchase price / low toner cost
>monochrome laser printer that I use a lot, and a low purchase price
>/ high ink cost inkjet for the rare times I need to print in color.
>More choices good. Fewer choices bad.

Only if you don't have an oligopoly, eh?