European Commission investigates expensive printer ink
The
European Commission is currently finalizing a study on the possible
competition in the market of (expensive) ink cartridges for printers.
The investigation, which started in 2002, is now at an advanced stage.
The
comparison Printer.com suggested in December that nearly all printer
manufacturers in a short time after the other significant price
increases up to 20% at the post were. Printer.com select and calculate
accurately what a printer costs including the cost of cartridges. This
can easily be determined by price increases implemented by the
manufacturer. These findings were also cause for MEP Bart Staes to
again ask questions.
According Staes Kroes stressed that first
and foremost, without prejudice to seek full respect of European
competition rules, all companies on an equal footing with each other to
compete. On April 1, 2003 confirmed the then European Commissioner
Monti to Staes that an effective investigation was launched into the
possible distortion of fair competition from producers of printers. Now
six years later approaching this research – which include addressing
the question whether or not there is tied – a denouement.
Staes:
“Six years is too long for such a study, although it is important that
the Commission act carefully. The research is focused on whether the
producers of printers because of the shape and price of their ink
cartridges Community requirements in terms of competition law. This is
an extremely complex investigation, both economically and legally. “
“But
it is high time that consumers in Europe once the truth is told about
this case. And that is also taken to ensure that every year tens of
millions of empty or half empty cartridges in the municipal land. On
average, ten, twenty percent empty ink cartridges are refilled and
reused. This is madness, because it can least five times per cartridge!
“
At the end of 2007 concluded the American Consumer Institute
(ACI) that the price of printers is kept artificially low, while the
price of ink cartridges is too high. The ACI study also showed that
manufacturers sometimes filled in for not even one quarter.
The
European Parliament, in the context of electronic waste directive from
2006 to electronic chips to remove the ink cartridges. These often
prevent a refilled cartridge back in the printer can be used. But in
practice, manufacturers like HP and Epson do just that. “Reuse, where
consumers also benefit, is this, discouraged. From an environmental
point of view is that a disgrace,” said Staes.
Printer.com, the following price of the printer manufacturers:
HP
01-11-2008 +5%
01-01-2009 again an increase of 10%
Canon
01-01-2009 +5%
01-03-2009 again an increase of 8% (ink)
01-04-2009 again an increase of 8% (toner)
Epson
20-11-2008 +5% to +10%
IBM
01-10-2008 +2% to +15%
01-12-2008 a further increase of 8%
OKI
01-12-2008 +5% to +8%
01-04-2009 again an increase of 6%
Xerox
01-10-2008 +7%
01-12-2008 again an increase of 11%
Brother
01-01-2009 +5%
Lexmark
15-08-2008 +5%
01-11-2008 again an increase of 8%
02-12-2008 +8%
Samsung
01-01-2009 +10%
Konica-Minolta
16-02-2009 +13%
The increases are approximate and are average increases per manufacturer. Increases of individual type cartridges may vary.