Start-up cartridges in printers designed for light users, claims HP

PC World and HP implicitly blamed each other for confused pricing of printers and cartridges following a PCW story on the cost of ink.

The computer superstore said it was not responsible for setting the pricing parameters; HP said it recommended prices "at a level designed to give value to customers, whatever their needs", but it was up to dealers to decide the margins at which they sold.

An HP spokeswoman said: "We cannot comment on the street prices, merchandising or price labelling practices that PC World ultimately chooses to use."

HP also denied selling printers with near-empty cartridges, saying it used ones containing the "optimal amount of ink or toner" for people who print only occasionally, because little-used products could degrade. It said such customers are also "sensitive to purchase prices".

These "low-use" cartridges do not appear to be available as a separate product, however.

PC World defended the disparity in its own prices by stating that its superstore and business sections had different pricing models "according to the different markets they address and competition they face".

It said PC World had "responsibilities that some of the online competition do not have to worry about" and offered a wider range of consumables than rivals.

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