Why don't printers come with cables?

[gar598]

grrrrrr

 

[NetworkDad]

Don't most come with the USB cable now?

 

[mithrandir2001]

Cost. Be happy they come with cartridges.

 

[Wallydraigle]

<< Don't most come with the USB cable now? >>



I don' think so. Oh, the other day I was in Walmart buying a video game and some lady calls the electronics department and throws a fit because her printer didn't come with a cable. The sad thing is that the guy on the phone with her didn't know it wasn't supposed to, and he was one of the ones in charge of the department.

 

[Amused]

Printer manufacturers are trying to meet a price point, and have stiff competition. In an effort to meet that price point, they leave out the cables.

 

[Cyberian]

<< Why don't printers come with cables?
>>

Because they don't know what kind of connection you are going to use?
It also keeps the price down a few dollars.

 

[dOrKuS]

just to play with your mind

 

[pulse8]

When you buy a receiver that doesn't come with cables either.

 

[Ornery]

Ever notice that the local price for printers is the same as online prices? That means the local stores aren't making much on a printer. They make the money when they sell you cartridges and CABLES! These clowns ask for as much as $40.00 for a cable... AND GET IT! That's more profit than they make on the printer!

Otherwise, you can buy a cable for $5.00 or less if you're a geek that knows where to shop, so who cares?

 

[cressida]

marketing

 

[Forever42]

I'll give Forever42 the post but this is really Gariig..

Those USB/Parallel cables are dirt cheap, I believe cost for BB is 3.00. They leave them out most of the time because it allows BB/CC/etc to make some money on your printer purchase. Let's say a HP 932c will cost 100-110 and sell for 130(I think it was something like that), this isn't much markup. However, this USB cable costs us 3 dollars and sells for 20, a HUGE markup. The cartridges are the same way, but not quite as bad, I think a 45A HP ink is like $10 and sells for $30. Some come with cables because the company is being nice for buying really expensive printers(MFPs) or the cabling is different then USB/IEEE such as the HP G series.

Gariig

 

[mastertech01]

I find I usually toss out an old printer and keep the cable anyway.. if it saves me a few bucks on the purchase I dont really mind. USB cables are more and more popular now, but they arent too expensive.

 

[Cyberian]

<< or the cabling is different then USB/IEEE such as the HP G series >>

I'm not familiar with the newer HPs. What kind of cable do they use??

Thanks!

 

[luvya]

there is no benefit to go from IEEE port cable to USB cable..
just because USB is getting popular, doesn't mean it's better!

 

[luvya]

<< Cost. Be happy they come with cartridges. >>



I heard most of the cartridges are only half-fulled......

 

[CocaCola5]

Cables are costly to make.

 

[ViperMagic]

Becasue that would make sense. We cant have that now, can we?

 

[polypterus]

Because if you buy a printer to replace an old one you've already got a cable, so might was well save a few bucks, eh? I wish hard drives didn't come with IDE cables, I've got like 20 lying around ... and hey maybe the drive would've been $1 cheaper.

dc

 

[NFS4]

B/C they RAPE you on USB cables. I saw a 6' Belkin USB A-B cable for $21 at OfficeMax. I went right to Ebay and got one for $4.50 shipped and rcv'd it in about 3 days. No complaints here b/c I ordered the cable before I did the Epson C60 printer (from Dell.com).

 

[gar598]

am I wrong or at one time didn't they come with cables?