Use of compatible ink increases - DM50 leads the way
Added: 20/08/2010 Reporter: Michael Green
Buying compatible ink cartridges for a franking machine such as the Pitney Bowes DM50 / DM55 used to be only carried out by back street businesses. However the use of compatibles is now spreading to main stream business.
One of the reasons for the rise in use of compatible ink cartridges can be directly related to cost. When a franking machine is bought, the cost of consumable items, such as ink cartridges, can often be overlooked. Businesses are suprised at the replacement cost of these ink cartridges that can appear at first glance to be rather expensive. The problem is particularly prevalent in the small business market where the offer of a Pitney Bowes DM50 or DM55 franking machine on temporary loan has been accepted.
The difference in price between an official franking machine ink cartridge and a compatible can be quite considerable. At the time of writing the average asking price for a Pitney Bowes DM50 compatible ink cartridge was £15.00 (not endorsed or supplied by Pitney Bowes). The official Pitney Bowes ink cartridge for the DM50 or DM55 (known as the K780002) was however being sold for £46.26 per cartridge. The small business owner that buys the compatible instead of the original official ink cartridge can buy three times as many, or buy one compatible at a third of the cost of an original.
Another reason for the rise in business use of compatible ink in their franking machines can be attributed to comfort. Not the comfort of a nice armchair, but the comfort of knowing that a lot of other people are doing it and that it has worked before. Many businesses have tried with much success the use of compatible ink in their office printers. For these businesses it has not been to much of a stretch to understand the advantages to using compatible ink in their franking machine.
Finally there is ease of supply. Over the last few years the number of websites offering DM50 and DM55 compatible ink cartridges had increased dramatically. This increased competition had not only reduced the price of the compatible ink cartridges, it has also made their supply easier. It is now possible to purchase compatible ink cartridges for franking machines from a number of well know business suppliers. Many of these suppliers allow accounts to be set up and orders to be paid in arrears. As these suppliers are also suppliers of other major business equipment and consumables it is now very easy for a business to simply add a compatible franking machine cartridge to their main order.
Of course the major franking machine suppliers are not that happy with the use of compatibles as it reduces their sales of the official originals. Over the next few years it is likely that there will be a constant game of cat and mouse as manufactures of the original and compatible try to outwit each other. In the meantime there are great savings to be made for the small business owner, particularly when they buy Pitney Bowes DM50 compatible ink cartridges or Pitney Bowes DM55 compatible ink cartridges for their franking machines.
