Newspaper-advertisements have appeared wherein a leading multinational brand has come out with original ink-cartridges for its laser-printers available at just rupees 846 MRP with average print-cost for a paper-sheet just 33 paise using original cartridge.
But the largest-selling multi-national company of computer-printers in Indian market Hewlett-Packard HP has still Maximum-Retail-Price printed on ink-cartridges exorbitantly high even though its original cartridges available in wholesale markets of Nehru place and Nai Sarak in Delhi at much-much less than printed MRP. Even wholesale price for its ink-cartridges of laser-printers remains much higher around rupees 3000 making some Indian manufacturers marketing re-filled cartridges at around rupees 700 or so. Even re-fill can be done at just rupees 200. But using re-filled ink-cartridges result in termination of warranty.
Condition should be imposed compulsory to allow manufacture of ink-cartridges in India with authority to desiring Indian companies for manufacture of cartridges. Indian companies should also be authorised refill ink-cartridges without affecting warranty of printers because of using refilled ink-cartridges. Maximum trade margin between ex-factory or import price and printed MRP should be fixed also to check bribing due to abnormally high printed MRP.
Bureau of Indian Standards should call meeting of printer-manufacturers including representatives of foreign companies to minimise types of ink-cartridges. Presently Hewlett Packard (HP) has too many types of ink-cartridges of similar shape and size for their vast range of inkjet and laser printers. It is not difficult to standardise so many ink-cartridges in a limited number to be used uniformly in different models of inkjet and laser printers. Such standardisation will heavily bring down cost of ink-cartridges.
MADHU AGRAWAL