Samsung Rigs Printers to Read 'Empty' and Shut down When There's Plenty of
Toner Left
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung is rigging its printers
and misleading consumers in its quest to sell as many costly and profitable
toner cartridges as possible, according to a class action lawsuit filed
this week by Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP in U.S. District Court in Trenton,
NJ.
"This is 'razor blade' economics taken to a fraudulent extreme," said
KBK Managing Partner Brian Kabateck. "Consumers are not getting the toner
they're paying for because Samsung is rigging its machines. The victims in
this case are entitled to use the toner they've purchased, but Samsung's
malevolent programming is blocking the way."
Printer companies like Samsung derive more revenues and profits from
selling toner and ink cartridges than they do by selling printers. (Some
call this the "razor blade" model. Many razor companies make more money
from blade cartridges than razors.) While cartridge prices remain high,
printer costs have fallen along with the cost of other computer equipment,
with many printers even being provided free to computer purchasers.
Printers, in many cases, are simply vehicles that drive their
manufacturers' true profit-centers -- toner and ink cartridges.
Samsung, according to the suit, programs its printers to shut down and
display a "toner empty" message when there is in fact a significant amount
of toner still remaining in the toner cartridge. Users must install a new
Samsung toner cartridge to resume using their printers, even though there
is plenty of toner left in their old cartridge. Users cannot pursue the
relatively cheaper options of refilling their old cartridges or using
another company's cartridges -- Samsung employs "smart chip" technology to
force consumers to use their cartridges.
KBK previously sued Epson for designing its printers to shut down with
a substantial amount of ink still in the cartridge. Following certification
of a national class, Epson settled the case. The victims received ink
cartridges and other compensation that the court valued at more than $350
million.
The Samsung cartridges for the printer owned by the plaintiff cost $80.
The suit seeks to represent a class comprising all individuals or entities
in the United States who have purchased or leased a Samsung laser printer.
"We're simply asking Samsung to be straight with its customers," said
Darren Kaplan, a partner with the Atlanta-based law firm of Chitwood Harley
Harnes LLP and co-counsel with KBK in the litigation. "It's disappointing
that it's taking a judge and jury to make them do the right thing."
According to Lyra Research, 2007 ink and toner sales approached $70
billion, while by 2011, printer manufacturers will make over $15 billion
more in ink and toner than printer sales.
The outrageous cost of toner and ink was put into perspective by
Gizmodo, which found that printing with vodka, penicillin, and even human
blood would be cheaper. (http://tinyurl.com/5jdctx)
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that while we complain about $50
to $75 gas tank fill-ups, that same tank would cost $4,000 to $5,000 to
fill up with printer ink
(http://www.star-telegram.com/599/story/225552.html).
SOURCE Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP
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Related links:
http://www.star-telegram.com/599/story/225552.html
http://tinyurl.com/5jdctx
CONTACT:
Yusef K. Robb for Kabateck Brown Kellner,
LLP, +1-310-888-3523
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