Ink cartridges

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Really, I don't know how many times I've had this conversation with a customer...

EPG: How can I help you?
Customer: I need ink for my computer.
EPG: (Okay, you need ink for your printer, not your computer... but anyways) What make of printer is it?
Customer: I don't know... I need black.
EPG: (off to a flying start, I see...) Okay, but what brand is your printer?
Customer: I don't know... I got it at 'big box store'.
EPG: Well, they sell lots of different brands of printers. I need to know what make it is so that I can sell you the right cartridge.
Customer: Oh... I think it's an X printer.
EPG: (finally...) Okay, do you know the model number of the printer, or the number of the cartridge you need?
Customer: ... what?
EPG: Do you know what the model number of your printer is?
Customer: I just need black ink.
EPG: I know, but...

*EPG goes around the counter to stand with the Customer*

EPG: ... ALL of these ink cartridges here, and here, are Brand X, and half of them are just black ink. I need to know either the number on the cartridge or your printer's model number so that you can buy the right cartridge.
Customer: Why?
EPG: (mental facepalm...)Because it most likely will not fit in your machine.

Now, five times out of ten, the customer will pull out their cell and phone work/home/etc. to find out the make and model number. Another four out of ten ends here with the customer leaving to check themselves what ink they need.

The last one still soldiers on...

Customer: Why are they so expensive?
EPG: Because that's how they make their money... Sell you the printers for cheap and then get you on the ink. (Yes, I do say that to customers.)
Customer: What about this ink? *pointing to cartridge for Brand Y printer*
EPG: I thought you said your printer was a Brand X?
Customer: It is... but can I buy this and put it in my printer?
EPG: No.
Customer: Why?
EPG: (mental facepalm x2)The cartidge won't fit. It's made for Brand Y and not Brand X.
Customer: Well, sell it to me anyways.
EPG: But it won't fit in your printer, you'll just end up bringing it back and we'll just be having this conversation again.
Customer: Oh...

And it carries on from there...

Sometimes I have to explain that some brands have print heads on the cartridges (the expensive ones) while others don't (the cheaper ones), and why that affects the price.

Sometimes I find out that the machine isn't an inkjet but requires a laser toner... or sometimes it's a fax machine that uses imaging film.

Whenever someone stops to look at the ink cartridges, I part of me inside starts screaming...

[JLRodgers]

Years ago I had a number of people who bought a new printer every few weeks because it was cheaper than the ink... even had people wanting an inkjet cartridge for a dot matrix printer....

But the ones I really hated were the people who bought one brand over another because it was cheaper, then coming back and complaining that I sold them the wrong one. Of course when I could tell the exchange desk what they needed without any info other than someone bought the wrong one - complaints got dropped.

[ralerin]

See, that's why I do the smart thing-whoever's buying the ink will get a piece of paper with the make, model and name of printer and the number for the ink cartridge. Less time, less hassle, less chance of aggravation for the poor employee.

[Dave1982]

This is something you get used to. Thankfully, in this case you can pass the buck on to the printer OEMs.

[Skeksin]

Perhaps visual aids might help?

A picture of X brand Y model ink housing on the printer and then another that is also X brand but Z model ink housing. Then a caption that states that Y doesn't physically fit into Z and this is why it is important to know brand AND model of cartridge.

Of course we all know SC's don't read but you can explicitly point it out to them and then, hopefully, they will get the idea.

Yeah, I know.....I used the word "hope"....

[DGoddessChardonnay]

See, that's why I do the smart thing-whoever's buying the ink will get a piece of paper with the make, model and name of printer and the number for the ink cartridge. Less time, less hassle, less chance of aggravation for the poor employee.

I have a handy card that came with my Lexmark when I bought it 5 years ago that tells me my numbers for color and black cartridges that I can carry in my wallet.

How cool is that?

[Hyndis]

I physically bring in the old ink cartridge when I'm shopping for a replacement. That way I know for sure I'm getting the right one.

[Kogarashi]

This is why I like my local Staples. They have this neat little book by the ink (for the HP ink at least) where you can look up your printer model, which I make sure to bring in with me. Then it tells you every last ink cartridge that'll fit in your printer, so you can find them.

OP's customer? Dumb.

[joe hx]

I physically bring in the old ink cartridge when I'm shopping for a replacement.

That's what I do.

[Golden Phoenix]

I also got a handy-dandy little card with my ink types on it when i got my printer. But i also know by heart that i need cardride no's 56, 57 and 58. Those are black (56) colour (57) and 58 (photo)

I also got a sticker to put on my printer to check it. *goes and makes sure she got the numbers right*

[DGoddessChardonnay]

What gets confusing for me, though is when I have to get ink for my brother's printer.

He also has a Lexmark, but his is a Z12. Half the time I'm thinking it's the Z22 (which he had before.)

So I have to double-check on the printer itself before I leave out. And his numbers end with 50 (black) and 60 (color.) Both start with 17G00, which half the time I can't remember for squat.

Mine are the 32 (black) and 33 (color.) I remembered that much off the bat without my card.

[Blade_Raver]

Reminds me of the days when I worked at CompUSA in the parts department.

SC: I have a computer, it's made of metal. I need RAM for it.
Me: What kind?
SC: Whatever kind metal computers take.

I ended up selling him 30pin SIMMs (Parity and non parity), 72pin SIMMS (EDO, Parity and Non Parity), 168pin DIMMs (PC66 and 100) because he was such an idiot and I didn't want to deal with him.

[protege]

Sadly, it has gotten to the point that a new printer is sometimes cheaper than the ink. Why spend nearly $50 apiece on ink cartridges for an HP, when you can sometimes find a used (or even heavily discounted) printer for less? Still, it pisses me off that the stuff is so expensive, and you don't get very much. However, with all that said, I do *not* chew out the store employees for it. It's not their fault the manufacturers are greedy bastards.

[crazylegs]

Bah, epson is easy, you just gotta remember the picture on the front (my Ma remembers that her ink is the Hummingbird).

[Formaldehyde]

Oh, this is one of my favorites too. Nobody who comes in looking for ink ever knows what kind of printer they have, ever! When I explain that different printers require different cartridges, oftentimes they'll pull out their cellphone and call a roomate to check their printer for them. I also have to explain with alarming regularity that if your printer requires a 57 cartridge, a 55 will not fit. Yes, I know the numbers are close, but trust me on this...