STAPLES STOPS SELLING EPSON & HP REMANS

[Anonymous]

Staples’ Retreat from Epson- and HP-Compatible Ink Jet and Toner Cartridges
Lyra
Research,discovered late last month that Staples quietly dropped
Staples-branded compatible cartridges for Hewlett-Packard and Epson
printers from its retail catalogs.
Newton, MA
January , 2007 — Lyra Research, the digital imaging authority,
discovered late last month that, after repeatedly indicating that no
changes were in the offing for its line of branded imaging supplies,
Staples  quietly dropped Staples-branded compatible cartridges for
Hewlett-Packard and Epson printers from its retail catalogs. Sources
report that removing HP and Epson cartridges from the Framingham,
MA-based office superstore’s catalog is the first step in what may
amount to significant changes in the Staples line of aftermarket
printer consumables. Staples is expected to remove all its
Staples-branded HP ink and toner cartridges from retail stores early in
the first quarter of this year, and the same fate may also be planned
for Staples-branded Epson compatibles.According to Charles Brewer,
managing editor of The Hard Copy Supplies Journal, a monthly newsletter
published by Lyra Research, Staples’ decision to stop selling certain
non-OEM cartridges can be seen as a victory for printer makers in their
battle for market share with third-party supplies vendors.”Score one
for the OEMs,” he quips. Brewer explains. “Staples has repeatedly
pointed to sales of ink and toner consumables as a key revenue driver.
The office supplies Goliath must sense there is an upside to dropping
its Epson and HP cartridges. Throughout late 2006, rumors were flying
that HP had cut a deal with the nation’s largest office superstore to
get it to pull its HP compatibles. It now appears that is true.” The
settlement Epson recently reached with various aftermarket companies is
likely behind the office superstore’s decision to drop its Epson
compatibles. “Last month, a number of companies that market Epson
compatibles announced they would discontinue selling these cartridges.
The companies included the French firm Armor, which supplied Staples
with its branded Epson compatibles.”With over 1,500 stores in North
America, Staples’ move will affect the sales of tens of millions of
dollars worth of ink and toner cartridges. Given the market-leading
position of the office superstore giant, the news is significant for
printer makers and third-party imaging supplies vendors alike. The news
raises many critical questions. Why drop these cartridges now? How will
consumers react? What will the overall impact be on Staples’ business?
And what does the Staples move mean for the fast-growing aftermarket
imaging supplies industry?

[Author]

January 8, 2007 at 1:49 PM