This just isn't right - shopping related

[disneysteve]

I almost exclusively use the Zebra F-301 ballpoint pens at work and home. My partner got me hooked on them a few years ago and I've been using them ever since. When the ink runs out, I typically go on Amazon and buy refills. I'm almost out of refills so I went shopping on Amazon to reorder them. I compared prices and discovered that it is actually cheaper for me to buy a dozen new pens than it is to buy a dozen refills.

$18.99 + $2.99 shipping for 12 pens = $21.98

$22.74 + $5.94 shipping for 12 refills = $28.68

So it is $6.70 cheaper to buy whole new pens than to refill the pens I've already got. That just isn't right. We live in such a disposable society. How can it be cheaper to buy the entire pen than to buy just the ink that goes inside of the pen?

Of course, I know people who buy a new computer printer each time they run out of ink because they always manage to find a deal that makes the new printer cheaper than the replacement cartridges. Then they just donate the old printer to Goodwill and tax a tax deduction for it.

[shanecurran]

Have you ever noticed that razor companies do the same thing. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy the whole kit than to just get the refills. They want to get you to buy their product and then charge exorbitant prices for refills.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Of course, I know people who buy a new computer printer each time they run out of ink because they always manage to find a deal that makes the new printer cheaper than the replacement cartridges. Then they just donate the old printer to Goodwill and tax a tax deduction for it.

Before I even read this paragraph I was thinking of this. I'm guessing that they're betting that most people don't really do the math to figure out the better savings on pen refills or printer ink and probably many more items.

[greenskeeper]

could also be production costs and demand for refills. How many people like you want to refill their own pens versus buy new? It may cost the company less to produce the pens in bulk then to make a few refill kits.
I understand where you are coming from though.

[LuckyRobin]

Most people are too lazy to comparison shop like that, so they hope to make a profit off of that lack of initiative. Or people who want to be more green and can't stomach the idea of throwing away perfectly good pens to get new ones when refills are available.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by LuckyRobin

people who want to be more green and can't stomach the idea of throwing away perfectly good pens to get new ones when refills are available.

I would much rather buy refills and be green about it, but not if it is going to cost me more money in the process.

I will hang onto the used up pens rather than throw them out because next time around, I may find a deal on refills that makes them cheaper than new pens. But this time, I'm going with the new pens.

[bennyhoff]

You just need to check ebay. I did just now, and came across a ten pack of refills for $9.50 shipped. Ebay seems to have most everything when it comes to repair parts or refills at seriously cheaper prices. I've gotten vacumm filters, power supplies, and other things I can't think of right now, always at super prices.

[debtfreeme]

Can you look for the refills some place other than Amazon?

It is a great shame, way to disposable a society these days.

[kork13]

I use the same F-301 pens (and also the matching M-301 pencils), as does a large chunk of my squadron--they're a perfect size and design for use while flying. I've noticed as well that refills are more expensive than replacements (for the pens, at least). It's been that way since I first started using them almost 2 years ago. As such, I've never actually bought the pen refills, I just buy the new pens themselves. I only go through one every 6 months or so anyway, so it's not really a HUGE factor, but notably strange nonetheless...

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by bennyhoff

You just need to check ebay. I did just now, and came across a ten pack of refills for $9.50 shipped.

That doesn't surprise me. I often find things cheaper on ebay than on Amazon.

The reason I tend to favor Amazon is because a number of companies for whom I do market research surveys (see my blog) pay me with Amazon gift cards. At any given time, I tend to have about $1,000 on account with Amazon thanks to that.

That is a really good deal, though. That is a bulk pack, 10 in a box. I usually get the refills 2 on a card and just buy multiple cards. Next time around, I think I'll check ebay and see if that deal is still out there.