Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Monks Get Back Into the Printing Business
Posted by Crystal Eitle in "OFF-TOPIC" @ 03:00 PM
A Cistercian monastery in Wisconsin has decided to start selling remanufactured ink cartridges at a steep discount -- under the name LaserMonks -- to fund its charitable giving and operations. They are one of a number of outfits selling remanufactured ink cartridges on the Web, which isn't surprising considering the outrageous prices printer manufacturers charge for ink cartridges. "Hewlett-Packard, the biggest maker of printers, derived $918 million, or 76 percent, of its operating profit in its most recent quarter from its imaging and printing business." (No wonder they practically give the printers away for free - they get you on the ink subscription plan).
"'A Canon or Epson inkjet that they're selling for $20 or $25, we've got it for like $3 or $4,'" said Bernard McCoy, one of the monks who is leading the project. McCoy said his hope for the business is to be able to support the Abbey's operating expenses and charitable giving, which together run about $120,000 annually. If things really take off, any additional profits will be given to charity."
"'A Canon or Epson inkjet that they're selling for $20 or $25, we've got it for like $3 or $4,'" said Bernard McCoy, one of the monks who is leading the project. McCoy said his hope for the business is to be able to support the Abbey's operating expenses and charitable giving, which together run about $120,000 annually. If things really take off, any additional profits will be given to charity."
