Page 15 - BOSS Today Issue 45
P. 15

SPECIAL FEATURE   BOSS Today      #45

















































          through online platforms such as eBay   help protect consumers from the risks
          and the Amazon Market Place. However,   of buying poor-quality products.”
          it should be noted that compatible
          cartridges can offer varying degrees of   Sustaining Solutions
          quality and value, so we would always   It is argued by some, however, that
          recommend that dealers use an OEM   remanufactured products could be a
          cartridge as their first choice and   positive response to the increasingly
          always ensure that they are buying   important issue of sustainability. As
          from a reliable and trusted source.”  recent editions of BOSS Today have
           Indeed, it is unsurprising that the   noted, consumer calls for a reduction
          OEMs have for many years been fighting   in single use plastics are becoming
          back against both remanufactured and   increasingly urgent, and Johnson notes
          compatible products: the move towards   that “Environmental sustainability is
          MPS, for example, can be seen as a way   rapidly growing in importance when
          of encouraging end-users to use original   it comes to remaining competitive in
          cartridges, while reports of direct legal   the consumables market. It is widely
          action by OEMs against counterfeit   acknowledged that a growing proportion
          products are fairly common. HP have   of consumers and businesses are
          invested heavily in an Anti-Counterfeit   letting their social and environmental
          and Fraud Programme to tackle the   conscience guide their decision-making.”
          issue, while Brother recently petitioned   The OEMs are certainly responding to
          the United States International Trade   this challenge, as Bleese points out:“The
          Commission (USITC) on 30 companies   OEMs are listening to customers and are
          importing infringing products. Andy   now producing longer lasting machines,
          Johnson, Head of Products & Solutions at   using less plastics and packaging,
          Brother UK, reports that “We continue   removing low yield cartridges and
          to work closely with our European legal   launching high capacity versions.” This
          department to identify any cartridges   increase in ink cartridge capacities
          that infringe our IP rights, in order to   means that one purchase will last


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