Consumer_Action_Taskforce

Brother Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service: Difference between revisions

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finalised analytics, linked consumer reports and data, created real-world assumptions for price comparisons
Watchdog (talk | contribs)
66 edits
completed case study, cost analysis. Start data privacy concerns
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It should also be noted that:
It should also be noted that:


*the credit applies to additional page cost or any other consumable outside to the plan limits, not subscription cost.
*the credit applies to additional page cost or any other consumable outside the plan limits, not subscription cost.
*bonus toner is supplied once and as a 'back-up' in case the "plan" toner shipment does not arrive on time.
*bonus toner is supplied once and as a 'back-up' in case the "plan" toner shipment does not arrive on time.
*drum replacement is not specified by Brother as to availability, frequency or supply discretion. In the case study here, the MFC-L2710DW requires a '''DR730'''<ref>[https://www.brother-usa.com/products/dr730 Brother DR730 Product Detail]</ref> drum unit which Brother states has a life-span of 12,000 printed pages.
*drum replacement is not specified by Brother as to availability, frequency or supply discretion. In the case study here, the MFC-L2710DW requires a '''DR730'''<ref>[https://www.brother-usa.com/products/dr730 Brother DR730 Product Detail]</ref> drum unit which Brother states has a life-span of 12,000 printed pages.
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======Assumptions======
======Assumptions======
To create a more realistic comparison, we set rules to give the end-user a more reasonable, flexible and real-world choice when investigating Brother's pricing.
To create a more realistic comparison (and based on Brother's stipulated plan), we set rules to give the end-user a more reasonable, flexible and real-world choice when investigating print pricing. In our use case:


*the end-user keeps the printer for a minimum 12 months.
*the end-user keeps the printer for a minimum 12 months.
*the subscription is maintained for a minimum 12 months.
*the subscription is maintained for a minimum 12 months.
*the end-user runs a small office and prints 3 times the average page rate.
*the end-user runs a small office and prints 15 times the average page rate (6000 pages-per-year)
*the end-user has a broader choice of consumables.


====== EZ Print Cost Comparison Matrix ======
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+TN730 Series Black Standard Cartridge
!
!
!Brand
!Brand
!Page Yield
!Yield
!Price
!Price
!Price/Page
!Pages
!Cartridges
!Total Cost
!Page Cost
!Generic Lockout
!Internet Required
|-
|-
|'''Brother'''
|'''Brother'''
|Brother
|Brother
|1200 +-
|1200 +-
|$43.20*
|$24.99
|
|6000
|5
|$299.88
|$0.050
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|'''Staples'''
|'''Staples'''
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|1200 +-
|1200 +-
|$47.99
|$47.99
|
|6000
|5
|$239.95
|$0.040
|No
|No
|-
|-
|'''Office Depot'''
|'''Office Depot'''
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|1200 +-
|1200 +-
|$47.99
|$47.99
|
|6000
|5
|$239.95
|$0.040
|No
|No
|-
|-
|'''YB Toner'''
|'''YB Toner'''
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|1200 +-
|1200 +-
|$18.95
|$18.95
|
|6000
|5
|$94.75
|$0.015
|No
|No
|-
|-
|'''True Image'''
|'''True Image'''
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|1200 +-
|1200 +-
|$19.50
|$19.50
|
|6000
|5
|$97.50
|$0.016
|No
|No
|}
|}
====== False or Misleading Claim ======
As the above data illustrates, Brother's claim that the program can '''"save the end-user up to 50%"''' is purposefully misleading. They do this by using the following methods:
# '''Scenario Manipulation''': Brother assumes that the user run with the service for only a month, ending the program before the billing cycle before or prior to the auto-replenishment alert.
# '''Comparing Different Programs''': this is a clear misrepresentation. Here Brother relates Pay-Per-Page to Pay-Per-Cartridge, a false and misleading comparison. The matrix shows us that the Brother price is roughly half that of Staples, but here the user '''owns the cartridge''' bought from Staples and only the '''rents the ability to print a certain number of pages''' from Brother.
We note also that should the end-user run with the program for a year, then the Brother program is the most expensive option for printing.
== Data Privacy ==




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