Revisiting our return policy

When you purchase from Priceless Inkjet Cartridge, Inc., you can be confident that you will receive premium quality, factory-sealed products. In the event you are not satisfied with the quality and performance of the product you purchased, you may select to have the product replaced or to receive a full refund of the purchase price.

Rise in counterfeiters that are selling phony ink packaged as the real thing.

Fake Ink Cartridges Ooze Into the Market

Inkjet and printer toner cartridges have joined the ranks of counterfeit Rolex wristwatches and fake Nike sneakers. Canon, Epson, Lexmark, and other leading ink makers are battling a rise in counterfeiters that are selling phony ink packaged as the real thing.

One out of 20 brand-name ink cartridges sold in the United States is counterfeit, according to the Imaging Supplies Coalition, a trade organization of leading printer and ink manufacturers. Fake cartridges--not to be confused with quality off-brand compatible inkjet and toner cartridges--are showing up on retail shelves and are sometimes sold by reputable online merchants. Often, the seller does not realize the cartridge labeled with the name of a major vendor is not, in fact, from that vendor.

Beyond U.S. borders, the counterfeit ink problem has reached epidemic proportions. In parts of Mexico and the Middle East, at least half of the ink cartridges labeled with brand names are bogus, the ISC reports. Costs of Counterfeits

The trend is taking a toll on consumers and ink makers. Makers of brand-name ink, from Canon to Xerox, lost close to $2 billion last year globally to counterfeit ink and toner cartridges, ISC reports. What's more, some of the shady operators behind these counterfeiting ventures include organized crime and groups that funnel proceeds to terrorist organizations, say those who hunt the perpetrators.

For consumers, the price of fake ink is often leaky cartridges, poor quality printouts, and potential damage to printers, say printer manufacturers.

"We find it everywhere," says William Duffy, ISC president. Counterfeit ink is showing up in retail stores, on the Internet, and in just about every other distribution channel you can imagine, he says.

Taking Aim

In the past six months, U.S. Customs has seized 17 shipments of counterfeit inkjet and toner cartridges in the ports of Miami and Los Angeles. Most loads were destined for Latin America, according to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. However, three seized shipments were believed to be headed for U.S. retail shelves and online storefronts.

Investigators trace some of the biggest counterfeit ink suppliers to China, Malaysia, and Latin America. Raids there have turned up ink cartridge manufacturing plants with fake labels and packages bearing the logos of big-name vendors, as well as cartridges. Raids in the United States have revealed counterfeit versions of products marketed by Brother, Hewlett-Packard, Epson, and Canon, say ink manufacturers.

Most retailers that stock counterfeit cartridges are unwitting participants in the bogus-ink sales chain. The counterfeit products make their way into the distribution chain long before retailers stock their shelves, says Tim Trainer, president of the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition.

"The biggest challenge right now is documenting the size of the counterfeit ink industry," says John Shane, a director with tech consulting firm CAP Ventures. Shane says the printer-supplies industry is a $46 billion business and growing 8 percent annually. He considers the opportunity irresistible to counterfeiters.

Terror Ties to Bogus Ink

Profiteers of fake ink include organized crime and sometimes terrorists, says Robert A. Levinson, managing director with the Latin American office of SafirRosetti. The consulting firm is one of the many hired guns that ink manufacturers employ. SafirRosetti and others help law enforcement agencies identify and crack down on counterfeit ink rings. Levinson says fake ink is a gold mine for terrorist organizations, because it can be as profitable as drugs and is more easily sold--since it's marketed inside retail stores instead of on street corners.

Those links to terrorism have also caught the attention of the Department of Homeland Security. The newest federal agency is working with ink manufacturers to quell the problem and cut off any revenues to terrorist organizations and organized crime. One of the participating divisions is the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, which is responsible for intercepting counterfeit products that cross the U.S. border.

"There are strong indicators that proceeds of counterfeit products are going to fund terrorist organizations," says Nancy Kratzer, NIPRCC director. "No matter what it is, if it's popular, then counterfeiters will copy it."

Common Sense Defense

The bad news for consumers is you can do little to avoid phony ink except use common sense.

"If the prices seem suspiciously low, then you should be suspicious," Duffy says. A layperson is unlikely to spot a fake ink cartridge, especially if it bears a brand name, unless it's too late and your printer isn't operating properly.

That's what recently happened to some Brother ink customers, who thought their multifunction fax/printer machines were faulty. Brother says a regional office supply chain unintentionally stocked fake Brother cartridges. Customers started bringing in their printers, complaining that the hardware was malfunctioning, says Matt Hahn, Brother's director of marketing, supplies, and accessories.

"We figured out the problem wasn't with the machine, it was the counterfeit ink cartridges," Hahn says. The vendor yanked the cartridges from the shelves. The company won't say how many customers were affected, or where.

Telltale signs of phony cartidges can be ink clogs and leaks, inferior prints with distorted text and dull colors, printouts with poor resistance to light and water exposure, and a reduced number of printed copies per cartridge.

Consumers, retailers, and distributors can send questionable cartridges to the ISC to verify authenticity. About half of all suspect ink submitted to ISC is verified as fake, up from 18 percent a year ago, Duffy says.

Invisible Ink Problem

Ink makers like Epson, Canon, and HP don't publicize their problems battling counterfeit ink. From their perspective, if customers are wary of brand-name ink cartridges, they're less likely to buy one. Vendors worry that consumers will turn instead to less expensive off-brand ink cartridges.

The damage to reputations can be just as serious as the impact on sales figures, says a manufacturer who didn't want to be identified. Since the cartridge bears a brand name, the customer makes an assumption about its quality. But when that counterfeit cartridge leaks and damages a customer's printer, the manufacturer's reputation takes the hit.

To reduce your odds of getting stuck with a bogus cartridge, buy only from authorized resellers, advise major printer manufacturers. As the counterfeiting problem grows, many vendors are keeping close tabs on what stock is being sold, and where. The printer manufacturers frequently list authorized resellers on their Web sites, providing contact information for online sales and storefront resellers.

Have you ever been told that using compatables will void your warranty?

Don't believe it if you've been told that using compatables will void your warranty. Instead, ask them if they're familiar with the
"The statute is remedial in nature and is intended to protect consumers from deceptive warranty practices. Consumer products are not required to have warranties, but if one is given, it must comply with the Magnuson-Moss Act."

Soy Toner Replacing millions of pounds of Oil Toner in Laser Printers

Price-less Inkjet Cartridge Co. (www.PICINK.com), in partnership with PRC Technologies, a division of Print Recovery Concepts, Inc., announces an environmental breakthrough in office printing for businesses, schools and colleges.

Price-less Inkjet Cartridge Co. is one of a handful of national dealer to offer laser printer cartridges using toner powder derived from soybeans. Laser cartridges will be supplied by Priceless Inkjet under the SoyPrint™ brand at prices comparable to brand name, oil-based versions currently available. While soy ink has been available for some time, this is the first time a soy-based option has been available in laser cartridges. Industry leaders report it takes about 2 liters of oil to make the one pound of toner powder required for each oil-based cartridge. Currently, U.S. businesses, institutions and governmental bodies consume more than 100 million cartridges per year. That equates to 100 million pounds or 50,000 tons of material we currently use petroleum to produce. Now every office has a choice – they can print black or they can print “green”.

PRC has completed extensive testing of the SoyPrint laser toner cartridges. Debe Overhaug, president of Print Recovery Concepts, Inc., reports the print quality matches current brand name cartridges. She further states each cartridge prints the same number of pages as the oil-based versions and does no harm to the printer itself. "Buyers can now demand a quality product AND a green product. They can have it both ways," Overhaug claims.

SoyPrint™ cartridges are manufactured in the US and are fully warranted. Cartridges will be shipped directly to customers from warehouses strategically located all over the country.

About PRICELESS INKJET CARTRIDGE COMPANY:

Price-less Inkjet Cartridge Co. (www.PICINK.com), is a privately held corporation, located in Charlotte County, Florida which, started offering quality alternative printing supplies through their various online e-commerce stores. PICINK was always about establishing a relationship with the consumer. We wanted our customers to have confidence in the products and our service after the sale. With fraud and crime becoming more of a problem online our customers are happy to have a company that they can trust and that protects their privacy. It’s all about a “Priceless Relationship”.


We are proud to partner with Print Recovery Concepts, Inc., who has have been a leading provider of compatible toner cartridges to business and education for 15 years. The firm recognized the potential for soy toner in 2006. PRC is pleased to bring this environmentally friendly product to market.

The big guys are doing it again...

...raising their prices on many of their name brand cartridges. What they're not telling you is you no longer have to buy their brand!

Like generic medications there are many compatable cartridges to choose from. Knowledge is power and in this case its the power to choose! Choose to pay more, or choose to make the switch to compatables and pay less!

Below we have provided a list of the most recent increases.



Xerox - Effective 3/16/09 - Average Increase 7% -
Brother - Effective 4/1/09 - Average Increase 5% -
Oki - Effective 4/1/09 - Average Increase 5% -
Lexmark (Ink) - Effective 4/1/09 - Increases Range From 3 - 23% -
Canon - Effective 4/01/09 -below sku's - 3-8%
0615B009, 0615B013, 1033B005, 0628B009, 0617B016, 1509B007, 0621B016, 0620B010, 0620B015, 6881A039, 4705A037, 4705A018, 4705A026, 4479A292, 4479A271, 4479A230, 4480A263, 0954A370, 2973B004, 2945B004, 2946B004)

10 Shopping Days Left! Great Gift Ideas in a Recession Economy!

Everyone loves to give generously during the Christmas Season, but in a recession economy spending too much on gifts is not wise. Christmas gifts don't have to be expensive, but more importantly meaningful. Here are a few gift ideas that will please everyone on your gift list without breaking the bank.



1. Remember "It's the thought that counts." The gifts we give need to be thoughtful and aimed at the person we are giving them to.

2. Rather than asking each person on your gift list what they most want, instead take a little extra time to think what makes each of them happy and what they enjoy.

3. Re-gift. Now-a-days this is a green idea; the key is giving the item to someone who will appreciate it. Or if you're on humorous terms with someone, give it as a white elephant and start a new family tradition.

4. Another great idea is the gift of photos; they can be of family, pets, vacations or memories. Photos are always a PRICELESS gift, and are very personal and meaningful. They are many options make them into greeting cards which you print yourself. You can print them and simply put them in a fancy envelope and write comments on the back of the photos. This is a simple gesture that will be PRICELESS to the recipients. You can purchase everything you need to print your photos at home from Priceless Inkjet Co; this can be done very reasonably with our Value Priced Options.

5. Don't use expensive gift wrap, you can use tissue paper, or simply but a bow around the gifts. You can also choose to go green and wrap the gifts in old newspapers.

Remember when giving a gift to a family member or friend it does not have to be expensive or extravagant. It's the thought that counts, the gift or photos and memories are PRICELESS.

To PICINK Valued Customers

As you know many prices continue to increase daily, which affect each of us in some way. As of January 1st, 2009 Hewlett Packard is implementing another price increase, affecting many of their products.

If you need Hewlett Packard supplies, now is the time to order and take advantage of current pricing, saving you money.

We encourage you not to wait, as demand is already increasing for the most popular products.

At Priceless Inkjet Cartridge, we strive to bring you the best products and competitive prices. Contact our sales department today, and place your order before the prices increase.

Your Friends at Priceless

Hewlett Packard tells us

What is most important for high tech companies today?
It’s profit Baby, it’s the bottom line!
Got it U.S. Consumer.

Now listen up and read the official public release below.

August 1, 2008

As of September 1, 2008, HP is increasing the list prices on all Mono and Color LaserJet Print Cartridges.

As part of HP’s normal portfolio management, the company regularly reviews pricing. In response to rising production and supply chain costs, HP is now adjusting the price of HP LaserJet toner cartridges by five (5%) percent. This price increase will affect a total of 156 products.

NOTE: The following cartridges had their prices recently increased and will be excluded from the September 1st 5% price increase: 92274A, C3903A, C4092A, C3909A, C3909X, C3906A, C3906AG, 92298A and 92298X. This price increase applies to product ordered in pallet, layer or single unit quantities, and related MAP prices.

Please contact me if you have any issues concerning your HP supplies business.

Best regards,

(We attempt to protect the innocent worker)
HP Supplies, Marketing Representative
Your City and State USA

HP LaserJet print cartridges will continue to provide superior value, reliability and high-quality output. From pioneering the desktop printing industry to its new smart print supplies system, HP is committed to developing products and services that meet its customers’ needs.

Great HP words after telling you, listen pal, we ain’t making enough mula on our supplies products, so you have to pay 5% more. Maybe someone at HP hasn’t looked around and saw the situation most small business owners and individual consumers are experiencing today.

Shouldn’t they share your pain?

Visit our store for high quality Hewlett Packard / HP inkjet cartridges & HP toner

Lexmark vs Static Control Case Archive

Printer maker Lexmark sued chipmaker SCC

Static Control Components (SCC) produced replacement microchips that enabled printer cartridge remanufacturers to refill laser toner cartridges and sell them more cheaply. Lexmark claimed that SCC circumvented Lexmark's access control technologies and infringed its copyrights by "reverse engineering" its printer toner cartridges in the course of developing its replacement chips. The copyrights in question were to Lexmark software contained on its toner cartridge chips.

Lexmark cited provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in the lawsuit. The district court ruled in Lexmark's favor, then Static Control appealed to the Sixth Circuit. EFF filed an amicus brief to the appeals court supporting Static Control.

The Sixth Circuit ruled in favor of SCC, holding that (1) some of the Lexmark software was insufficiently creative to deserve copyright protection and (2) the authentication handshake did not effectively protect the software because printer owners could directly access the software through other open interfaces.

While an important victory against the anti-competitive uses of the DMCA and digital rights management (aka "technical protection measures"), the Sixth Circuit ruling likely will not prevent companies from trying tactics similar to those used by Lexmark in the future.

In addition, Lexmark is also using patent law to restrict competition in secondary markets for refilled toner cartridges.

Visito our store for high quality Lexmark inkjet cartridges & Lexmark laser toner cartridges

Press Release

Priceless Inkjet Cartridge Co

A company that is moving forward into new areas of service and customer relations.

Supplying exceptional products at competitive prices was a start for this 10 year old online retailer. Building a client base that exceeds 100,000 customers was our main goal and initiative, explained Mrs. B. Colbert. During the years we expanded our product catalog, which now reaches more than 4000 ink, toner and maintenance products for the major brand imaging devices. The industry changes almost every day with new technologies and supplies becoming available. We have built 6 successful web stores, which appeal to different consumer markets and each one utilizes specific data for Search Engines to locate our stores. Online commerce is more of a science then most people realize. Consumers demand speed, accuracy, privacy, knowledge, security and a helpful attitude from their online retailer.

It's got to be quick, reliable and cheap then I'll consider buying it! Sound familiar?

Yes, we've heard it from many of our clients and understand their needs. We are changing the focus of the company to represent increased levels of service. In the near future our simplified "re-ordering" site will be operational and allow customers to go from 10 minutes per order to less than 2 minutes with all the built-in accuracy and privacy requested. It will handle multiple department re-ordering with a focus of controlling costs and the introduction of "premium alternative products".

We will be officially introducing our "Print To Provide" (P2P) program so your cost to print will do much more.

The very first change you will notice is the company identity mark. Our new logo symbolizes the company's commitment to change. Going forward you will see it on all future confirmation messages, invoices, web pages and everywhere Priceless has a presence we will proudly display our new mark. We hope you like it as much as we do.

will become this:

Our Management is committed to change that will bring a "Priceless Relationship" to all our valuable clients.

MEMORIAL DAY

“All gave some... some gave all.”

Do you know what Memorial Day is? I mean beyond a day off from work, picnics in the park, traveling to see family? For the complete history please click here: History of Memorial Day.


Memorial Day was officially declared in 1868. It was a day to remember our civil war dead, on both sides. It began in the northern states, beginning with New York, but eventually the southern states joined in. It has evolved throughout the years to include all of our war dead from all wars.


This is a day to honor those brave men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. The “price of freedom is seldom free”. Will you find the time to go and clean up a gravesite of one of your local fallen solders at a local cemetery? Perhaps place a flag? I know I have never done this. But I know that this Memorial Day, I will. I will go to my local VFW post and find out what I can do to honor them. It’s only one day. This is not “my” holiday, to do with as I choose; this is their holiday, to honor them. Just a small way we can all observe this holiday is by following the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution that was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of Remembrance and Respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to "Taps." When I read what the Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns do each and every day, a moment of silence just doesn’t seem like enough.


Details below are from the website of the Arlington National Cemetery


The guard is changed every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual. From April 1 through September 30, there are more than double the opportunities to view the change because another change is added on the half hour and the cemetery closing time moves from 5 to 7 p.m.


An impeccably uniformed relief commander appears on the plaza to announce the Changing of the Guard. Soon the new sentinel leaves the Quarters and unlocks the bolt of his or her M-14 rifle to signal to the relief commander to start the ceremony. The relief commander walks out to the Tomb and salutes, then faces the spectators and asks them to stand and stay silent during the ceremony.


The relief commander conducts a detailed white-glove inspection of the weapon, checking each part of the rifle once. Then, the relief commander and the relieving sentinel meet the retiring sentinel at the center of the matted path in front of the Tomb. All three salute the Unknowns who have been symbolically given the Medal of Honor. Then the relief commander orders the relieved sentinel, "Pass on your orders." The current sentinel commands, "Post and orders, remain as directed." The newly posted sentinel replies, "Orders acknowledged," and steps into position on the black mat. When the relief commander passes by, the new sentinel begins walking at a cadence of 90 steps per minute.


The Tomb Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. After the turn, the sentinel executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed -- the 21-gun salute.


Duty time when not "walking" is spent in the Tomb Guard Quarters below the Memorial Display Room of the Memorial Amphitheater where they study Cemetery "knowledge," clean their weapons and help the rest of their relief prepare for the Changing of the Guard. The guards also train on their days off.


The Tomb of the Unknowns (also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels. Sentinels, all volunteers, are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry
The Tomb Guard Quarters is staffed using a rotating Kelly system. Each relief has the following schedule: first day on, one day off, second day on, one day off, third day on, four days off. Then, their schedule repeats.

"Soldiers never die until they are forgotten. Tomb Guards never forget"

Somehow a few flags on a few graves really don’t seem like much of an imposition.

"It's the Soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It's the Soldier, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It's the Soldier, not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It's the Soldier, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

And it's the Soldier who salutes the flag,

who serves the flag,

whose coffin is draped in the flag,

that allows the protester to burn the flag"

Thanks for taking a moment and remembering our Vets.

Memorial Day Trivia Contest

WIN $100 WORTH OF FREE PRINTING PRODUCTS!!!
THREE WINNERS CHOSEN

Take part in the Memorial Day Trivia Contest. It’s fun, easy, informative and you will learn interesting facts about this historic holiday.

Mother’s Day 2008

The Gift of Homemade Photos

How many pictures do you have on your hard drive right now? Hundreds, maybe thousands just sitting in the computer bringing joy to nobody. How many of them are of your family? How many times has your mother or grandmother asked for more pictures? I know I am awful when living up to these requests. I have the most wonderful photos on my hard drive right now that my relatives would love to see. I don’t even have the excuse I used to have. No time to take the roll of film to the local store for processing. I have no excuse, none whatsoever.

Mother’s day is coming and my mother is far away. I could e-mail pictures, but by the time she downloads them and prints them out, I really haven’t given her much of a gift at all. Just passed along my chore to my dear Mother (or Grandmother). What she really wants is photos that she can pull out of her purse and show her friends. Beautiful 3” X 5”, 4” X 6” and 8” x 10”s photos that Mon can proudly display on her table tops and walls.

This year I will do more than send flowers and a card. This year I will take the time to print out those pictures that she would love. This year I will put them into an album for her to show off. This year I will take the kind of time she has always taken for me. This year I will give her a gift from the heart.

Give your Mom or Grandmother a gift from the heart. Find all the supplies you need to create your own gift at Priceless Inkjet Cartridge Company . We have all the quality ink and paper products you need to make this Mother’s Day special, and with our competitive pricing, you can print as many copies as you need.

A newborn's conversation with God

A baby asked God, 'They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?' God said, 'Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.'

The child further inquired, 'But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.' God said, 'Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy.'

Again the child asked, 'And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?' God said, 'Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.' 'And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?' God said, 'Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.'

'Who will protect me?' God said, 'Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.' 'But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.' God said, 'Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.'

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, 'God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name.'

God said, 'You will simply call her, 'Mom.'

IDENTITY THEFT IS RAMPANT! WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Identity theft increased by 79% between 2002 and 2003

In the latest Gartner Group study, taken in July 2003, the prominent think tank found that there was a 79 percent increase in identity theft in the past year alone.

You’re not alone!

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED'.

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'Memo' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.


3. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your social security number printed on your checks.

4. Keep a list of the credit cards that are in your wallet. List each company and the toll free number listed on the back of the card. This information will be invaluable if your wallet is ever stolen and you have to call every company to report the theft. Don’t list the card numbers on this paper. Put it in a safe place so you will have it to reference. If necessary, list only the last 4 numbers, the credit card company will be able to access your account without the complete number.

You cannot completely prevent theft, but here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.


6. File a Police Report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were lost or stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). Local law enforcement is not always excited or as diligent as they should be when it comes to investigating identity theft and fraud as it is in writing traffic citations.


But here's what is perhaps most important of all:

7. Call the 3 National Credit Reporting agencies (NCR) immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Remember, be “proactive” protecting yourself from identity theft and potential credit problems. Don’t forget there is no charge to get a current credit report each year “Free of Charge”. Simply go to this link: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/order

Now, here are the phone numbers you will need to contact the three main reporting agencies should your wallet be stolen (or missing) and you have a concern about your identity being compromised.

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271 or 1-877-438-4338

For additional resources please visit this non-profit site: http://www.idtheftcenter.org/map.html

American Consumer… you have no more choice!

This maybe the best time to trade in that Epson printer!

The following synopsis of the ITC Final Determination was proudly provided to the “US Consumer” by Seiko-Epson Corp. on a special website. (http://www.itc.epson.com/) This is the reason companies, such as ours are unable to provide remanufactured or compatible inkjet cartridges as an affordable alternative for your printers. We will continue to offer the overpriced original Epson Brand (OEM) on our site.

On October 19, 2007 the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") issued a Final Determination that confirmed that all of the more than 750 accused cartridges for Epson inkjet printers infringe one or more of eleven Epson patents. The ITC issued a General Exclusion Order prohibiting all importers from importing infringing cartridges and Cease and Desist Orders that prohibit the named respondents from selling cartridges imported before the ITC Order. U.S. Customs and the ITC are now enforcing these Orders because they were not modified by President Bush during the sixty day Presidential Review Period.

In addition to the ITC actions, Epson filed U.S. District Court lawsuits against the same twenty-four companies named in the ITC action and a second lawsuit against resellers that continue selling infringing cartridges.

What to read the entire Epson case — click here (in PDF)

If you do not wish to pay OEM prices and would like to send Epson a strong consumer message, please see below.

STOP: Start thinking of a New Printer.

HP will give you Cash Back! Up to $1250

Now you have no reason not to purchase your new printer. HP is offering a cash-back incentive that makes it extra rewarding when you upgrade to a fast, energy-efficient new HP printer. Through the Make the Upgrade and Save promotion, you can earn a check for up to $1,250 when you upgrade to a new model from HP and send in your old laser printer. Trade in your old HP, Dell, Lexmark, Xerox, Epson, etc. and HP will pay for the shipping and recycling. Your savings are determined by the new HP printer model you choose. For each new printer purchased, an old laser printer must be traded in. Offer ends April 30, 2008.

• HP accepts all previously-owned HP LaserJets and all competitive brand laser printers.


• Only one old printer will be accepted for each purchase.


• Printers traded in will be recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.

To obtain your rebate:

1. Purchase a new qualifying HP printer.


2. Fill out the online claim form at http://www.hp.com/go/maketheupgradefall


3. Follow the instructions on the claim form to fax or mail your proof of purchase for the new printer.


4. Within 2 business days, you’ll receive a prepaid FedEx shipping label. Just box up your old printer, attach the label and send it in for recycling.


5. Within 6 weeks, you’ll receive the rebate check on your new printer.

For more information regarding this program update, including a complete list of eligible printers and rebate values download PDF here.

You can always count on us to provide you with high quality HP inkjet cartridges and toner supplies.

Question: What happens when the greatest “product copiers” the world has ever known team up with brilliant US Patent Attorneys (out to make a buck)?

Answer: The US Consumer is sacrificed to a multi-national greed driven corporation.

Safe Internet Shopping

More and more, we find ourselves shopping online these days. As gas prices keep going up, and demand on our time increases, it makes sense to turn to our computer for many of the products and services we need. Personally, I used to get a little nervous about putting my name, personal data and credit card information in cyberspace. Many credit card companies have developed methods to make your transactions more secure. Some even provide a “fake” credit card number to use each time that protects the identity of your real number.

Many websites are advertising their security against outsiders getting your credit card information. Scan Alert, Hacker Alert and Thawte along with others regularly check the security of member sites and certify that those sites are secure against hackers. We are members of two services simultaneously, and take security against hacking very seriously.

One type of protection that we do not advertise is the way we protect you against a charge on your card from someone that already has your information. We are one of the few sites that do not rely exclusively on a computer generated system to catch suspicious transactions. We also look and evaluate each and every transaction that is placed on our website. Our experienced team knows what to look for, and how to verify the validity of these transactions. Many of these fraudulent transactions never even make it into our system. Many times, when we contact the card owner, they are totally unaware that their card has been stolen somewhere else, and they are very grateful that not only do we notify them of the theft, we do it before any charges have been placed on their card from our company. We have one of the lowest fraud rates in this industry considering that 1 out of every 20 online orders turns out to be fraudulent. It is estimated that this year more than 8 billion worth of fraud loss will be absorbed by online retailers. What’s the end result you’ll pay more for goods and services? Just like shoplifting, it affects everyone.

Lastly, even very secure sites can sell your information. It is part of their revenue generating model. A fresh name and email address can bring as much as $3.00 from those that buy “Cyber-Info”. There are a few scams that offer you free this or free that in order to get your financial (credit card) data as payment for shipping then sell this information for as much as $150.00 per “fresh victim”. (Your problems begin about 3-4 months later after you have forgotten about the freebie. Ever ordered something on the internet and then had your e-mail box fill up with unwanted offers? You will never experience this when you order from us. We do not sell your name and we do not sell your contact information. Never have, never will. Zero tolerance when it comes to privacy.

Rest assured that out there in the “cyber-jungle” there is one safe haven. Thank you for being our customers and we will continue to work hard to ensure the safety of your information, and to exceed your expectations.

Tax Rebate Scams – Are they phishing for YOU?

By now, we are all aware that none of us has unknown, rich relatives that die tragically overseas and leave us money. But the scammers are becoming more and more crafty. Now that our congress is contemplating a tax “rebate”, they are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Here are some new ways scammers are trying to get your information, and with it, your money.

Rebate Phone Call

The scammer calls you on the telephone and offers you a substantial rebate for filing your taxes early. The catch? You have to provide your bank account information so they can direct deposit. The reality? The IRS will not call to offer you anything. The only time you need to provide your banking information to them is on your annual income tax form (1040) if you want your refund direct deposited.

Refund e-Mail

The same thing, but by e-mail. You have to click on a link to fill out the refund/rebate form. The catch? Again, you provide personal and banking information. The reality? The IRS will not contact you by e-mail to offer you money.

Audit e-Mail

This one is brand-new. You are sent an e-mail informing you that you are being audited. This one is addressed to you personally. The catch? You are required to give them your personal information. The reality? The IRS does not send out unsolicited e-mails of any kind. Besides, audits are bad enough without being told via e-mail. Even the IRS isn’t that cruel.

Changes to tax law e-Mail

This bogus e-mail is addressed to businesses, accountants and "Treasury" managers. It instructs them to download information on tax law changes by clicking on a series of links to publications on businesses, estate taxes, excise taxes, exempt organizations and IRAs and other retirement plans. The Catch? Clicking on and especially downloading these files can give scammers full access to your computer. This action can also download mal-ware that can destroy your information and/or your hard drive. The reality? All IRS web page addresses begin with http://www.irs.gov/ , if the link does not begin exactly this way, don’t follow it, delete the e-mail.

Paper Check Phone Call

In this scam, you get a call from the IRS claiming that you didn’t cash last year’s refund check, or it doesn’t show that the direct transfer was made to your account. The catch? By now you know that they need your banking information to verify. The reality? Honestly, the IRS couldn’t care less if you ever cash the check. They don’t keep track, and they don’t need your banking information after you file your return.

Sound familiar?

Forward these e-mails straight to: phishing@irs.gov, using instructions contained in an article on IRS.gov titled "How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious E-Mails or Phishing Schemes." Following the instructions will help the IRS track the suspicious e-mail to its origins and shut down the scam. Find the article by visiting IRS.gov and entering the words "suspicious e-mails" into the search box in the upper right corner of the front page.

--
Shirley Roosevelt
Information in this blog obtained in part from http://www.businessknowhow.com/

The Increased Cost of Freight

As hard as we have tried to avoid it, we can no longer leave our freight costs the same as they have been for the last 10 years. We have not increased our freight charges since we opened in 1998.

We know that you are aware that the cost of everything is increasing, but the largest increase by far is that of fuel. Not just any fuel, but especially the diesel fuel that moves virtually every thing within this country at one time or another. You don’t hear much about diesel, because most of us drive vehicles that burn gasoline. But the current average diesel price in the United States as of January 7, 2008 is $3.38 per gallon versus gasoline at an average of $3.11 per gallon.

The price of diesel affects all other prices. All those tractor-trailer rigs that you see on the highway are transporting groceries, clothing, auto parts, and ink, virtually everything to the stores from which you purchase them. Also when you order items on line, at some point during the trip to your home or business, a diesel-burning vehicle will transport them.

We have held off on an increase as long as we could, much longer than most of our competition. The increases are minimal. Our new shipping prices are as follows:

• Standard Shipping (5 to 7 business days), $4.95
• Expedited Shipping (2 to 4 business days), $7.95
• Second Business Day (Commercial address required), $15.95
• Overnight (Commercial address required), $18.95
  

I wish we had the answer to this dilemma. Some say bio-diesel, some say solar power, some say off shore drilling. There are many answers but none seem to be ideal or acceptable at this time. There is one thing I know, if diesel, which cost less to refine than gasoline, continues to rise in price, we will be seeing many more price increases to come with the products we purchase. As a truck driver put it, …“When bread is $10 a loaf and milk is $15 a gallon, maybe the consumer will start paying attention to the price of diesel fuel.”

CPA’s, Accountants and Bookkeepers

We know that, this time of year, you have no time to spare. That’s why I will make this brief. You spend all your time keeping an eye on your clients’ bottom line, who’s watching yours?

Do you know how much time and money you spend on your printed image? Did you know that you could save both? Picink saves time and money for firms like yours everyday. One visit to our website http://www.picink.com/ and you could be saving, too.

We have remanufactured and compatible ink and toner for almost every make and model of printer, copier, fax machine and we even have ribbons for your typewriters. You can save up to 40% over brand name products at your local office supply store. And the time you will save will surprise you.

Next time you find yourself running low on ink in the middle of those year end financial statements, don’t spend any time worrying who to send down to the store, go to http://www.picink.com/ . With free shipping for orders over $29, and next day service available, why waste the time (not to mention fuel)?

Why not also take advantage of our net 30 terms? When you get a moment, (maybe in May) just go to Credit Application and send it to us.
Breathe easier this tax season by letting us take care one thing off your list.

Get the Most “Mileage” Out of Your Ink

With fuel topping $3.00 per gallon in most areas now, I am very concerned about the fuel mileage of my aging car. I try to keep it tuned up, I avoid swift acceleration, I even wash it more often. What I really need to do is make sure I am getting the most out of my printer ink. Based on an average priced inkjet cartridge, ink is actually $13,627.48 a gallon! Also, the smarter we print, the greener we are. In addition, we may end up saving trees.

Here are some easy ways we can all save on our printing costs:

Printing off the internet uses a vast amount of ink, but it doesn’t have to. With a little preparation, you can print only the information that you need. Before you print, instead of clicking on the printer icon in the toolbar, make it a habit to go to File-Print Preview. This will show you everything that will print. Print set up will also give you the option to print background graphics or not, un-checking this box will save you ink as well. Finally, if you highlight only what you wish to print, and right click, you can save to clipboard and then paste in word or notepad, again allowing you to print only what you need.

You can also change your printer settings to print in draft mode for most of your documents. If you choose File-Print-Properties you will have the option of choosing most of your printer settings from this menu. I use this setting for most of my printing.

Don’t turn off your printer every night. Every time you turn on your printer, it goes through a charging cycle that uses ink. This adds up over time.

Finally, be careful about the cleaning cycle. Reserve it for those times when your print quality has deteriorated. It is not necessary to run your cleaning cycle on a regular basis.

If you follow the above tips, you should get the greatest mileage out of your printer ink.
If you have certain tips to save money on in, please join this blog. We need everyone’s input.

Surplus For Good - A “Priceless” Idea

Take a moment, look around the office (that supply closet) or home. Do you have any surplus printer or copier supplies? Did you replace any equipment recently and have ink or toner products left over from the old equipment?

You can receive a tax deduction for the full cost of those surplus supplies and help us build a Memorial for disabled veterans at the same time.

Here’s the offer. Pack up the un-opened, surplus supplies. Send your name, company name (if applicable), telephone number and email address in the package. Upon receipt we’ll send you by email a tax donation certificate from “American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial” www.AVDLM.com The U.S. Congress approved this national memorial to be built in Washington D.C. with the passage of Public Law 106-348. Visit the website to learn more.

It’s estimated that more than 75 million in unused surplus imaging supplies is simply lying around offices and may end up one day, after expiration, in the landfill.

You get a great deduction and the Foundation receives the cash this surplus generates.

It’s a win-win proposal and our disabled veterans will finally see that America truly appreciates their sacrifices.

We’re happy to be part of this effort. So let’s clean house and get the Memorial built.
By the way, let your friends, business associates and the community know about the Memorial and the “Priceless Idea”. Can you image how much of this stuff could be in your community?

SEND SUPPLIES TO:
PIC Warehouse
3890 Tamiami Trail
Port Charlotte, FL
Attn: Surplus 4 AVDLM
Include information for your tax certificate in the package.
Please do not send paper products, or items that are used or defective.
If in doubt write to us by email: alex at picink.com

Send this information to your friends!