CLICK CHARGES — KNOW YOUR USAGE

HP uses a weighted average in determining the yield for consumables, as does its competitors, Basu notes. But the more enterprising users may be able to expand their yield and thus garner cost savings as opposed to accepting the click charge assumptions.

“We’re trying to optimize what we think will be the average yield across a broad spectrum of substrates, applications and customers,” he adds. “But some clients think they can do better because of their knowledge and skill sets. Some of our biggest producers, in terms of volume, choose to go a la carte, and acquire components and consumables as needed.”