Some time ago I bought a Canon multi-function fax-printer here in Hong Kong.
The instruction manual included with the fax-printer said that 'When replacing an ink cartridge, use only Canon BX-2 cartridges.' This I did until recently, when the installed cartridge ran out of ink and I had no replacement BX-2 cartridge. I use Canon BC-02 ink-jet cartridges with another printer so I decided to try replacing the BX-2 ink-jet cartridge with a BC-02 ink-jet cartridge. It worked, and continues to work, perfectly. I then took a closer look at the two cartridges; apart from their product labels they appear to be identical. However, there is a price difference.
At one well-known retailer the BC-02 sells for $160, wile the BX-2 sells for $190. At another retailer the BC-02 sells for $170 while the BX-2 sells for $240. Thinking that perhaps the type or quantity of ink in the cartridges is different, I faxed the Consumer Electronic Product Service at Canon Marketing (Hong Kong) Co, Ltd, asking whether this was the case.
The reply was that, 'Due to the marketing reason, different kinds of products may use a different set of number on their products even if they are identical, for example, BX-XX series cartridge used in bubble jet printers and BX-X series cartridge used in fax/printer machine.' I take this to mean that the BC-02 and the BX-2 are in fact identical, apart from their labels and packaging. If so, why is there such a large price difference in the stores? Does the price differential only occur at the retail level, or is Canon charging its dealers different prices for the two products? IAN WILSON Sau Mau Ping