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The Brother Industries Ltd.: '''Refresh Program Subscription Service''' is a Subscription-as-a-Service ('''SubS''') launched in August 2021. The program claims to offer domestic and business users the advantage of an on-demand, lower-cost printing solution that provides genuine Brother consumables directly to their door, without the need for end-user consumable management.
The '''[[Brother Industries Ltd.]]''': '''Refresh Program Subscription Service''' is an opt-in Subscription-as-a-Service launched in August 2021. The program's purpose is to automatically re-order and deliver Brother consumable products, such as ink and toner cartridges, to subscribed individuals and businesses at a lower cost. New cartridges are sent when an eligible Brother printer detects that its current cartridges are low. Various plans are available for black-and-white laser, inkjet, or color laser printers based on the amount of pages the subscriber believes they will print each month. These plans prevent the subscriber from printing in excess of the agreed number of pages.


The [https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/refresh-smart-delivery Brother Refresh] service currently offers two programs: '''EZ Auto Reordering''' (abbreviated as '''EZ-ARP'''), where the end-user pays only to replace a depleted cartridge or '''EZ Print Subscription''' (abbreviated as '''EZ-PSP'''), where the the user pays per page printed.
==Subscription model==
Brother offers fourteen plans, ranging from free to $59.99/month, based on the consumer's printer type and how many pages they intend to print each month.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service |url=https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/subscription-info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816223129/https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/subscription-info |archive-date=16 Aug 2025 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=Brother}}</ref> After allotted pages are used, the subscriber may no longer print additional pages until the following month when the allotment resets. However, some plans allow for unused pages to roll over into the next month.


Listed are the program features offered to the end user to maintain and service their machines:
In addition to ink cartridge subscription, the plans also provide in-store credit and allow subscribers to accrue additional credit when using their printer. Some plans are listed as "Best for Business" and include drum replacement for laser printers. Only certain models of printers, called "Refresh Ready," are eligible for a Refresh EZ Print subscription.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!
|+Black-and-White Laser Plans
!EZ-ARP
!Plan
!EZ-PSP
!Monthly Cost
!Pages per Month
!Maximum Page Rollover
!Initial Credit
!Additional Credit
!Drum Replacement
|-
|-
|'''Auto Cartridge Ordering'''
|Basic
|Yes
|$0
|Yes
|20
|20
|$0
|$1 per 5 pages
|No
|-
|-
|'''Free Trial'''
|Occasional
|$3.49
|100
|100
|$10
|$1 per 20 pages
|No
|No
|Yes
|-
|'''Payments'''
|Pay-Per-Cartridge
|Pay-Per-Page
|-
|'''Cartridge Type'''
|Standard or XL
|XL or Super XL
|-
|'''Shipping Costs'''
|>$19.99 Free
|Free (plan-based)
|-
|-
|'''Warranty'''
|Moderate
|$8.99
|300
|300
|$10
|$1 per 25 pages
|No
|No
|Limited (plan-based)
|-
|'''Customer Service'''
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|'''Flexible Plans'''
|High
|No
|$15.99
|700
|700
|$30
|$1 per 40 pages
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|'''Easy Cancellation'''
|Power
|Yes
|$24.99
|1500
|1500
|$30
|$1 per 60 pages
|Yes
|Yes
|}
|}
==Subscription Eligibility==
Brother currently lists [https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/subscription-info/eligible-printers/products#sort=%40productcataloglistprice%20descending these printers] available to enter the Refresh program. The printer can either be "Refresh-ready" (with Refresh EZ-Print Subscription ink and toner cartridges included) or activated post-purchase via the Brother website. Once the printer is activated and enrolled to the Refresh service, only cartridges or toner supplied by Brother can be used.
====='''EZ Print Subscription''' (pay-per-page)=====
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Printer Type
|+Inkjet Plans
!Models
!Plan
![https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/subscription-info Promoted]
!Monthly Cost
!Free Trial
!Pages per Month
!Cartridge Series Disclosed
!Maximum Page Rollover
!Cartridge Yield Disclosed
!Initial Credit
!Additional Credit
|-
|Occasional
|$1.99
|25
|25
|$10
|$1 per 10 pages
|-
|-
|Mono Laser Printers
|Moderate
|13
|$4.99
|Yes
|80
|Yes
|80
|Unknown
|$10
|Unknown
|$1 per 10 pages
|-
|Frequent
|$9.99
|200
|200
|$10
|$1 per 15 pages
|-
|-
|Color Laser Printer
|High
|0
|$15.99
|Yes
|400
|No
|400
|N/A
|$30
|N/A
|$1 per 15 pages
|-
|-
|Inkjet Printers
|Power
|8
|$24.99
|Yes
|800
|Yes
|800
|Unknown
|$30
|Unknown
|$1 per 35 pages
|}
|}
====='''EZ Auto Reordering''' (pay-per-cartridge)=====
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Printer Type
|+Color Laser Plans
!Models
!Plan
![https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/ez-auto-reordering Promoted]
!Monthly Cost
!Free Trial
!Pages per Month
!Cartridge Series Disclosed
!Maximum Page Rollover
!Cartridge Yield Disclosed
!Initial Credit
!Additional Credit
!Drum Replacement
!Bonus Toner Eligible
|-
|-
|Mono Laser Printers
|Occasional
|141
|$9.99
|Yes
|75
|75
|$10
|$2 per 10 pages
|No
|No
|-
|Moderate
|$19.99
|200
|200
|$10
|$2 per 20 pages
|No
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Color Laser Printer
|High
|31
|$34.99
|500
|500
|$30
|$2 per 30 pages
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Inkjet Printers
|Power
|0
|$59.99
|1000
|1000
|$30
|$2 per 35 pages
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|}
|}
 
Currently, no Refresh Ready color laser printers exist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service Eligible Printers |url=https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/subscription-info/eligible-printers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816224000/https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/subscription-info/eligible-printers |archive-date=16 Aug 2025 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=Brother}}</ref>
======False or Misleading Promotion======
 
*Brother clearly advertises color plans in the '''EZ Print''' program yet no color printers are currently eligible.<ref>[https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/subscription-info/eligible-printers/products#sort=%40productcataloglistprice%20descending EZ-Print Eligibility List]</ref>
*Brother clearly advertises discounted ink & toner in the '''EZ Auto Reorder''' program yet no inkjet printers are currently eligible.<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/images/0/0d/Brother_Refresh_AutoReorder_printer_eigibility_list_08025.png EZ-Auto Reorder Eligibility List]</ref>
*Brother does not state cartridge series or yield on their website nor prior to enrollment in the Refresh program.<ref>[[:File:Brother Live Assistance Transcript 080225.pdf|Brother Assistance Transcript]]</ref>
 
==Subscription Claims==
 
=====EZ Print Program=====
Brother purports that the EZ Print subscription program can '''save the end-user up to 50%''' on genuine Brother ink or toner. This is accompanied by a caveat located in the legal disclaimer found at the bottom of the subscription information page.<ref>[https://www.brother-usa.com/supplies/subscription-info Brother Subscription Information]</ref>
 
It states: ''based on monthly subscription cost in U.S. for Mono Laser Power Plan vs. average cost per page of eligible like standard capacity cartridges. Savings will vary based on Refresh EZ Print Subscription plan selected.''
 
======Obfuscated or Misleading Claim======
 
*No color laser of inkjet printers are included in Brother's claimed subscription discount comparison.
*Only the highest-cost mono laser plan is used in Brother's claimed subscription discount comparison.
*Only a standard yield cartridge is included in Brother's claimed subscription discount comparison.
 
=====EZ Auto Reording Program=====
Brother offers a '''10% discount on all orders''' of genuine ink & toner when subscribed to the EZ Auto Reorder program. The Program also enables the end-user to select a higher-yield cartridge if required.
 
======Obfuscated or Misleading Claim======
 
*No inkjet printers are currently eligible for the '''EZ-ARP''' yet Brother promotes "Ink & Toner Delivered Automatically" on the program page.
 
==Pay-Per-Cartridge <small>vs</small> Pay-Per-Page==
 
=====Case Study=====
[[File:MFCL2710DW EZ-Print.png|thumb|500x500px]]
Here we have used Brother's basis for their purported savings in the '''EZ-Print''' program:
 
#Mono Laser Printer: '''MFC-L2710DW''' <small><ref>[https://www.brother-usa.com/products/mfcl2710dw MFC-L2710DW Overview]</ref></small>
#Highest Cost Plan: '''Power Plan'''
#Standard Yield Cartridge: '''TN730''' <ref>[https://www.brother-usa.com/products/tn730 Brother TN730 Product Detail]</ref>
 
======Notes======
The Brother "Power Plan" includes:
 
*'''Credit $30''': for add-ons only
*'''Bonus Toner''' Eligibility: once only
*'''Drum Replacement''': undefined
 
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.
*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.
 
======Printer======
The Brother printer chosen is the MFC-L2710DW. The main reasons for choosing this model for the case study are as follows:
*it is one of the most popular machines and has the highest number of reviews on the Brother eligibility list page.
*it has a sub $400 price point and is listed as eligible for the EZ Print Subscription program.
*it has parts and consumables readily available from a variety of sources.
*it is suited to a home / small office environment and has: automated duplex printing, a large 250 sheet tray capacity, wireless, ethernet or USB connections, 32 page-per-minute print speed and has a 50-page capacity automatic feeder to copy or scan documents.
 
======Analytics======
Analysis shows that laser printers are the most popular machine for everyday printing:
*the average home office / small office user prints '''3.4 monochrome pages per day''' <ref name=":0">West, McDonald (July 20, 2018) [["2015, 2016, & 2017 User and Device Printing Statistics"]] ECISolutions.com. Retrieved February 8, 2025</ref>
*[https://www.consumerreports.org/ Consumer Reports.org] reports their subscribers print a median of '''33 monochrome pages per month''' <ref>Pinola, Melanie (2024) [https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/printers/are-printer-ink-subscriptions-worth-it-a4050339657/ "Are Printer Ink Subscriptions Worth It?"]. Consumerreports.org. Retrieved February 8, 2025</ref>
*monochrome printing now makes '''up to 80% of to total print jobs''' in a home or small office environment. <ref name=":0" />
*color printing has '''decreased in use by 34%''' over the 3 year period measured. <ref name=":0" />
By comparing the user data, the claim of cost-savings and the stipulations in methodology, it is clear that Brother has created a purely theoretical scenario, one in which the choice given by Brother in no way matches a real-world situation or printing habits of the user. Furthermore, Brother engages in a purposefully misleading comparison when they state that the saving is based upon ''"average cost per page of eligible like standard capacity cartridge"'' for here they must compare identical products as only genuine Brother cartridges are supplied in the program.
 
======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.
 
*the end-user keeps the printer 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.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+TN730 Series Black Standard Cartridge
!
!Brand
!Page Yield
!Price
!Price/Page
|-
|'''Brother'''
|Brother
|1200 +-
|$43.20*
|
|-
|'''Staples'''
|Brother
|1200 +-
|$47.99
|
|-
|'''Office Depot'''
|Brother
|1200 +-
|$47.99
|
|-
|'''YB Toner'''
|Generic
|1200 +-
|$18.95
|
|-
|'''True Image'''
|Generic
|1200 +-
|$19.50
|
|}
 


==References==
==References==
<references />
<references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brother Refresh Subscription Service}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brother Refresh Subscription Service}}
[[Category:Brother]]
[[Category:Subscription-based services]]
[[Category:Subscription-based services]]
[[Category:Printers]]

Latest revision as of 19:09, 27 August 2025

Brother Refresh Service
Basic Information
Release Year 2021
Product Type Subscription-as-a-Service
In Production Yes
Official Website Brother Refresh

The Brother Industries Ltd.: Refresh Program Subscription Service is an opt-in Subscription-as-a-Service launched in August 2021. The program's purpose is to automatically re-order and deliver Brother consumable products, such as ink and toner cartridges, to subscribed individuals and businesses at a lower cost. New cartridges are sent when an eligible Brother printer detects that its current cartridges are low. Various plans are available for black-and-white laser, inkjet, or color laser printers based on the amount of pages the subscriber believes they will print each month. These plans prevent the subscriber from printing in excess of the agreed number of pages.

Subscription model[edit | edit source]

Brother offers fourteen plans, ranging from free to $59.99/month, based on the consumer's printer type and how many pages they intend to print each month.[1] After allotted pages are used, the subscriber may no longer print additional pages until the following month when the allotment resets. However, some plans allow for unused pages to roll over into the next month.

In addition to ink cartridge subscription, the plans also provide in-store credit and allow subscribers to accrue additional credit when using their printer. Some plans are listed as "Best for Business" and include drum replacement for laser printers. Only certain models of printers, called "Refresh Ready," are eligible for a Refresh EZ Print subscription.

Black-and-White Laser Plans
Plan Monthly Cost Pages per Month Maximum Page Rollover Initial Credit Additional Credit Drum Replacement
Basic $0 20 20 $0 $1 per 5 pages No
Occasional $3.49 100 100 $10 $1 per 20 pages No
Moderate $8.99 300 300 $10 $1 per 25 pages No
High $15.99 700 700 $30 $1 per 40 pages Yes
Power $24.99 1500 1500 $30 $1 per 60 pages Yes
Inkjet Plans
Plan Monthly Cost Pages per Month Maximum Page Rollover Initial Credit Additional Credit
Occasional $1.99 25 25 $10 $1 per 10 pages
Moderate $4.99 80 80 $10 $1 per 10 pages
Frequent $9.99 200 200 $10 $1 per 15 pages
High $15.99 400 400 $30 $1 per 15 pages
Power $24.99 800 800 $30 $1 per 35 pages
Color Laser Plans
Plan Monthly Cost Pages per Month Maximum Page Rollover Initial Credit Additional Credit Drum Replacement Bonus Toner Eligible
Occasional $9.99 75 75 $10 $2 per 10 pages No No
Moderate $19.99 200 200 $10 $2 per 20 pages No No
High $34.99 500 500 $30 $2 per 30 pages Yes No
Power $59.99 1000 1000 $30 $2 per 35 pages Yes No

Currently, no Refresh Ready color laser printers exist.[2]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service". Brother. Archived from the original on 16 Aug 2025. Retrieved 16 Aug 2025.
  2. ↑ "Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service Eligible Printers". Brother. Archived from the original on 16 Aug 2025. Retrieved 16 Aug 2025.
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