Can someone explain?

[John Rountree]

As the world rushes head long into digital photography and printing, I am amazed at the price of "photo" paper for inkjets. I bought a package of Harmon (Ilford) paper the other day and for 8.5 x 11, it was $2.00 USD a sheet! The paper doesn't even has sliver in it! Conventional silver printing paper is less than $2.00 a sheet!
Can someone please explain why inkjet paper is so incredibly expensive?

 

[mcgrattan]

If I buy a non-branded but still decent glossy photo paper, I can get it for as little as 20 - 25 pence a sheet. Standard Ilford stuff about 30 pence a sheet.

Some of the more expensive branded papers are really expensive, though. Some of the Hahnemuhle papers are over 1 pound a sheet.

 

[payasam]

RF cameras range in price from cheap to unaffordable. It's the same logic of the market at work here.

 

[sockeyed]

When my local mini-lab will produce a decent 8x10 on their Noritsu from a digital file for $2-3, I can't justify buying an inkjet printer when you factor in the cost of the paper, printer and inks.