the.com/razor and blades
sell the gun cheap, get rich on bullets forever.
means a business model where the initial product is priced low or given away to lock customers into buying profitable refills or accessories over time.
from often credited to king camp gillette, who supposedly sold safety razors near cost so men would keep buying disposable blades — though historians now say gillette's razor was actually patented and pricey at first, and the myth grew after the patent expired and blades became the real profit engine.
printer trickprinters cheap, ink cartridges quietly cost more than gasoline.
gaming consoleshardware sold near-loss, games and subscriptions fund the profit.
reverse versionfree app, paid upgrades — same trap, digital costume.