Hi RG! I’m with you on the dislike of a subscription model for getting basic supplies such as printer ink! But, please read on.

I looked into it out of curiosity, and it does sound like the subscription model is HP’s idea for the future, starting with some smaller steps today.

FOR NOW, the way it works is that you must select one of 3 different printers offered for the program on their web site, and then select the subscription model you want. For this monthly payment, they make it sound like you’ll never have to worry about printing issues of any kind going forward, which is true. For the monthly $, you’ll get ink literally as you run out or run low, and if the printer acts up their tech support is supposed to be a 24/7 phone call away.

This subscription model appears tied only to one of the three printers mentioned as part of the program on their web site, so I’m guessing that it’s not available with a printer that is bought in the brick and mortar retail channel. FOR NOW.

If HP has enough success with their subscription sales model, the other printer manufacturers might decide to follow suit, albeit in their own way (GULP!!).

RetiredGeek wrote:

This is mismanagement on such a scale I’d be surprised if it didn’t sink the company.

It’s worse than you think.  A few months ago my Officejet 8600 All-in-One disconnected from my network, and though my network could see it, it couldn’t connect.  So I bought a Deskjet 4100 to replace it.  It came with a free 90 day enrollment in Smart Printing (I think that’s what they called it) that would keep track of my ink and keep me supplied.

A little over a month later, I got replacement ink cartridges in the mail, but didn’t need them.  I still haven’t had to replace the original cartridges.  So I cancelled the free trial.  Shortly after cancellation was confirmed by email, I got another email stating that the replacement cartridges I had received could no longer be used, since I had cancelled the Smart Printing service.

So, when I do run out of ink, I’ll be brick & mortar shopping for ink, or another printer if replacement cartridges aren’t available.

HP you are dead to me!

I get it.

Inkjet printers seem to be almost loss leaders because the business model is selling replacement ink.  Just like the “razor and blades” model, and even the gaming industry.  Entry level game consoles are often sold at a low price, with the expectation that profits will be made from the sales of games.

Wow. Thank you. I’m with you. Just recently I bought an Epson ET-2400.

We’re right now in Mexico. Today I meandered through a little, local stationery store,. They’ve a similar but more expensive version of the printer on their shelf (new, in a box), awaiting its first owner. We’ve another Epson is storage we aren’t using right now.

So far, so good, on both the printers we own. When I bought this Epson a few months ago I shopped both HP and Brother. Of course I’m glad I turned down the HPs.

I’ve had two Epson printers, an all-in-one and a professional grade plus a couple of Canon Printers still in operation, one is a classic no brainer function and the Canon air printer came with all the necessary tools needed for USB hookup and WiFi. Both are older models and work very well with the Win7, and apple devices for air. I’ve steered clear of HP printers since seeing my stepdad go through a load of frustration over ink issues, and that was back in 2008.

Thus reminded me of getting a paint job done.

zeddy

More UNBELIEVEABLE… HP will also let you RENT printers but it monitors them.

https://www.ghacks.net/2024/03/04/hps-all-in-plan-will-let-you-rent-printers-but-it-monitors-them/

Unreal. Gives a new meaning to what my old Economics teacher called “Predatory Economic Systems”; they squeeze harder, and harder, and harder, because they only want one thing:

More.

Don’t let the Predator win.

zeddy

Yesterday I watched a YouTube video on tightening up security on the home LAN, which concentrated primarily on one’s modem/router.  There were a couple of things that I couldn’t really remember whether I’d done them or not, so I logged into my modem/router (Motorola MG7550) to check.

I blocked internet access for my hp printer by IP and MAC address.  The printer still works fine, but hp can’t talk to it.

The People have been aroused from their slumber:

” We never agreed to only buy HP ink, say printer owners”

Complainants smack back after hardware giant moves to dismiss lawsuit:

From The Register:

“HP “sought to take advantage of customers’ sunk costs,” printer owners claimed this week in a class action lawsuit against the hardware giant.

“Lawyers representing the aggrieved were responding [PDF] in an Illinois court to an earlier HP Inc motion to dismiss a January lawsuit. Among other things, the plaintiffs’ filing stated that the printer buyers “never entered into any contractual agreement to buy only HP-branded ink prior to receiving the firmware updates.” They allege HP broke several anti-competitive statutes, which they claim:

“Bar tying schemes, and certain uses of software to accomplish that without permission, that would monopolize an aftermarket for replacement ink cartridges, when these results are achieved in a way that “take advantage of customers’ sunk costs.”

Full story at:

https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/11/hp_inc_ink_filing/

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It’s time someone slapped these bandits down.