HP firmware in the firing line again
April 14, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, consumers take issue with the recent HP firmware update.
“DAMN HP FIRMWARE” Tina from the USA says in an email to The Recycler over the Easter holiday. Just one of several consumers reaching out about HP’s latest firmware update. Tina does not pull any punches and goes on “I was just victimised by the latest HP attempt to stop use of remanufactured ink cartridges in my HP Officejet Pro 6968!!!!! I am steaming mad and will NEVER buy anything HP again!
“How could a company think they can tell me – who brought and own my printer, what kind of ink I must use? Ford doesn’t tell owners of their cars what brand of tires or gas they must use!!!!!!!!!!!!
“With the problems we are facing in the world right now and SO MANY people having to work from home this latest strike at their customers could not have come at a worse time. Blood suckers…..they should be heavily fined for doing what they already know is illegal AND for price gouging at a time when many companies are going out of business due to the virus and yet most that can are volunteering to do things to help….but not HP.”
Meanwhile instant ink comes in for criticism from UK based Alli, who contacted us saying: “This scam and that is all it is. Cost me over £70 ($87 / €80) I didn’t realise that I was charged monthly. I didn’t use my printer for around 8 months as i was out of the country. I have only just been able to cancel the log in site is as clear as mud on how to cancel. I googled and found out that way, I also found a way to talk to one of the rogues that harped on about two missed payment when I stopped the card. I have received 3 black and two colour of which 1 colour and 1 black [cartridges] are unused, and now cannot be used because of their chip protection.
“I bought a set of two cartridges from Amazon for £17.90 ($22.50 / €20.50). you really were doing me a favour HP. I have had such a bad time over this, I have used HP for 35 years, my current pc screen K/Board and mouse plus printer all HP. I’m upgrading this month and its all going I cannot bare to look at another HP product that’s the damage, this must be doing, I am not alone in this. The charity shop will get some current new kit, I will make sure to tell them a post note on the printer saying whatever you do, do not sign up for the scam that is INSTANT INK. Good riddance.”
Two other comments we received are unprintable but convey similar messages about firmware updates and instant ink.
Meanwhile UK based Toby said: “This issue is affecting me, and I must have left the automatic updates on.” He goes on to ask: “Is there any way I can go back to an earlier version of the firmware? Is it possible to reset the printer completely back to its original settings?”
We asked industry observer, David Connett a Partner at Connett & Unland GbR about the recent feedback. “Firmware upgrades are the big issue for the market, consumers get locked out and Tina is right, if it was a car we would be up in arms if a motor manufacturer carried out such practices. The reality is the market is changing, probably more rapidly than we think or expect and the OEM model is out-moded for the future.
“Home working will see a switch to smaller A4 devices, but the key is control and this is where technology, like the Nubeprint App can help manage printers and consumables in the home and office environment and are absolutely out of the control of the OEM who has a vested interest in controlling the supplies you buy and use.
“On the surface Instant Ink, is a good programme, but HP doesn’t really address how the programme works and you pay no matter what. There are better options out there from companies like Cartridge World and even smaller companies like UK based MY Total Office Solutions that offer a printer and unlimited ink cartridges for £9.99 ($12.50 / €11.50). The challenge for the non-OEM market is to get ahead of the curve and fill the gap in the OEM space where companies like HP get it wrong.
“Score a big one for HP though, one UK company put 20 staff on working from home and the financial director was very pleased to have bought 20 HP printers for £55 ($69 / €63) each. Unfortunately, the store did not have enough cartridges for a spare set for each printer, so he signed them up to the HP instant ink programme at a cost of £160 ($200 / €183) a month and he is still locked in to a 3 year MFP, maintenance and cost per copy programme. Ouch!”
We will leave the last word to Tina who closed her email: “NEVER AGAIN WITH ME HP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess I learned my lesson too late and didn’t change the settings not to upgrade.”
Categories : Around the Industry
Tags : Firmware HP Instant Ink
