Re: Damn HP!!!

> Try reading the packing materials - HP will replace a non-functioning
> cartridge any time before the expiration date printed on the cartridge
> itself - especially since they can verify that the ink has not been
> used by weighing it.
>
> It's much more fun to flame the company, though, isn't it?

Yes and no.

The fact is that HP have a reprehensible policy viv-a-vis their
paying customers. The ridiculous prices charged for consumables
leads those of us with any common sense to conclude that we're
dealing with a bunch of pirates.

I have owned several HP printers in the past and they work fine.
But I'll never buy another one, entirely due to the Great Ink
Cartridge Ripoff. They can stick their products where the sun
don't shine.

Plenty other suppliers. Vote with your feet.


Bloggy

On 3 Feb 2005 03:55:15 -0500, (Jeff Jonas) wrote:

>>Try reading the packing materials - HP will replace a non-functioning
>>cartridge any time before the expiration date printed on the cartridge itself
>
>That's nice: how do I read that date when buying it at the store?
>A store that closed had a sale on everything.
>How was I to know the HP cartridges were outdated?


It doesn't matter - they are still HP cartridges.

But, just for reference, I picked up a brand-new cartridge off my
shelf here - a #58 photo cartridge. Turning it over, on the back
side, on the lower left corner, printed to align with the long side of
the package, are the following letters:
USA
MAY 2005

I'll bet there is a chart somewhere on the HP website that could be
used to translate that to a date in English.

"Jeff Jonas" <> wrote in message
news:ctsotj$7km$...
> >Try reading the packing materials - HP will replace a non-functioning
>>cartridge any time before the expiration date printed on the cartridge itself
>
> That's nice: how do I read that date when buying it at the store?
> A store that closed had a sale on everything.
> How was I to know the HP cartridges were outdated?

The cartridge has an "install by" date printed on the package, typically in the
lower right side on the back of the package. The packaging is designed to
allow this to be read without having to open the package. There is also an end
of warranty date printed on the cartridge as shown at the following:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...cname=bua02014

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

"Bob Ward" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 20:04:02 GMT, "cozyhomelife" <>
> wrote:
>
> >I"m not sure who started this thread about out of date cartridges for HP
> >printers, but I will give you the little info I know about HP cartridges.
> >I once put a brand new cartridge in and it did something that flagged it
as
> >bad, and it was a double size black cartridge - which I never bought
again.
> >If I'm going to risk losing a new cartridge, I don't want to risk losing
the
> >double sized one. Somehow it flags used up cartridges, and apparently
can
> >make an error and do it to new ones, too. If you are refilling them,
and
> >they've already been flagged, it might be the problem. If you are going
to
> >refill your cartridges, do it before they get too low. When I was
going
> >thru this problem, I had urls on it, but don't know where they are now.
> >
> >
>
> Try reading the packing materials - HP will replace a non-functioning
> cartridge any time before the expiration date printed on the cartridge
> itself - especially since they can verify that the ink has not been
> used by weighing it.
>
> It's much more fun to flame the company, though, isn't it?
>
>
---I'm not flaming anyone, Bob. I'm not sworn to never divulging my own
experience with a product so it will remain a secret what kinds of problems
exist, either.

On Thu, 03 Feb 2005 17:56:23 GMT, "cozyhomelife" <>
wrote:

>
>"Bob Ward" <> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 20:04:02 GMT, "cozyhomelife" <>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >I"m not sure who started this thread about out of date cartridges for HP
>> >printers, but I will give you the little info I know about HP cartridges.
>> >I once put a brand new cartridge in and it did something that flagged it
>as
>> >bad, and it was a double size black cartridge - which I never bought
>again.
>> >If I'm going to risk losing a new cartridge, I don't want to risk losing
>the
>> >double sized one. Somehow it flags used up cartridges, and apparently
>can
>> >make an error and do it to new ones, too. If you are refilling them,
>and
>> >they've already been flagged, it might be the problem. If you are going
>to
>> >refill your cartridges, do it before they get too low. When I was
>going
>> >thru this problem, I had urls on it, but don't know where they are now.
>> >
>> >
>>
>> Try reading the packing materials - HP will replace a non-functioning
>> cartridge any time before the expiration date printed on the cartridge
>> itself - especially since they can verify that the ink has not been
>> used by weighing it.
>>
>> It's much more fun to flame the company, though, isn't it?
>>
>>
>---I'm not flaming anyone, Bob. I'm not sworn to never divulging my own
>experience with a product so it will remain a secret what kinds of problems
>exist, either.
>

You could have returned the catridge, but your ignorance or your
stubbornnes apparently prevented this. I attempted to correct your
ignorance, but the stubbornness you'll need to work out on your own.
The problem you mentioned isn't a problem for those who can read
simple english and follow simple instructions.

I have not read all this thread, but it seems to me that what may be happening
is that the HP protection against using refilled cartridges is causing the
problem, not any date stamping.

I suspect the other used once cartridges are being seen by the printer as
refills - hence the error messages

Do a google on refilling HP cartridges, and you will find the fix for this
problem (I had it but lost it- sorry)

David

cozyhomelife wrote:

> If you are refilling them, and
> they've already been flagged, it might be the problem.

Flagged HP cartridges! Very interesting! So this explains Bob's reference:

This warranty does not cover HP ink cartridges that (...) receive a
printer-generated expiration message.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...cname=bua02014

You know what's the next step? They'll ask for direct access to your bank
account. What the hell? You're not printing? Why should they believe it?

But my cristal ball reveals a bright future for companies that aren't so
tech-savvy, who sell printers instead of registered ink dispensers.

GP

OK so HP is no good.

Which printer can I buy which won't give me a problem with either refilling
a cart or using an off brand cart?

"Zamponia" <> wrote in message
news:...
> OK so HP is no good.
>
> Which printer can I buy which won't give me a problem with either refilling
> a cart or using an off brand cart?

Canon.

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 22:41:53 -0500, "Zamponia" <>
wrote:

>OK so HP is no good.
>
>Which printer can I buy which won't give me a problem with either refilling
>a cart or using an off brand cart?
>


You'll have to settle for a hammer and chisel, I'm afraid - all
printer manufacturers make the bulk of their income from selling the
ink cartridges rather than the printer.

The best luck I've had has been with Epson printers - they have four
(or six or eight) individual ink tanks, so it's easy to refill only
the color that's empty. Stratitec (www.stratitec.com) sells a kit at
Sam's club for $19.95 that will refill the six color print cartridges
approximately 12 times. They will also sell you an inexpensive tool
that allows you to reset the counter chip in each cartridge so the
printer knows that the tank is new again.

For monochrome printing, though, you can't beat an inexpensive laser
printer - especially if you don't print often enough to keep the
inkjet cartridges from drying out.