HP extortion?
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
We had bought a $99 HP for home-office use. I was trying to get it to print but the drivers could only be installed if you installed the HP Ink Subscription. I boxed it back up, returned it to Target and ordered a Epson epson wf-2850 for $119. 4 separate ink cartridges can be replaced quite inexpensively
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
I found in stressful situations such as this that a sledge hammer works exceptionally well.
PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 1 Clocks
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
Can you disconnect the printer from the net and USB it to the PC? Might stop it from getting the cartridges turned off. I agree that many things that HP does can drive you nuts but I do have to say that having printers at home and the office on Instant Ink is fantastic when they get regular use. Neither has ever run out of ink and the savings compared to any printer I've ever used (where you had to buy cartridges) are very substantial.
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
MikeCO10 wrote:
use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces
This is an acceptable solution to this problem for sure, but I really likes Mike's sledgehammer recommendation as it allows the rage to build within you, flow through you, and into the object you are destroying. Thus, reconnecting you with the ancient gods of war, if only for a brief moment in time. something to consider for sure. :-D
-
We had bought a $99 HP for home-office use. I was trying to get it to print but the drivers could only be installed if you installed the HP Ink Subscription. I boxed it back up, returned it to Target and ordered a Epson epson wf-2850 for $119. 4 separate ink cartridges can be replaced quite inexpensively
Better still, get a laser and end up with a printer that you turn on, print, and turn off - instead of turn on, print, swear, flush, swear, flush, swear, change a cartridge, print, swear, ... I'm pretty sure I got through more ink (and paper) trying to get acceptable print quality than I ever used on actual prints.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
Saw this - Florida man might just stick it to HP for injecting sneaky DRM update into his printers that rejected non-HP ink[^]. After using the saw AND the sledgehammer, maybe another route. Might proof to be a lengthy and unsuccessful one though, leading to more sledgehammer's and maybe buildings and cars. ;)
-
Can you disconnect the printer from the net and USB it to the PC? Might stop it from getting the cartridges turned off. I agree that many things that HP does can drive you nuts but I do have to say that having printers at home and the office on Instant Ink is fantastic when they get regular use. Neither has ever run out of ink and the savings compared to any printer I've ever used (where you had to buy cartridges) are very substantial.
I don't know, my guess is that is set into the printer from the sound of it. I agree, it could be a good program in some use cases. But as you alluded to, the cost is really only comparable to buying cartridges for ink jets. I was further amazed that $35ish worth of cartridges only print 100 pages. I know it's a different world, but the office Xerox costs less than 1/2 that including lease, supplies, and service. Also can't compare to my personal Canon image class. Bought a floor model for twice what I was going to pay for my prior HP ink cartridges. Took two years to go through the starter cartridges, lol. I supposed I just disliked the threat in the email more than anything else.
-
MikeCO10 wrote:
use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces
This is an acceptable solution to this problem for sure, but I really likes Mike's sledgehammer recommendation as it allows the rage to build within you, flow through you, and into the object you are destroying. Thus, reconnecting you with the ancient gods of war, if only for a brief moment in time. something to consider for sure. :-D
-
Instructional video (jump to 8:55) Dave Gorman: Why the Hell is Printer Ink So Expensive? | Modern Life is Goodish - YouTube[^]
-
MikeCO10 wrote:
use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces
This is an acceptable solution to this problem for sure, but I really likes Mike's sledgehammer recommendation as it allows the rage to build within you, flow through you, and into the object you are destroying. Thus, reconnecting you with the ancient gods of war, if only for a brief moment in time. something to consider for sure. :-D
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
Just cancel the subscription and buy cartridges whenever they run out. I know it's in vogue here at CP to trash HP printers... and I'm not here to defend HP in any way but I bought an HP Envy all-in-one ~5 years ago. I print as infrequently as you - maybe less. My cartridges easily last 18 months maybe longer. Be a grown up and don't trash a perfectly functional printer based on your dislike of their silly subscription plan and your guess about cartridge longevity.
-
Better still, get a laser and end up with a printer that you turn on, print, and turn off - instead of turn on, print, swear, flush, swear, flush, swear, change a cartridge, print, swear, ... I'm pretty sure I got through more ink (and paper) trying to get acceptable print quality than I ever used on actual prints.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
-
Can you disconnect the printer from the net and USB it to the PC? Might stop it from getting the cartridges turned off. I agree that many things that HP does can drive you nuts but I do have to say that having printers at home and the office on Instant Ink is fantastic when they get regular use. Neither has ever run out of ink and the savings compared to any printer I've ever used (where you had to buy cartridges) are very substantial.
Nope, you cannot. There is something in the printer firmware (deadman timer of some type?) that disables the printer if it can't phone home. The best part is that nothing in the HP software or the printer will tell you what the problem is. It just refuses to print.
Charlie Gilley “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759 Has never been more appropriate.
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
yeah, you must have missed my own rant from a few months ago. Happily printing on a brother duplex laser.
Charlie Gilley “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759 Has never been more appropriate.
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
Years ago in the days of Windows XP, I made the mistake of buying a HP scanner. A little while later, Windows 7 came out and I tried to get a driver for 7. HP told me that they will not provide a driver for my scanner compatible with Windows 7. When I asked the HP help desk "What am I supposed to do?", they told me to buy a new scanner! I thought that was excellent advice, so I bought a Canon scanner and took a solemn oath never to buy any HP product again. :mad:
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
-
Years ago in the days of Windows XP, I made the mistake of buying a HP scanner. A little while later, Windows 7 came out and I tried to get a driver for 7. HP told me that they will not provide a driver for my scanner compatible with Windows 7. When I asked the HP help desk "What am I supposed to do?", they told me to buy a new scanner! I thought that was excellent advice, so I bought a Canon scanner and took a solemn oath never to buy any HP product again. :mad:
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
I had the misfortune of having them as a customer and that convinced me to avoid all HP products. This story adds more confirmation for that decision.
"They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
You are quite late to the party. I decided to not buy anything from them back in 2004 or 2005 when a Laptop from HP would deny to boot from CDs that were not from HP, so no possible help using tools from other vendors.
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
-
Years ago in the days of Windows XP, I made the mistake of buying a HP scanner. A little while later, Windows 7 came out and I tried to get a driver for 7. HP told me that they will not provide a driver for my scanner compatible with Windows 7. When I asked the HP help desk "What am I supposed to do?", they told me to buy a new scanner! I thought that was excellent advice, so I bought a Canon scanner and took a solemn oath never to buy any HP product again. :mad:
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
Cp-Coder wrote:
Years ago in the days of Windows XP, I made the mistake of buying a HP scanner. A little while later, Windows 7 came out and I tried to get a driver for 7. HP told me that they will not provide a driver for my scanner compatible with Windows 7
Same here. But as 'generic scanner' it worked on linux boxes and then, with Windows 8, magically I was able to use it again. Good hardware, anyway.
"In testa che avete, Signor di Ceprano?" -- Rigoletto
-
So, bought an HP Envy printer, not so much by choice but needed it that day, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it since it is in a second location where it isn't used much. It came with a free subscription to instant ink and in a moment of stupidity, I signed up for it. Mostly because I was thinking these cartridges will dry out before they are empty. Fastforward 6 months and here is an email from HP (emphasis added): Hi Michael, Your free trial of HP Instant Ink for your HP ENVY 6458e All-in-One Printer will be ending on 24 February 2023. We want to make sure you have a seamless transition to your subscription plan. Time is running out! Finish your subscription account today! • Add a payment method today, so you can continue printing with the subscription ink cartridges after your trial ends. • You can always change or cancel your plan anytime from your dashboard. •IMPORTANT! If you do not provide a payment method, your subscription cartridges will no longer work after your trial ends. I've printed 148 pages in 6 months, 40 of which were special and I could have waited to print them on my Canon at home. My options are to pay $12/yr to print 10 pages per month, or $48/yr to print 50. Or spend around $35 and buy new cartridges and throw out perfectly good ones. The option I'm really considering is to buy a new Canon for around $140, take the HP outside, use my Sawzall and cut it into about 5 pieces and send it to the CEO of HP. I know the cost effective option is to just pay the ransom, but it's really a matter of principle as I will never buy anything from HP again, and that includes a potential tens of thousands of dollars for work. I have a week, so I'll stew on it for a while.
At least one lawsuit that points out that even if you pay it doesn't work HP Sued Again For Cheating Printer Customers, This Time Over Its Instant Ink Program - National Consumer News | Educating and helping U.S. consumers | Disclose Fraudulent Advertising | Providing News On Lowest Prescription Prices |[^]
