HP Printers - had enough!!

petecossie

petecossie

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
M Power
Joined
Dec 7, 2011
Points
158
Location
Teesside
Model of Z
Z3 M Coupe
Been using HP printers for about 16/17 years and whilst they have been excellent bits of kit recent events have definitely confirmed my thoughts that HP are really taking the p*** when it comes to replacement cartridges. Although my HP Envy 5640 is only about 3 year old, I get messages saying its obsolete and parts are longer available (not that I would repair anyway, just bin it), also the 62 cartridges life has dropped dramatically since I change to none HP, which worked fine for a while. Then when I went to put another non HP one in it refused to print saying cartridge was damaged. Bought another HP 62 colour before Xmas so my wife could get some quiz sheets done and it's lasted less than a month (printed maybe 20 or 30 sheets). Its almost as if the software is penalising me (the printer does feed back usage info to HP I'm sure) and trying to get me to sign up for Instant Ink, which I'd never do as I've heard that's a rip off aswell.
So bought my last HP cartridge today as when these run out - THATS IT - its getting binned.
Looking at either Canon or Epson all-in-one printers. Any thoughts?
 
My HP is in the loft (wont print) only kept it coz it has a scanner built in which does work , I'm now using a Canon which I had before the HP .
 
Epson are cheap and the consumables are cheap as well, they last about 3 years or so and are quite good.

Currently running a XP-455
 
We have 2 Epson printers. No moans from us apart from WiFi conectivity which is not the printers fault.

Tony.
 
Not sure if its importatn to you, but Epson Airprint (eg ipad -> printer) is ver reliable unlike HPs
 
Pete, I've just come back to HP from a Canon and signed up for instant ink. 50 pages a month for £1.99, I think is good value especially when you take into account your getting proper HP cartridges. The Canon was ok, they make great cameras but the printer was not a patch on this HP
 
Mines a HP Envy 5546 all in one...
 
I went over to an Epson when my all in one HP developed a fault, HP customer service were useless and basically told me to bin it and get a new one. So I did...an Epson. And I can use cheap compatible cartridges with no problem.
 
I have a cannon and a full set of inks was £70! changed to stinky ink and a full set about £15-00. have saved about £200 so far and had no problems. The printer only cost £69.00 so every time I use a full set I save an amount that could buy me a new printer =)) https://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/
 
Mazza said:
I went over to an Epson when my all in one HP developed a fault, HP customer service were useless and basically told me to bin it and get a new one. So I did...an Epson. And I can use cheap compatible cartridges with no problem.
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TBH Malc I think if a modern printer from any manufacturer develops a fault it will mostly get binned and a new one purchased. They aren't made to be repaired these days, we're in a throw away society now:(. The Canon that I recently got shot of cost £40 new. It would cost more than that just to put in genuine XL Canon cartridges in it. It seems printer ink is one of the most expensive liquids to buy:(
 
Liquid gold Dave whichever colour it is.
I just dropped lucky, I'm at Gary's house just now and he's given me 3 cartridges for our Epson:thumbsup:

Tony.
 
Printers are a commodity item. The manufacturer expect to make their money from replacement cartridges not from the printer.
No excuse for cartridges lasting a few sheets, but, beware - the manufacturers use some significant slight of hand. Many come with small and partially filled cartridges. You will initially get just a few sheets. Most new cartridges are also small. They also use a large amount of ink when you install a new ink set as they charge the print head mechanism. Choose a printer that supports larger cartridges. I use a Canon with XXL cartridges. Far more cost efficient.
Some photo inks have to be used. They don’t stand being left unused. The printer purges lots of ink just to keep the print heads clean.
They employ technology that more or less prevents you using third party replacements too.
Now the printer orders up replacements for you. You’re less likely to watch how much ink you are using.

Much the same as cars, they are a money pit.
That said, our printer prints just a couple of sheets a month. Am sure many are the same. Another reason why manufacturers are trying any and every scam they can to squeeze money out of people.
 
I use an all in one priinter,scanner etc from Brother , wireless so linked to laptop and mobile , use inks from stinkyinks with no issues , when I was working we used Brother printers and had no issues
 
My Canon Pixma printer stopped working after about two years of light use. I contacted their service agent who told me that it was 80% likely to be the print head, or 20% likely to be the main board. I could send the printer to them for diagnosis and if I didn't want to repair it they would dispose of it for me. Good of them don't you think?

I decided the probablity was the head so I bought a new one for about £60, fitted it myself, and all is well again, but that is about the cost of a new printer. The situation is crazy. I would be tempted to look at a colour laser next time, but no doubt there are problems with them too.
 
Bampz said:
I use an all in one priinter,scanner etc from Brother , wireless so linked to laptop and mobile , use inks from stinkyinks with no issues , when I was working we used Brother printers and had no issues
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I use stinky inks they are brilliant. 80 percent saving over the cannon originals and the pack of colour inks includes all the colours unlike the cannon pack.
 
If you can afford it go for a laser printer. Mine is over 15 years old and works just fine. I refill the toners myself with powder that's bought off eBay. Whilst the newer ones might have sensors on them to stop you refilling it. They will definitely outlast an inkjet cartridge and you don't have to worry about the cartridges drying up either.
 
petecossie said:
Been using HP printers for about 16/17 years and whilst they have been excellent bits of kit recent events have definitely confirmed my thoughts that HP are really taking the p*** when it comes to replacement cartridges. Although my HP Envy 5640 is only about 3 year old, I get messages saying its obsolete and parts are longer available (not that I would repair anyway, just bin it), also the 62 cartridges life has dropped dramatically since I change to none HP, which worked fine for a while. Then when I went to put another non HP one in it refused to print saying cartridge was damaged. Bought another HP 62 colour before Xmas so my wife could get some quiz sheets done and it's lasted less than a month (printed maybe 20 or 30 sheets). Its almost as if the software is penalising me (the printer does feed back usage info to HP I'm sure) and trying to get me to sign up for Instant Ink, which I'd never do as I've heard that's a rip off aswell.
So bought my last HP cartridge today as when these run out - THATS IT - its getting binned.
Looking at either Canon or Epson all-in-one printers. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Have had no issues with the Canon Miss Sandi bought. I try to buy 3rd party cartridges and I find they last longer when I use Times Roman font rather than Ariel, which is apparently the default font...(that is probably the most "techno" response I've ever given, and I'm still not sure I know what I said. )
 
I use an Epson printer for a long time now, and what puzzles me is, why is the printer less expensive than the genuine ink cartridges?
 
I would recommend the cartridges I get from stinky ink. I was worried they might be poor quality and damage my printer but so far so good. I could buy three new printer/scanner/copiers with the money I have saved. And I am not a heavy user. In the past I often didn't print some photos just because of the cost of the ink.
 
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