HP Printer Rip-off

As a result of having my HP Officejet V40 give me errors, I have the following issue. For what was an unknown reason, my printer was telling me that I had to install a colour cartridge, yet the one I had in the unit was full of ink. After much fussing with reinstalling it a thousand times, cleaning it, and sourcing for hours all the so called help pages at HP, I call them via phone.

Well, my printer is not longer supported, however the issue turns out to be a new little trick HP is using to generate revenue. Turns out they have placed a chip in the ink cartridges that have an "end date". In other words, even if the cartridge is full of ink, even if it is not dried out, even if it was working before the stroke of 12, once this implanted date hits, your printer will not allow the cartridge to function, period. So here you are, and here I am today, with a $80.00 cartridge, full of ink, no real reason why it should not work, and a printer that will not work until I go and lay out more cash, another $80.00 for another cartridge. Is this not highway robbery at its finest??:guns
Is there not something morally and ethicaly wrong with this picture??

So the deal is this, does anyone have any type of work-around to this problem?? Not trying to beat anything here, but I paid my money for a product and fully expect to actually be able to use that product to its fullest.

I use my colour printer very seldom so ink lasts a long time for me. I mostly use a more efficient black Lazer printer for bigger prints. I feel HP is ripping off its customers here and people need to be aware if it. If you have an HP printer, take out a cartridge and look really close for black etched date letters somewhere on the cartridge. You will see an end date, so hurry and print up before you get caught by this arbritary date and loose your hard earned money to another corporate rip-off.

Once again, if anyone has a way around this date thing, I would love to try it out. After this I am chucking HP forever and going to another brand who does not do this to the customer. :mad

 

If I remember correctly HP was hit with a lawsuit over this issue back in 2005, Major Geeks does not do hacks, but one thing that might solve your problem is to purchase a re manufactured cartridge instead of HP's I have heard that they have a non time stamped chip in them.

You might just want to Google "HP Inkjet Cartridge Lawsuit"

 

And so you should.

As it's your property, it's yours to do with as you wish. For refilled cartridges, it is possible with some of them to cover certain connectors to reset the ink levels, however, if the chip is telling the computer not to use it after a certain date, the only way I can think of to get it working, and use the ink that you have paid for, is to change the date on your actual computer. Not sure whether you'd have to change the date in the BIOS as well, or just in windows.
You may even need to do a combination if this, and resetting the cartridge. I occasionally do this with my HP Psc 1100, which despite having a recently filled cartridge, tells me it's low on ink. I found instructions and photographs after an internet search, by googling "reset hp cartridge".

 

To BC Grey....Yes I do understand Major Geeks does not do hacking, and I am not asking for one here. Nor do I support hacking in any way, however, when you own something it is not hacking to try to have the use you paid for in the first place. It would be hacking if I was trying to access something that was not mine by virtue of non payment or non intitlement. I paid out my money to rightfully own this cartridge. You own your home but the doors are locked and you have no key because you forgot them in your other coat which is locked in the house, is it then "Break and Enter" to get in your own house through a window?? Same deal here.

 

Thanks Tarquin......As I purchased this unit early 2007 you would think that any stock covered under a lawsuit would be recalled. But I will Google this situation and learn more. Will also try resetting the date on the computer when I want to use the ink, but what a pain. Would not reversing the date screw up my files in some way?? Would like another way to get around this one that does not risk files. So still hoping for more input.

 

Changing the date on the pc wont cause any damage, just the date stamp on your pc wrong at most.

 

Still not having any success using this printer. Tried rolling back the date by year, in fact rolled it back two years at one point, and still will not work. Still get the same errors to load a colour cartridge. I did find the date stamp cleverly hidden on the cartridge and was sure to roll the date well back past that date, but no luck. Googled the issue to no luck but did read the lawsuit and that other manufactures are pulling the same stunt. So any more ideas out there?? Still have 2 full ink cartridges here and should be able to use them some how.

 

Thanks Plodr. I have sent you a PM and request you send me the info you refer too in the message. Had to change my profile settings to make that work. Never done this messaging method before but I figured it out, I think. I will also look at the link here and see where it gets me. I really appreciate all the help.

 

Slightly off topic, but still about HP Printers. I have a HP PSC 1410 All-in-One Multi function machine that uses #21 and #22 ink cartridges.

If you look carefully on the packaging, it states they are filled with 5ml of ink.

Maximum capacity is 23 mils..

So you are getting around 1/4 of the cartridge capacity in new HP cartridges. No wonder they want you to use new HP cartridges. B*stards.

HP's action borders on fraud, in my opinion.

In Australia I purchased XYWELL equivalent cartridges that come with 23mils, new. When I get either brand re-filled they are re-filled to 23 mils.

I will never buy HP cartridges again, and make all aware of HP's practice of ripping off their customers.

Bazza

 

Agree 100%, A boycot of hp inks would take care of that problem, as long as people buy, they wont change the practice. ed

 

I use HP clone cartridges from OfficeMax and have them refilled as many times as they can be at Walgren's.

 

try resetting the cmos clock back a few days Not the one in windows do it though your Pc bios setup and try that

 

No Emms, what I said was they are ONLY FILLED to around 1/4 of their MAXIMUM capacity. Bazza.

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Read post #3. That has already been suggested. Bazza

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Hello Plodr,
I tried the method you PM to me and it failed. Could not fool the printer at all. I gave it several tries to no success. I have heard about removing the battery but am not crazy about trying that one either. Any other tricks up your sleeves??!!

 

Hello RJC, You say to change the date in the Bios. A good try but I am not comfortable doing that for every time I want to print so am not willing to try that one. Its a bit above my skills at this point.

 

All the talk on HP and there practices on this thread is very eye opening for me. Once you purchase a product you should be able to use that product to its end. And then to read that they are only filling ink part way, I was floored, and for the insane prices they charge??
This issue for me still remains one of having a very full cartridge that will not work, thinking its a date stamp issue, but in reading here, is it also a fill issue?? Tried to fool the fill sensors but failed, so I am thinking not. I am not getting a low ink warning. My warning message is "Insert color cartridge". It says nothing more than that. The "tool box" shows good ink levels in the cartridge so whats up is still a mystery to me.
I always buy new cartridges for my printers, have never tried refills at all.

So is there any Aftermarket compatable new cartridges that will fit HP-15 and HP-78 slots? As well, is there a manufacture that makes printers and cartridges that do not suscribe to this customer rip off practice? If so I will chuck this printer fast for a new and better companies product.

 

The HP cartridges I use are certainly under-filled. I can't comment on other cartridges. As for your original problem, have you complained to original place of purchase, or HP direct? Bazza

 

You might like to check out "Niagra Continuous Ink Flow system" from "Media Street", for EPSON printers in particular.

I will be googling for this later on, and will certainly consider it for next printer.

Bazza

 

I have emailed HP and they saids since the Printer itself is off warrenty they will not talk to me about the new cartridges. Makes no sense to me at all. So I phoned HP and got the run around about how they are doing me a favor in making sure I have ink that is not old and that I get quality prints. Yes Dad. Garbage as far as I am concerned. Waste of time with that one.

I purchased the cartridges at Costco so they are of no use. Non returnable item at this time. So another dead end.

As for the Epson printer thing with "Niagra Continuous Ink Flow system", interesting but maybe a bit over the top for my needs. Good info though!!

 

Original story that I read had a typo. Showed Niagra, instead of Niagara.
Google for both and links will appear.

I found link to EPSON re-fillable printer cartridge system.

http://www.mediastreet.com/site/n2.html

Media Street also do some Canon models. Initial outlay for either is expensive but you would make it up in greatly reduced "cartridge" costs, depending on how much you use your printer of course.

Searching that site (I think) further, some users reported setup and gravity feed problems. Bazza

 

Still trying to source Aftermarket or Clone type cartridges that will work in HP15 and HP78 slots. Thinking that is the way to go in future to not give any more cash to HP for such a poor product. Still miffed with all this autodate expiration and half filled cartridges. Read somewhere that the sponge in the cartirdge is want has people fooled about the levels. Never disassembled to explore. I might take on of these apart to have a look for myself.:major

 

Sorry that your battle appears to be a losing one.:cry
I guess I've been lucky in that my HP PSC 1410 All-in-one printer doesn't use chipped cartridges. My refiller has no trouble refilling these to max capacity of 23 mls (although I wouldn't know if they did otherwise).
If you have exhausted all possibilities then rip the tops of your cartridges and take them to a cartridge refiller for their opinions and verdicts.
Let us know how you go. We are interested and it all helps our knowledge. :major

Bazza

 

Well it has been a few weeks without a printer, so I had to break down and buy HP cartridges. $81.00 Canadian currency, gas is cheaper than that. :fart

I did learn to look at the back of the packages for a small date stamp. You find the expiry date (although it does not say that) hidden in grey on the back of the package. So like buying milk, you have to look through all the stock to find the best date that will get you a fighting chance to actually use the ink you paid for. I went to three stores looking at price and dates before I made a purchase. What a hassle.:banghead

Overall, I am still very unhappy with the situation and still working on it. Current plan is to find a printer that does not do dates or find aftermarket cartridges that will fit HP. If I do find something I will post it to this thread for sure.
I found one aftermarket for the #15 but not the #78. Pricing was a bit better but not much. Talked to several computer stores and was suprised to find that I was the one relaying this cartridge date information. They never heard of it. I am thinking generally that so many people go through the ink so fast its not ever come up. But with (at time of posting) 587 views to this thread, its affecting some of us. Next step is to take the expired cartridges and take your advice and go see a refill store for more info.

 

Thanks for the update.:cool

Does the #15 and the #78 have their HP "filled" capacity anywhere on the packaging? Have you been able to establish the "third party" filled capacities versus HP? It would be very interesting to know.

Have you visited all the various re-filler shops in your area. I find them a font of information and they are usually only too willing to recommend solutions or alternatives they know of, or use themselves.

They will recommend printers as well, based on your requirements.

My re-filler shop recommended the Brother MFM 240C for individual, easy re-fillable cartridges. Might be worth your investigation.

Bazza

 

Yes the HP packaging does say the "fill" of each cartridge. The #15 both old and new matched up at 25ml. However the #78 was different. The old #78 was 23ml, while the new one was only 19ml. You put the cartridges side by side and they are the same. So if you do not look to read the labels, you would never notice the differences. So are they keeping the cartridge the same size, therefore you would think the capacity would be the same, but are only filling them less?? :confused Are we being worked over at both ends, raise the price while lower the ink levels, keep the packaging the same and nobody will notice?? Sure looks that way to me. As for what is really inside, who knows for sure. Have yet to find out about third party refill capacities.

Like I said, my next step is to visit a few refill shops for info, pricing, printer suggestions, etc. I have noticed that at least here, "Brother" printers are suddenly being flooded onto the market everywhere and really cheap. Not really convinced as to quality by first impressions. You get what you pay for, unless it ink..rolleyes I will look into the brand further and check out your MFM 240C to see if its even available here.

Thanks for staying in touch with my thread Bigbazza!!

 

Called into my local refiller yesterday.

HP#15 and #78 ARE re-fillable.

You won't find other non-HP equivalents as they would contravene HP patents, or intellectual property, or HP whatever.

I use Cartridge World and my re-filler told me they are now spreading over the USA, being first started in OZ.

Maybe do a Google search for Cartridge World, or CartridgeWorld, and see if there is one anywhere near you.

All the best in your search. Let us know how you go. Bazza
Oooops, maybe they are in Canada too.

PS: I think they may be putting in more sponge to reduce the possibility of re-filling, thus less ink capacity. I am probably wrong on the reason for less ink capacity, but my explanation sounds feasible. Baz

 

Just a suggestion, don't be too sure about the HP chip being that complex. Not that I would put it past a company to do this, but I haven't been able to find any resolution to the court case, and it has been long enough. The other thing is the procedure outlined in the link below states that the printer keeps track of a built in serial number, and gives simple procedure to beat it.

http://www.misterinkjet.com/hp78reset.htm

The idea of keeping two other cartridges to roll your cartridges serial number off the bit bucket appeals the best.

Funny thing, I've used this companies products (Mr. Ink Jet) for years, but had lost track of them.

 

Wow! What an informative thread. Thanks guys!

My father in-law recently gave us his old HP copy/print/fax-700. We haven't used it yet since we have a Lexmark printer/scanner that works great. Plus the cartridges are refillable at a local refilling store for $11 for black and $12 for color.

We had planned on hooking up the HP device for faxing, but after this thread I'd say that's pretty unlikely now. If we ever do end up using it, I'll definitely be looking for the end dates and fill levels on the cartridges! Thanks for the heads up!