Don't Scrimp On Printer Ink
Posted on June 24, 2006 by Her and tagged reviews
HP is running a new series of ads warning customers not to use off-brand inks in their HP printer. "Only original HP inks for your HP printer come in new cartridges with new print heads. That's why they're 35 percent more reliable than bargain ink cartridges," claims the ad. And for once in my life, I have to agree with the ad. I recently tried an Office Depot cartridge in my printer and things could not have gone worse! First, the cartridge leaked ink all over the inside of my printer, messing up both the printer and my print jobs. After two weeks, the cartridge's microchip ceased communicating with my printer. So even though there was a print cartridge in it, my printer kept repeating that the cartridge was missing. Awesome.
I took the cartridge and my receipt back to Office Depot and requested an exchange or a refund. They treated me like a pariah. They kept repeating that they don't accept returns after 14 days, and I kept repeating that it was obviously defective and they should stand by their warranty. They were mad that I didn't bring in the box from the cartridge - seriously, who saves the box??? Finally, when I made it clear I wasn't leaving without a refund, they grudgingly agreed to one. Then they made a huge speech about how they will only do this once for me - as if I have a collection of thousands of broken cartridges at home that I'm just waiting to unleash upon them. Sheesh! In the end, it was me who thanked them and wished them a good day, to which they did not respond. What ever happened to the customer is always right?
I've had my printer for 3 years. In all that time, the only problem I ever had was with the off-brand cartridge. It's not worth damaging my printer to save a few bucks on ink. I'll never go bargain again.
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Berry | Jun 26, 2006
I just sold my office supply store a few months ago...two things...1. Off brand ink can be good and it really does save some cash (people have better luck with "re-done" laser toners.)
2. The OD guys should have taken the new cartridge out of the box and put yours back in it. They'd then have a processable return.
My advice here is to buy things like ink from a local office supply store (you'd be surprised how competitive the CAN be.) who won't hassle you for returns and exchanges (At my store we never even asked for a receipt we just did the exchange or refund and we loved watching people smile (and come back to do business with us)...and then you can put some money in a neighbors pocket!
Sabrina | Jun 24, 2006
I would also agree. I did customer service at Quill a few years back and people always complained about the off brand printer cartridges and toners. I don't even know how many replacements I sent out.
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