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| HP Inkjet Cartridge Warning |
Way back in 2016, HP pushed out a firmware update to its OfficeJet inkjet printers that locked people out of using third-party ink. Of course HP didn't notify anyone that the "update" was coming and instead pushed it out as a stealth firmware change via the HP Smart desktop app.
As you can imagine, the backlash against HP was universal with owners crying foul. Many of them had stocked up on third-party ink and suddenly those cartridges no longer worked. HP Is Once Again Breaking Printers With Third-Party Ink Cartridges [Updated] - ExtremeTech. People who had invested hundreds of dollars in previously work ink cartridges suddenly found themselves with useless inventory. Of course HP's cartridges for most OfficeJets will set you back $80/set.
HP sort of apologized and gave techies a way to bypass the restriction through a special printer driver. Regardless, there was enough screaming that HP eventually undid the lockout via another firmware push. However, HP reserved the right to do it again.
Move to 2019 and HP indeed tried this again with a stealth update. Same thing happened with user and media backlash. HP backed down once again.
Now here in May 2022, HP has done it again with a stealth update. Boom, all my Office World cartridges that had been working fine for two years are suddenly bricked. And I can't print period unless I pay $80 for HP genuine ink. To top this off, I've also read reports in the HP Community Forum that people with genuine cartridges that HP considers "out of date" can't use those either.
HP Support
I contacted HP Support on three occasions (which seems based in India given all the Hindi first names I encountered) to see what the answers would be. Each encounter was always "Oh we are sorry this happened to you. We do not like to disappoint our customers. Let me see what I can do." This was invariably followed by some checking and then a response of HP trying to ensure "print quality" in its products and there was nothing they could do.
HP Print Quality
Here's the thing about print quality. IT'S MY DAMN PRINTER AND I'LL BE THE JUDGE OF PRINT QUALITY. If I'm willing to accept the risk of poor print quality and/or damaging the printer, that's my decision and not HP's. I get it that printers under warranty wouldn't be covered if you use third party ink. But I'm willing to take that risk since the cartridges are 1/3 the price of HP's.
What about refills?
Supposedly HP allows their cartridges to be refilled; but there's a catch. According to users in the HP forums, genuine cartridges have a stealth page counter that will lock THAT cartridge out if refilled. Some report being able to get one full refill's worth; other's report only getting 1/2 or 2/3 worth.
Class action lawsuit?
Count me in. If you're an attorney who thinks this intentional bricking of previously working ink cartridges is actionable, let me know in the comments.