HP INSTANT INK
 

With some considerable regret have just added an HP 9010 ink jet all-in-device to the office set up (primarily due to the two small Xerox laser printers failing within weeks of each other and the warranty replacement of one quoting 10 working days for delivery).

I have always had a horror about ink jet costs (and when we ran four similar [older model] HP machines we eventually lost the battle to keep control of the machines out of HP's hands and use 'good quality' compatibles). Since then they have apparently continued to wage war on the possibility of using compatibles with more and more 'upgrades' etc and some very determined to 'register you' software.

I have a natural mistrust of HP (or frankly most tech companies) and can't really understand their limited information on their 'instant ink' proposition - currently promoting a 6 month trial (is this actually free up to 700 pages pm for 6 months?).

My guess is that our usage (as soon as our laser printer(s) is/are back and running) is probably going to be around a 1,000 pages a month, maybe less - what do they charge for extra pages?

How easy is cancelling ? I assume that once you have signed up for this, even when you cancel the use of compatibles is no longer possible ?

Has anyone used this and analysed their costs compared with simply buying OEM or compatible cartridges ?

Any opinions, comments or suggestions welcomed.

Have you tried drawing a pentagram in lamb's blood on your kitchen floor and summoning Satan? I understand Satan has better terms than HP offers.

Also note that the scanner is reputed to no longer function if there is anything detected "wrong" with the ink supply.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/documen...776-2026280-16 - if you go over they add it to the automatic billing.

Best part: The printer must be set up on a wired or wireless network that has access to the internet.

Business 700 pages/month $27.99/month -

"If you print more, then you can purchase extra pages, sets of 10-50 pages for $1.00 (pages per set varies by plan)."
https://www.hp.com/us-en/printers/instant-ink/faq.html under "what if my printing varies."

Best of luck. Ask if Satan has a large volume discount.

From a recent Ars Technica article on the latest printer subscription model:

​​​​​​​https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024...t-it-monitors/

I had the HP Instant Ink for a few years, it looked good initially but never got the credit they promised and if you cancel when you want to
HP use the internet to sabotage and make useless the ink cartridges you already have in your printer.
I finally canceled the sh!t program but had to argue with some arrogant “agents” on the phone as they wanted to charge me for the next month and t more.
Threw away the HP printer and bought a Brother ail-in-one machine that came with a one year tank of ink.
Never ever an HP printer or anything HP else in the future.:yuk:

About 2-3 years ago I bought an HP printer/scanner, and was suckered in to the Instant Ink system. The machine was the most awful digital purchase I have ever made. The wifi connection was hopeless, usually unable to connect with a BT hub about 2 metres away. There were also lots of issues with opaque user procedures, a help system that did anything but help, and so on.

The thing was so bad that, within its warranty period, I took it to our local recycling depot. The best day I ever had with it, my best hard throw into the skip.

The same day, I cancelled the Instant Ink account without difficulty.

Like TowerDog, I will never again buy an HP digital product.

Good luck - you will need it.

I’ve used an Epson all-in-one wireless machine for some years. Small footprint, excellent quality in all aspects, no problem using much cheaper substitute inks and integrated seamlessly with my iPad apps various. Comes with friendly software too. Happy bunny.

HP used to have a reputation for building good hardware but bundling it with garbage, bloated software and drivers. Sadly, at some point they seemed to give up good hardware too (and not just for domestic products) and decided that there’s more money in selling inks! I have an HP laser printer that must be over 20 years old - it only gets sporadic use these days but still does exactly what it’s supposed to do as a when required. Having had, more recently, to use HP kit at workplaces and helped others to try and get theirs working, I wouldn’t want to use their equipment, let alone subscribe to anything!

I’ve been using a Brother laser printer nigh on a decade now. It just works, as long as I keep it well fed with toner. No problems whatsoever

I run an Epson ECOTANK printer with original black ink bottle only £10-15 which is good for 7500 pages. Thus totally throws the reason to buy HP ever again in the nearest skip.

Much appreciate the various inputs on this - so here's my final thoughts on the issue.

For many years we used HP all-on devices on each desk, running 5 at one point (8600/9600products) and these proved to be solid, reliable machines giving many years of service. We kept costs under control using Monkey Office Equipment compatible cartridges ((from their Q-Connect range) with little or no problem.

The ongoing battle to 'hide' the machines from HP (so they didn't lock-out non-HP cartridges - and in addition I have a deep suspicion of their data mining and its potential risks as a hacking route) became more and more difficult and as the machines started to exceed 5 years + of heavy use, we started to switch to Xerox laser machines.

We rather liked the Xerox machines (used nothing but OEM consumables) and although our costs went up 'per page', reduced volumes made this acceptable. However, we had two machines fail (both locked out immediately after drum swap) over the last 12 months. Xerox 'customer services' were appalling, although one of the machines is to be replaced under warranty in 5 - 10 working days (promised 11 working days ago after over a week of phonecalls).

I grabbed the HP 9010 printer (the modern equivalent of the models we used to use) as it was cheap and available quickly (delivered and running 1100 next day.

It offered (on the face of it) 6 months HP Instant Ink which seemed to offer an acceptable saving - in fact, on investigation the 'Instant Ink' deal isn't badly priced anyway for a medium range user.

However, to use the 'Instant ink' service at all you have to allow some level of external internet access and control (which concerns me deeply - and offends my interpretation of fairness), as well as the fact that they 'turn off' your cartridges if you ever cease the contract.

What I hand't realised (and annoyed me further on discovering it) is that the 6 month free trial was dependent upon signing up for 'HP+' (a series of what the described as benefits, including remote printing and diagnostic, none of which I want). As I consider this arrangement further increases potential security risks we have declined it again and will pay for the HP Instant Ink service from day 1.

On a further point, the build standards of the new machine appear nowhere close to the previous models - so i can't see this being a 5 year + machine.

We await the Xerox replacement and will probably then replace the other Xerox machine (about to start researching that), as Xerox have no interest in even talking to us about problems with an out of 1yr warranty machine, and give the HP device away at that point.

One thing is certain, we will not be returning to the HP fold.

Bought a £25 HP printer scanner several years ago, accepted the free instant ink offer and then took out the monthly contract. Use about 300 sheets a month, when the cartridge runs out, fit the spare and they automatically send a new spare. It has not missed a beat, very happy with it.