Image Credit – HP via Wikipedia Commons
Fudzilla has posted an article about the a problems of tech subscriptions and service contracts that happened to Atlantic writer Charlie Warzel. It would seem that Warzel’s printer, which he paid $200 for, stopped working because he unsubscribed to HP’s Instant Ink program. More specifically, because the original cartridges in the printer were considered part the Instant Ink program the instant he signed up for it, HP remotely disabled the printer until Warzel purchased new ink from a retailer.
Why?
Turns out that the Instant Ink program’s fine print states that you are charged by the page and not by the cartridge. As such, once your subscription ends your printer will be disabled regardless of the ink still in it. You will have to stare at it as it goads you to buy more ink or pay the monthly fee. You might be saying to yourself that it’s not such a big deal, right? A lot of companies turn off services if you don’t pay their monthly fee.
Except…
Warzel claims he never changed from the original ink cartridges that came with the printer, that he paid $200 for. These cartridges would have been able to fully be used until they were dry if he hadn’t signed up for the Instant Ink program. Because he signed up for Instant Ink, and printed even a single page, those cartridges are now just more toxic e-waste unless he signs back up for the program again.
Let’s think of it another way.
You bought a brand new $35,000 car. The car manufacture offers an oil change service contract if you subscribe to use their service departments exclusively for a year. You think it’s a good deal at the time, but end up not using the car much as you thought because of…oh say….a pandemic. At the end of the year, you realized you didn’t drive your car enough to justify the cost of the program you have been paying for every month, and are still on your factory original oil. You cancel the subscription renewal. Your car manufacture then remotely disables your car’s engine because you canceled paying a monthly fee for the oil change service plan. Turns out the car company doesn’t charge by the quart, but instead charges by the mile. Sure you haven’t even changed the oil from the stuff that comes from the factory, but because you signed up for that maintenance plan and put miles on the car, you now need to change the oil to new oil before being allowed to drive again.
Bullshit.
This is why there is currently a class action law suit against HP regarding the Instant Ink program.
You can read about the issue in Warzel’s own words by clicking HERE. Note- There is a subscription wall.
Moral of the story: if a company is pushing a plan like this than you can be damn sure they’ve found a way to make money of off it. Read the fine print, and be skeptical. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. If something is free, you are the product.
