A few days ago I wrote a post explaining how a new firmware update for some HP printers effectively banned the use of third-party printer cartridges.
Well, it appears that they received so many complaints that it prompted them to reconsider the move and even apologize for it in a post on their corporate blog.
Of course they worded the apology in a way that frames the issue as a “communications” problem, but the real problem is the ban itself in my opinion, not the way they chose to “communicate” with their customers about it.
In fact, they didn’t “communicate” with their customers at all. They simply slipped the third party ink cartridge ban into what appeared to be a normal firmware update which left countless HP customers wondering why their ink cartridges no longer worked.
Luckily, most large corporations do listen to their customers if enough of them complain, and it’s obvious that HP listened to them here. That’s why I always encourage everyone to lodge a formal complaint when something like this takes place.
Bottom line: If you own one of the printers affected by the third-party ink cartridge ban, HP is planning to release an optional firmware update that will reverse it. They said the new update should be available within two weeks.
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