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I really am reluctant to agree with HP on anything, but in this case I have to agree. You can argue that the HP Instant Ink program itself is a scummy project,

I really am reluctant to agree with HP on anything, but in this case I have to agree. You can argue that the HP Instant Ink program itself is a scummy project, but these particular terms are understandable. I mean just look at the pricing of the program, $6 a month for 100 pages. VS $30+ for an ink cartridge. This isn't some "subscribe and save" program where they are sending you ink at a reduced cost but you can do with it as you wish. It's buying pages, it's made very clear what you are actually buying and the ink is basically leased to you. Now if they bricked the printer (like iRobot does with iRobot Select) I would be far more sympathetic and would be upset, but otherwise someone could just subscribe for a month. Pay the $1 and get a full ink cartridge, which simply doesn't make sense from HP's prospective.

kazinator 3y ago
> Now if they bricked the printer That allegation was essentially made: "Some even report not being able to print with cartridges they bought independently."
SiempreViernes 3y ago
How are you buying pages if they don't include the paper? Clearly this is paying for the ink. I also don't understand what your cost argument is supposed to say: if you actually print at close to the allowed limit you're basically getting a new cartridge every other month or so, which is still not profitable if the $30 price is close to the break even price. If the problem for HP really was worry about not getting the money back for the initial cartridge they could just demand you commit for a six month period at least.
- nerdjon 3y ago
  Obviously what this is actually paying for is the Ink, but the way that is calculated is on a per page basis and the ink that is sent to you is basically being leased to you. I don't know where you are getting your numbers from. If I to look at the HP Tango, and I look at the "High Yield" cartridge which is $46, that is rated at 600 pages. So no, if you are doing 100 pages I would not expect you would be buying a new tank every month. Which is the $6 one I mentioned. If they demanded that commitment we would just be complaining about the commitment and not this side of it... Also that doesn't account for when they do inevitably need to send you another cartridge. The point here is simple, the marketing for "Instant Ink" is very clear about never stating how often you are getting a cartridge. It is just when you need it. They do that, because you are not buying the physical cartridge but obviously you need ink in your home to be able to print. If I subscribe to this for 3 months, spend the $18 a month. I may get that first cartridge but if O do zero prints, I won't be sent another cartridge (or at least shouldn't be). Yes it is a bit weird to think that you have something in your hands that you cannot actually use. But you are not buying the actual cartridges in this model. Put another way, let's assume this cartridge is actually 600 pages (it may or may not be since it depends on what exactly you print, unlike this subscription service that is just a per page). So you subscribe to this service saying you will print 50 pages a month. Theoretically that single cartridge you were sent at the beginning of your subscription will last for a year. You're paying $4 a month. HP is making the bet that you will keep up the subscription even though that first month is most likely a loss for them. If they were to just be "nice" and allow you to keep the cartridge it just opens it up for abuse.
r00fus 3y ago
> I mean just look at the pricing of the program, $6 a month for 100 pages. I mean, I pay $30 for 2 generic laser toner cartridges that last upwards of a year at my home (and my kids are prolific users of the Canon laser printer). $6/mo is usurious just like $30 cartridges. HP has gotten greedy and instead of making this transition to a subscription model easy they're getting well deserved backlash.
- shepherdjerred 3y ago
  HP has separate costs for ink/toner cartridges. $4/mo for 100 pages. Aside from that, they cover shipping and recycling of old cartridges, and they include color/photo printing in that prices (not sure if you that's relevant for toner though? not a printer expert.) $2/mo for 50 pages is a pretty great deal, as someone who seldom prints.

kazinator 3y ago

> Now if they bricked the printer That allegation was essentially made: "Some even report not being able to print with cartridges they bought independently."

SiempreViernes 3y ago

How are you buying pages if they don't include the paper? Clearly this is paying for the ink. I also don't understand what your cost argument is supposed to say: if you actually print at close to the allowed limit you're basically getting a new cartridge every other month or so, which is still not profitable if the $30 price is close to the break even price. If the problem for HP really was worry about not getting the money back for the initial cartridge they could just demand you commit for a six month period at least.

nerdjon 3y ago
Obviously what this is actually paying for is the Ink, but the way that is calculated is on a per page basis and the ink that is sent to you is basically being leased to you. I don't know where you are getting your numbers from. If I to look at the HP Tango, and I look at the "High Yield" cartridge which is $46, that is rated at 600 pages. So no, if you are doing 100 pages I would not expect you would be buying a new tank every month. Which is the $6 one I mentioned. If they demanded that commitment we would just be complaining about the commitment and not this side of it... Also that doesn't account for when they do inevitably need to send you another cartridge. The point here is simple, the marketing for "Instant Ink" is very clear about never stating how often you are getting a cartridge. It is just when you need it. They do that, because you are not buying the physical cartridge but obviously you need ink in your home to be able to print. If I subscribe to this for 3 months, spend the $18 a month. I may get that first cartridge but if O do zero prints, I won't be sent another cartridge (or at least shouldn't be). Yes it is a bit weird to think that you have something in your hands that you cannot actually use. But you are not buying the actual cartridges in this model. Put another way, let's assume this cartridge is actually 600 pages (it may or may not be since it depends on what exactly you print, unlike this subscription service that is just a per page). So you subscribe to this service saying you will print 50 pages a month. Theoretically that single cartridge you were sent at the beginning of your subscription will last for a year. You're paying $4 a month. HP is making the bet that you will keep up the subscription even though that first month is most likely a loss for them. If they were to just be "nice" and allow you to keep the cartridge it just opens it up for abuse.

r00fus 3y ago

> I mean just look at the pricing of the program, $6 a month for 100 pages. I mean, I pay $30 for 2 generic laser toner cartridges that last upwards of a year at my home (and my kids are prolific users of the Canon laser printer). $6/mo is usurious just like $30 cartridges. HP has gotten greedy and instead of making this transition to a subscription model easy they're getting well deserved backlash.

shepherdjerred 3y ago
HP has separate costs for ink/toner cartridges. $4/mo for 100 pages. Aside from that, they cover shipping and recycling of old cartridges, and they include color/photo printing in that prices (not sure if you that's relevant for toner though? not a printer expert.) $2/mo for 50 pages is a pretty great deal, as someone who seldom prints.