Beware of new Inkjet microchips

Hello - This forum has saved my butt so many times I'd like to make a small contribution in return, so perhaps I may spare a few of you this problem I've just run into. I've been fond of Canon printers & I just bought 2 new ones - a multifunction MP530 & a photo printer IP6700D. I've always purchased 3rd party ink for $2/tank vs orig for $15. But these new Canons use the CLI series microchipped inkjets & Canon are litigating to insure the 3rd party inkjet makers can't sell replacements with the chip. My ink supplier said several other printer manufacturers are following suit - so be very careful in any new printer purchases if you are planning on using the cheaper 3rd party ink. Some of the 3rd party ink websites chip disclamers are rather small in the corner of the page somewhere - so use extra caution. My best, Deca

 

These posts provide good information.

If the consumer market was more aware of this practice by printer manufacturers, maybe the sellers could eat a few of these printers that would remain unsold.

I have an old inkjet but whenever it quits running, I would not buy a new one because of these devious practices. Even now, I only use it as a last resort when doing a print job.

 

I dont think its that simple Peter. The business model that concerns us is much older than inkjet printers. I am referring to cornering the market and then forcing the consumer to pay outrageous and unjustifiable prices for a product that has no competition. And there are alternatives. As I've mentioned before there may be a way to fix many so-called broken printers. It's possible to buy kits to clean the permanent ink injectors on Epson printers for example. Clogged injectors do not equal a dead printer. Try Fixing it and keep using third party ink if you like it.

Here's one possible source:

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/kits/epson/K89
for $9.99

 

Hi Peter-

Unfortunately it is not just the cost of manufacture that they want to recoup. Epson just settled out of court and had to pay out millions - Due to charges that they sold printers that were designed to stop working when the ink cartridges still had ink in them, and for designing the printers so that they stopped printing when any color was "out of ink" even if that color was not being used. Both practices designed to force people to buy more ink.

So now I suppose they want to use unfair marketing and cheat the consumer again in order to pay for the cost of their having cheated the customer in the past. I'm not a lawyer, but this would seem to be a violation of fair market practices. The reason I believe so is because I remember reading that courts had ruled years ago that a printer manufacturer could not void a warranty when a customer uses 3rd party ink in their printers. The manufacturers of the printer would be interfering with free market competition. If that was the reasoning, then how is it less unfair to allow competition now?

What I am getting from this is that they are not having to pay enough for their conduct. If the penalties were higher, maybe they would get the message.

-HandsOff

 

Will they allow ink without the chip ?

In the EU they will have to allow 3rd party ink, due to anti anti-competition laws.

 

My printer is an 8 year old HP Desk Jet 882C. I don't believe the decision to force users to only use the manufacturer's ink was because of cheap printers/make money on high ink costs instead. My printer cost $300. I don't consider that cheap especially not eight years ago. Yet this printer cannot use any ink refills except HP. I learned that the hard way by, years ago, purchasing some third party refills from Hopaco. I asked them before I bought because my particular HP was not listed on the third party refills. They assured me that the refills would work. Ha! The printer rejected them. I went back to Hopaco (Boise Cascade) and told them what had happened. They called their main office and were told that the cartridges would NOT work on the "better" professional HP printers and that mine was one of those. So, I don't believe that HP decided to sell cheap printers and make money off of the ink. They were screwing customers when printers were not $50.

I just don't print hardly ever anymore. I can't afford $75 for ink. Besides, HP really screwed me when they put in writing that my printer would have full functionality under XP ...which, of course, it doesn't as there is no HP XP driver for it. So, I don't think much of any printer manufacturer and I just stopped printing (except for occasional business letters). That is my response to be screwed twice by HP.

 

which you do if you toss out inkjet and get laser

 

Not sure what you mean by this. I have just spoken to someone who bought some 3rd party ink for a Canon Pixma MP500 in the uk with instructions on how to replace the chip. Surprise, surprise it did NOT work and now she has to buy
5 new genuine canon ink cartridges.

Personally I have a Canon Pixma MP500 and a Pixma IP5200R and find that I can buy Canon ink at a reasonable price, it lasts longer than most 3rd party ink and gives better results than most 3rd party inks