European Print Cartridge Problem

[samingermany]

I moved to Germany, taking my All-in-one Officjet 7410 with me. I just ordered replacement black cartridges - according to the listings, the European version is No.339 - but the printer refuses to accept them. Any suggestions? (and no, "buy a new printer" is not what I want to hear)

Cheers.

[spg]

I'm having similar problems with my HP Photosmart C5180 printer bought in France, bought ink cartridges recommended by HP when my ink was running low!

They will not install - error message saying they are incompatible with my machine.  It's an expensive error at 75$ I spent on them!!  There must be a way to  use them as they are HP 2 and identical to the HP 363s I bought in France with the machine! 

Can someone advise us I hope?   I sent an email to HP customer service about 3 weeks ago and am still awaiting a reply! 

It's not uncommon after all to move back and forth from Europe with these machines.  Why does HP complicate things by creating incompatibilities across national borders?

Stephanie

[Bob_Headrick · Accepted solution]

You will need to contact HP.  They can reset the printer over the phone (and perhaps via online chat, I have not confirmed this) but you will need access to your PC and printer.  It will reqiuire that you have both black and color cartridges available with the new region.  This reset can be done up to three times, so if you eventaully move back you will repeat the process.

If the agent is not familar with the process mention regionalization reset or region reset.

 Regards,

Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

[spg]

Wow!  Thank you Professor!  That was an extremely quick and precise reply with a palatable solution to boot!

I will get on that ASAP! 

Have a great day (as you've made mine brighter!)

Stephanie

[samingermany]

So, I have had the online chat, and the phone conversation - at least the beginning of the conversation. The Prof is right - you need to have both the colour and the black cartridge, and HP can run you through a region reset on the phone. Since I still have 4 colour cartridges, I will buy some new black ones from the US, and when they have all run out, I will have HP do the reset. The phone number to call in Germany for this service is 0180 5652180. Thanks to all for their replies and comments. Hope this helps some others. Cheers. Sam

[Bob_Headrick]

If your issue is resolved please check the "solved" button, this will help others with a similar issue find the solution.

Regards,

Bob Headrick

[pjlimon]

I lived temporarily in France and bought an HP6840 DeskJet color printer there. I was careful to get one that was voltage compatible with the US.

I run a Mac with OSX 10.5.

   I have returned to the US. I have run out of toner in my black cartridge and ordered one. When I installed it, the printer would not work, and gave me the message that the ink cartridge was not the right type. I checked, and the HP site said it was the right type. Further investigation pointed out that my printer is "regionalized," and if I wanted to use North American ink cartridges I would have to call a technical support number and they could change the region over the phone. (I found that interesting in itself.) This is just as Bob Headrick suggests.

  I called the number, and was told that because my printer is beyond warranty, the service to change the region would cost me $49.95. This is practically the cost of a new printer nowadays. Of course, I refused to pay, arguing (fruitlessly, of course) that I was never warned that the printer was regionalized and that to get it changed back after warranty period would cost $50. If I had been warned, I could have changed the region earlier when it was still under warranty.

   Anyway, I would like to continue to use this simple and effective printer, but I do not want to pay $50 for the priviledge. What are my options?

Happy holidays,

Peter Limon 

[GarenT]

Hi

I'm going to be contacting  you via private mail, as well as e-mail about this problem. Hopefully, we can get it solved.

GarenT

[brit-sand]

We have moved back to the U.S. after living in England, where we purchased our HP Photosmart C5280 All-in-One.  Upon trying to purchase ink for the printer here in the US I realized they are packaged with different numbers, found the correct ink on you compatibility chart and purchased ink.  After changing the cartridge the printer would tell me it was not the right type, even though it appeared identical.  I called HP and was told the printer needs to be regionalized.  I still had so much color ink that I aked if I would be able to use a UK color cartridge and a US black cartridge.  The answer was no, but that I could call back once I'd used up the ink.  I was given a reference # and told when I called again to ask for Mac Support for regionalizing my printer.  

I called this morning after having used up our stock of UK ink.  I was told my printer is now out of warranty.  What?  No mention was made of a warranty or that I'd need to call back by a certain date.  Of course I don't want to pay a fee to extend my warranty.  Would you?  Why didn't they just tell me how to do it so I could do it later or mail/email me the instructions? 

Please help.

Thank you,

Sandra McGregor 

britsand@gmail.com 

ps  I'm on a Mac running System 10.5.6

[STW]

Hi GarenT-

Can you please help me with this issue as well?  I've tried contacting voice support (twice), chat support (twice), and email support (once) but am getting a bit of a runaround.

I understand what needs to be done (i.e. enter the unlock codes into the preferences dialog box), but just need help getting those codes for my printer (an Officejet 7310 purchased in the UK but now in the USA).

Thanks!

STW