HP Photosmart Premium c309a All-in-one (Extremely disappointing)

[japarkes]

I usually do not complain about products on forums like this. However this time I was obliged to create an account just so I could let HP know how disappointed I am with this product.

I happily cracked open the box of my brand new HP Photosmart premium two days ago looking forward to enjoying the exceptional printing performance HP is supposed to be known for. My printer arrived with a new set of ink cartridges which I installed two days ago. Today I have a barely legible printer status report that shows that I have only enjoyed 168 printed pages which 'apparently' have used up all the Cyan, Magenta and Black ink. How can this be possible?

After printing c. 30 pages the printer reported that I was out of Cyan and Magenta ink. A few more pages later it reported that the black ink was also finished. I am a bit confused. Does this mean that HP printer cartridges only have a lifespan of c. 30 pages? Or is the problem with the printer? If this ink utilisation rate is standard I am 100% certain that this is the last HP product I will ever buy. My only regret is that I also recently bought an HP laptop which means that I am locked in for a couple of years.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with HP printers?

Is anyone from HP listening?  I would like some answers please.

- A very unhappy (and soon to be ex) customer.

[bobcall]

I had a similar experience with a C6150.  The cartridges that came with the printer lasted for a very short time and very few pages of printing.  Subsequent purchase of new cartridges at Sam's Club for $54 for five color cartridges gives better longevity.  I suspect that HP ships new printers with cartridges that are rejects not containing enough ink to sell in a replacement package.

[tinuwangiro]

Hi!

the cartridges that comes with a brand new printers today are called "startup ink cartridges" they are only used for starting up your printers and they contain lesser amount of ink than the cartridges that you buy on the stores. And this is true with most of all printers nowadays no matter what the brand is. 

I hope this clarified something. 

[blywvy]

Oh my God I just ordered a 309 on the phone and came in here to find this out, too late now.,

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japarkes wrote:

I usually do not complain about products on forums like this. However this time I was obliged to create an account just so I could let HP know how disappointed I am with this product.

I happily cracked open the box of my brand new HP Photosmart premium two days ago looking forward to enjoying the exceptional printing performance HP is supposed to be known for. My printer arrived with a new set of ink cartridges which I installed two days ago. Today I have a barely legible printer status report that shows that I have only enjoyed 168 printed pages which 'apparently' have used up all the Cyan, Magenta and Black ink. How can this be possible?

After printing c. 30 pages the printer reported that I was out of Cyan and Magenta ink. A few more pages later it reported that the black ink was also finished. I am a bit confused. Does this mean that HP printer cartridges only have a lifespan of c. 30 pages? Or is the problem with the printer? If this ink utilisation rate is standard I am 100% certain that this is the last HP product I will ever buy. My only regret is that I also recently bought an HP laptop which means that I am locked in for a couple of years.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with HP printers?

Is anyone from HP listening?  I would like some answers please.

- A very unhappy (and soon to be ex) customer.

---

[bell23]

After the printer said it was out of all 4 colors, I printed (12) 8x10 full color pictures.  I'm not sure if the cartridge was really out and there was just enough ink in the tube from the cartridge to the print head to print 12 intense color pages; or if there is no real metering on the ink cartridges such that the system does not know it is out or full.    

When you put in new ink cartridges it seems to run through some kind of noisy process where I assume it is filling the tube between the ink and the print head.

This is the third HP printer that I have had that with separate ink cartridges from the print head.  They all seem to be a lot of trouble (you are changing cartridges all the time, printing only 1/2 of a good page on expensive paper) and don't seem to save any money. 

I remember the old days when I loved my HP printer.  The last 3 printers have dissapointed.

[Dottie1880]

I'm having a problem  installing the c309a - I get a message:   the path cannot be found

c:\hp\tmp\src\setup\PSTAPlugin  - also each time the printer prints a page the cartridges re-aligns this takes a while and makes a loud noise before finishing aligning.  Has anyone had similar problems?  thanks for your help  Dottie

[ibi181]

You are not alone.  This printer is a piece of garbage and HP doesn't, rightly care.

According to several, several reviews online, the printer drinks ink like a camel.  The paper feeder does not load paper properly.  No HP printer has managed to master this feature.  You will have to babysit all of your faxes and multiple-page scans because it can't handle more than one page.

The printer is known to display a host of error messages regarding the ink system failing.  This will lead to the need of a new printer head and the thing won't print at all.  This is only after one-year of use.  It's like they have a special self-destruct detonator inside that knows exactly when the warranty expires.

HP will want $40 bucks to tell you you will have to purchase a new print head $55+ bucks for a total of $100 bucks, which could buy you a cheap (working) printer that would most-likely at least last you a year.

[ronc01]

Also had all sorts of problems with this printer, Installed ALL new cartridges printed one photo then next time it said it was low on ink !!!

And now the Printer is completely useless - On Power up - all the indicator lights just flash -

I contacted HP Support who told me my printer was out of warranty - but I only bought it in January?

The operator had a really terrible attitude and when I asked for her name - she put the phone down.

HP Customer Service - If only there was such a thing

[LindaKase]

There is a video out there....a soldier in IRAQ had this same all in one HP printer, when he called for help they told him he'd have to pay first. He took the HP Printer, put it on some type of box and then destroyed it with his automatic machine gun.....Never enjoyed a video so much!

I've always had HP printers....they have been problems but the photos always came out great!!! This one is an "All In One Pain in the A--. It doesn't seem to get better. They already replaced my machine because the feeder didn't work. They sent me just the basic unit...I had to build it from there with the parts of my current computer: face plate; back cover; paper feeder ...took me 2 hours then I look at it and see they sent me a refurbished basic unit. Now I find they have ink #564 for this unit, but not all the #564 fit...there are two sizes in the printer...skinny and large, black. But there are 2 sizes in the #564 boxes and the the large one in the #564XL. CSR didn't know what I was talking about.

I don't know how to get you the video....but it would be worth the search.

[printerplz]

The Carts that come with the printer are started and do contain less in than the one you can but at the stores. but in the started carts they also contain special lubricants that extend the life of the print head and keeps ink from cloging.