I have not seen a worse Subscription Program or customer service EVER

[000dral]

After a frustrating 1.5 hours with HP support who transferred me 4 times internally the problem is unresolved. 

1. Purchased a new 8028 printer.

2. Received promotional subscription to instan ink program.

3. received a set of cartridges. 

4. Did not renew the subscription as I don't want to. 

5. Cartridges that I just installed - which were received DURING the subscription don't work now. 

What kind of Logic was applied when designing the program? Its like purchasing something but when you don't renew membership the company locks you out from their own product. I am infuriated by the whole product and Support experience. Glad I purchased from Costco so I can dump this.

[Repairatrooper]

The cartridges under the instant ink program are supplied for use while you are subscribed to the program. If you do not renew, monitoring of those cartridges stops and therefore the printer will no longer print from them. As you received those cartridges under a promotion, they did not cost you anything so you are not "out" any money. I agree that from a green point of view, invalidating the cartridges is wasteful, however you have to keep in mind that there are people out there that would rejoin every time their cartridges ran out and then cancel right after to avoid the monthly charges, Another case of stupid people ruining a good thing.

[000dral]

Good arguments in defense of a program ill-designed to lose an already acquired customer for life. 

>  As you received those cartridges under a promotion, they did not cost you anything so you are not "out" any money

>> I am sure the cost of the cartridge that I received during the trial-subscription was built into the cost of the product, which is why I paid top dollar for this printer. HP is not a charity. 

>  I agree that from a green point of view, invalidating the cartridges is wasteful,

>> Immensely. A perfect brand new set of not just 1 but 4 cartridges will now go into a land-waste. 

> however you have to keep in mind that there are people out there that would rejoin every time their cartridges ran out and then cancel right after to avoid the monthly charges, Another case of stupid people ruining a good thing.

>> How hard is it to put controls in the program to prevent such misuse. HP can use the printer serial #, email address, trial count anything to implement a control to prevent misuse. If the cartridge was provided during subscription do not disable.  But HP - if you are listening to this - please don't take my advice - you deserve losing more customers - some like me for life. 

Do you not see a logical flaw in the program design and product function that "disables" the use of cartridge that was provided as promotion. I actually considered signing up after this set was over ... but now never!