Why doesn't HP Instant Ink discount for printing in "Draft" quality?

[BlackPoplar]

I've already checked the community, and found the following answer:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Inkjet-Printing/Instant-ink-draft-mode/m-p/6580823#M708045

However, how can HP justify this?  If I try to save ink and the environment by printing pages using less ink, how can HP justify charging me for the same amount of ink?  It makes no sense - I would like to hear HP's justification for their page count charging system, and it seems fundamentally flawed, unfair and not environmentally friendly.

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@BlackPoplar 

The answer is the same as provided in the post you have referenced.

Explanation:

Instant Ink is a Print-by-Page subscription service.

The price of the subscription includes the ink you require - be it a little ink because you print all in draft or a lot of ink because you are printing full color photographs - the price is the same.

Ink is included in your plan during the time that subscription remains active.

The service charges are not predicated on how much ink you use - ink is included with each plan - the service is charged according to the plan you have selected.

The service, that is, the subscription does not care how much ink you use because the plan does not measure your ink usage for the purpose of charging for the subscription.

HP Instant Ink - Main Website - Information, Enroll, FAQ, Terms of Service / Contract

Not your home site?  Click the Flag to change to your region.

Next...

• FAQ section > How does HP Instant Ink work?

and Read...

• Contract > Link is located below the FAQ section > Terms of Service Contract

NOTE:   It is NOT necessary that you be enrolled to read the contract > Open the main website > scroll down just past the FAQ

Reminder

At the close of the subscription, you should remove and return the Instant Ink cartridges to HP where they will be recycled and the material(s) properly disposed.  This requirement is explained in the Terms of Service contract.

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[BlackPoplar]

So, in summary:

1. we get charged by page just because that's just how it is and how HP is doing it

2. people who use a little ink get charged the same as people who use a tonne of ink over the same number of pages

3. the plan does not measure ink... but can it?  If it can, then why doesn't it?  Wouldn't this make more sense, rather than sending out cartridges to people who have tonnes of ink left?  Seems a bit wasteful...

I just think that HP Instant Ink could be such an awesome service, but it's let down by this.  It's not environmentally friendly or (to use an over-used term) "sustainable".  What a disappointment.