Bought an HP DeskJet 2734e, it would not print or work until I signed up for InstaInk

[OsirianOne]

Hello,
I purchased 2 years ago a HP DeskJet 2734e All-in-One Printer (wireless).  It came with ink cartridges (XL for the black), and I bought a ream of paper myself to keep on hand as needed. 

When setting up the printer and installing HP Smart App in Windows 11, it WOULD NOT allow me to print unless I signed up for InstaInk.  I worked in Computer Support/Programming/Technical Business Analyst for 31 years.  I know how to install network printers, local workgroup, Secure Print, Print Servers etc.  I have never in all of my career professionally or personally at home, ever seen anything like this.   

After about 2 weeks and paying for ink, paper & printer hardware that I had purchased; not be allowed to use my product without a pay wall.  I have tried everything in the world to try to get this to print prior to that sign up, as I JUST WANTED A PRINTER!  So, I signed up and it started working like silk (but I should NOT have to pay for something that belongs to me period!)  Got test pages and over the next week 3 whole pages or so printed.

Nearly two weeks later; trying to print, started to have issues that constantly told me that 'printer not ready'.  Over and Over and Over (Did anything and everything I could think of, restarting, deleting printer from windows, complete uninstall reinstall, troubleshooter was not any help, checked the forums, and articles, google searches, etc.)  Had to call the HP helpdesk and they said that my printer cartridge was bad {after 2-3 hours and a few heated moments}, had to send me a new one and I had to wait days for it to arrive [Bare in mind... that I had a 2-week-old printer cartridge with XL reservoir and got 3 pages only out of it, and then against a wall. Then wait days for something that I should not have needed to!]  Most of these past two years it has set idle or unplugged as it constantly disconnects if it has not been printed to in a few days, and you have to cycle it or press the wi-fi button on it to reconnect or sync.  To stop it from irritating me continually, I have to keep it unplugged when not using it.  (I figured out later that it didn't like my pay for cartridge and that it wanted a cartridge that had to come from InstaInk.  So wasn't a damaged cartridge, a requirement to be dependent on HP.  I am out the money for my initial purchase of the ink.  < This plays into my current conundrum below.

I just started researching this again, as I have some important documents to scan, financial letters to write to include in these correspondences. to institutions. I do not have time to fool around with something this fickle, so I had to renew my subscription today. Therefore, I checked these forums, everywhere now it seems to be that you can cancel InstaInk Service, and go buy printer ink (that I had already paid for and was required to send me originally paid for cartridge for Black and Color both to HP for recycling), again.  

Because it WOULD NOT set up normally to my computer when I bought it new along with these experiences here, that this is actually possible to do?  I should not have to go and buy my ink all over again and with no guarantee that this will ever work properly, without throwing the printer away and going to a different manufacturer permanently... 

100% distraught, disappointed, and frankly if you could not tell a bit miffed at what makes it feel like "being strong armed" into paying (basically a usage tax) on my own equipment and supplies.

Help, before you lose me as a total customer; both when recommending for my department at work and rejecting you personally forever.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @OsirianOne 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

My sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused to you. We'd hate for you to be stuck in a situation like this. Because you matter to us.

I'd like to help you with your Instant Ink issue.

Not to worry I'll do everything I can to help get this sorted for you. 😊

In order to locate your account, please provide either your registered email address or your Instant Ink account ID or the printer serial number in a private message, and I'll look into this. 

To access your private messages, simply click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile name. 

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

Note: Do not share any of your personal information in public, such as serial number, phone number, email ID, etc.