Bricked printer after firmware update - out of warranty, no help from HP

[obieephyhm]

I am retired and replaced my oki laser with this HP in 2019.   Don't do a lot of printing any more but, recently, I had to put in a magenta toner cartridge and, as usual, went to find the cheapest, well-rated non-oem one to keep me within the limited retirement budget.   

Yesterday, I had to print out some instructions for something I was doing and I saw a message flash on the screen about a firmware update.  After that, I have a stuck (bricked) printer that can't do anything because it tells me my magenta cartridge is non-hp. I tried their printer doctor which did nothing, I tried power-cycling it and I removed and re-seated the allegedly offending cartridge.  It won't print anything so . . . anyone tell me what I should do?

 I thought it was illegal for HP to force us to buy only from them (read something about a 2018 class action suit online).  I can't get a response from HP via their 'support' website so I don't know if this is a fixable problem or if HP just broke a two-year-old printer and it will have to be replaced.  If it has to be replaced, does anyone have any non-HP recommendations.

[Repairatrooper]

What you are running into is a vendor using a non-compliant chip. We are an HP dealer, we sell non-HP cartridges but yes ours are more expensive because they follow the allowed rules that HP can enforce to protect their intellectual property. Many 3rd party do not follow the rules because it costs more to make the cartride.

[obieephyhm]

Thank you for your response.

It does not offer a relevant solution beyond buying significantly more expensive toner.  At least on Amazon, the cost of one set of toner is equivalent to the price I paid for the printer in the first place.  That is, imo, obscene.

The printer worked fine for many months with two non-oem toner installed.  No issues at all.  It was AFTER HP forced a firmware 'update' that the printer stopped working.  I did not solicit the update and I had no opportunity to prevent its installation.   This is unethical corporate behavior and it should be illegal.  I own the printer, not HP. 

I further dispute that 'protecting their intellectual property rights' regarding toner use is a legitimate argument on HP's behalf.   Toner is not intellectual property and I doubt that they hold a patent on its creation or usage.  The only reason for putting chips on toner cartridges is to create a monopoly and hold buyers hostage to something that is deliberately priced at the gouge level.  If HP has an issue with others making/using chips to sell something cheaper than HP, then HP should fight that out in court with the particular offending party and not punish its customer base. If HP can't compete then it should go out of business.

If yours is the best answer available, then I will sell this printer for whatever I can get for it and purchase something from a company that doesn't treat its customers so disrespectfully. 

[Repairatrooper]

I am not interested in having a protracted debate about 3rd party toner, the company I work for sells 3rd party and we always demand that they use compliant chips because of these types of issues. Many 3rd party companies balk at this because of the extra cost involved which either cuts into their margins or forces them to charge higher prices. Many other companies do similar things like Brother, Epson, Canon and Lexmark so typically no matter what you buy there is a risk that at some time or another a cartridge you have been using will get blocked. As for toner patents, there are wide ranging differences in how toners are constructed so saying HP has no claim to intellectual property is likely incorrect. Personally, I think that printer vendors should be forced to charge a reasonable price for the printers and sell the ink for less, but then consumers would cry because the fifty dollar inkjet printers and two hundred dollar laser printers would cease to exist.

[butch72]

This behavior by HP is against European EU law. Find this really starnge behaviot. Why did HP change its policy against specific chips and what is wrong with these chips.