Defective HP301XL black ink cartridge. Prints smudged characters. Colour printing is OK.

[billbloxwich]

In April 2016 I purchased three ink cartridges HP301XL ( two black and one tri-colour).  I have been using one of the black ones (country of manufacture not known) and it has just run out (28 Feb 17).  I replaced it with one made in Malaysia and with a warranty date of May 2018.  My printer recognised it as genuine.  However, it is defective.  It prints smudged characters.  I have tried to solve the problem using procedures included in the HP Support Assistant.  I have taken the cartridge back to the retailer with the the original receipt but their house rules do not permit a free replacement beyond six months.  The retailer has informed me that other customers have reported similar problems with cartridges from Malaysia.  The cost to me was £22.99.  

I have purchased a black 301 cartridge, made in China.  It works properly.

I still have the tri-colour cartridge.  This was also made in Malaysia and has a warranty date July 2018.  It is in its original packing.  I am not confident that it will work properly.  It cost me £24.99.  

On both counts I should like to submit my statements above to HP in the hope of compensation or replacements.  I have looked at websites that purport to provide HP customer service but have not found contact details that provide a conduit for the kind of comments I wish to make. 

I should be grateful for advice as to how I should proceed.

[Bob_Headrick · Accepted solution]

The cartridges do have a warranty, your defective 301xl cartridge should be replaced, see the document here for cartridge warranty information.  I would doubt the color cartridges would be replaced, since it is unopened and you only suspect it is defective.  (It is certainly not the case that all cartridges from [insert country name here] are defective.)