Ink problem 3733 inkjet printer

[Bazmack]

Bought this printer for grandsons birthday. The black ink cartridge will not fit into place. I have asked HP to send a replacement but have just found out that they cannot do this! We have to send whole printer back. I have looked on website to see what number cartridge I can get myself as I thought I could just send this to grandson without troubling them to get number etc. It does not appear on website and the printer model comes up as not found. It has gone from a nice birthday present to a really bad one. Thanks for your Help HP!

[RichAnt]

It uses  HP 304 cartridges, both black and tricolor.  The correct ones must have been shipped in the box; must fit?  Here's a couple of HP support pages that may help.   Have someone in the store help with ink installation.  Concerning setup:  

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-deskjet-3700-all-in-one-printer-series/8954253/document/c050...

Concerning Instant Ink cartridges:   https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05039723

Hopefully the place of purchase will make a refund and you just return it, that's the easiest solution. Also, maybe they will EASILY exchange it for one that works.  They also should be happy to show you how to insert the cartridge.  I'm surprised you are having difficulty.  

If you have Instant Ink, possibly that is why HP says they cannot replace it.  You can pursue it further by calling HP support's 800 number and argue the point.  My opinion is:  not enroll in HP's Instant Ink Program, which is  big hassle.   You would need to use a MINIMUM OF 50 PAGES/month.  I found on Currys.com for this printer the Instant ink costs 1.99 (pounds) for 50 pages/month (@ www.currys.co.uk/    Curry's price for HP 304 black is 10.99 pounds.

Here's how to cancel Instant Ink.  Caution, the Instant Ink cartridges become disabled, so wait until you've some of the ink (but not to the point of automatically replacement).  Reply with any other problems.

[Bazmack]

Thank you for your reply. 

My daughter in law tried to insert the black cartridge but had problems , she was ok fitting the coloured cartridge. Thought it would be easy to get a replacement one. I bought it from HP on line store so it will be a bit of a nuisance returning it. Will buy a cartridge and try that. 

Never had problems with our HP printer so will let grandson have the use of ours until problem sorted. 

Am I on the American Forum? If so I apologise.

[RichAnt]

Hellow Bazmack,  I hear you about problems to return, and the printer should accept the ink cartridges.  If not you just need to return it for a refund.

In my prior post, I had tried to provide a link which illustrates the ink cartridge installation (but it doesn't work).  Here is another:     HP DeskJet 3700 Printers - First Time Printer Setup

[    https://support.hp.com/nz-en/document/c05049191   ]

Since you haven't gotten past installing the catridges.  You may or may not need the most current  software/driver for the printer's software downloaded onto the computer.  It's good to get the most recent.  The following link has the driver for OS Sierra 10.12 if it is needed. 

HP Printers - macOS 10.12, OS X 10.11, 10.10 Compatible Printers 

[   https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04473034    ]

Not a problem, where you posted.  I'm not aware if there are forums for various countires.  You're gonna get the most info here.  Keep up the good  fight!

[Bazmack]

Thank you for your help. My son is now back in the country and is trying to sort it out. The cartridge has gone in but it is not recognised by the printer. He was going to get a new cartridge and try it. I cannot get him to give me an answer as to whether or not I need to return printer.

i will now leave it up to him.

thank you once again.

[RichAnt · Accepted solution]

Hello again Bismack,  Please NOTE:  Allow me to mention that the printer's software needs installing on whichever computer, with which you or your Grandson use the printer.  Since it's new, returning it is easiest.  Both the printer and/or the cartridge could be defective.

As described in the below link,  try removing cartridge and reinserting it several times - each time trying to both copy and print.  Hopefully, you are using HP original ink.  Have you removed the plastic strip from the cartridge. Cleaning new cartridges should not be needed.

If links don't work, google for: "HP DeskJet 3700 Printers - Ink Cartridge Errors" which is:

https://support.hp.com/za-en/product/hp-deskjet-3700-all-in-one-printer-series/8954253/document/c050...

Step 6 (in above link) is a Hard Restart.  If you've come this far, it doesn't look good.

If this below link doesn't work (Printer Setup includes cartridge installation), google:

"HP support HP 3700 deskjet printers setup" which is

 https://support.hp.com/sg-en/document/c05049191