Since I've gotten my iPad (and iPhone) all I wanted was the capability of printing (not often, but there when I needed it) emails, notes and a photo or two. Sure, there were lots of work arounds, but I just wanted to hit print. That's all!
Recently, I needed to replace a couple of Apple Computers and decided to go for their printer rebates. Using the rebate I could buy a printer capable of printing from all my devices wirelessly. This was good or I thought.
I selected a couple of HP printers that could handle any job I threw at it, wirelessly. I choose an HP Photosmart and an HP Photosmart Plus printer. With the ninety-nine dollar rebate that the Apple store was offering I was able to get one printer for free and the other for an additional fifty dollars (plus tax).
So far so good. With printers in tow I made it home to set them up or so I thought. First, I'd start with the HP Photosmart upstairs. I unpacked the box and started to laugh. The first thing I noticed was a zippered pouch (what could be in this I thought to myself) that contained the power cord and ink cartridges. Next I noticed that the printer was in a bag with handles cradled by styrofoam. I wasn't sure about the bag, but thought if this helps me pull the printer out of the box, great.
Setting up the printer was somewhat easy until I installed the ink cartridges. Two cartridges, not a problem, right! After installing and checking the menu it indicated that the color cartridge hadn't been installed (yes it had!). After fiddling with it for a while and not getting anywhere I decided to call HP customer support.
Dialing the HP support line I was prepared to wait the customary 30 minutes or more before I spoke to a live person. Was I surprised that only after a few minutes I was greeted by a live voice? After explaining my problems with the printer, the HP support person (HPSP-let's use this from now on) said no problem, let's try a few things.
When the HPSP says we'll try a few things he wasn't kidding! We spent the next 45 minutes trying various things to get the Photsmart to recognize the color cartridge. Finally, the HPSP suggested that it was indeed the color cartridge and a new one would be sent out immediately.
What service, I thought! The HPSP was nice enough and I thoroughly liked how he handled my printer's issues. He asked me the best address to send the cartridge to and indicated that it would be there in a few days. Finally the cartridge arrived and I installed it. To my delight that seemed to fix the Photosmart's problem and I could print wirelessly from all my devices.
At this point I should tell you that I mentioned to the HPSP that I had another printer downstairs that I would be setting up. I jokingly said, "would I have any issues with that printer?" And of course the answer was NO, it should work just fine.
Well let me ask you...What are the odds that a completely different printer model would have issues? From the moment I plugged in the Photosmart Plus printer I could tell there were problems. I guess the first clue was that all the lights on the front panel were blinking and they weren't supposed to.
Turning the printer on and off didn't help either. I kept getting error codes.
So, you would think that I've had it with HP printers. Yes, but I still wanted something to work with my wireless devices.
My path was clear, make a phone call to HP support and wait...
NO! I was not going to do this, there had to be a better way. And then it hit me, call the Apple store where I bought the printers and see what they could do for me.
Apple said bring the printer on in and we'll exchange it for a new one. They also said let's set up the new printer so we can make sure there are no problems. And they did.
I guess you could say it all worked out. I have two printers that work as advertised. I talked to a very nice HPSP who handled my problem with the Photosmart printer (and solved it!).
And Apple went above and beyond in solving my second printer problem. They could have just told me to call the HPSP and let them figure it out, but they didn't.
So, a love/hate relationship with HP? Yes, I love that the printers work, but not what I had to go through to make them work.
1 comments:
I just bought an HP 8500 All-in-one. I needed a new printer, and I now need to scan many photos and documents and I go through things at my mom's house. The 8500 has a decent scanner with high resolution. I'm glad I haven't had the problems you did. It's great to be able to print wirelessly from any device. They've come a long way since I last bought a printer about 10 years ago! Happy printing to both of us!
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