HP Printer Lockout of Competitor Components

HP, the fifth largest information technology company in the world, they are well known for their computers, printers and printer parts. Many companies and individuals rely on them for everyday business and life, so when they make large decisions it impacts a lot of people. A perfect example of the impact of their decisions was their stealth firmware which disallowed their printers to be used with another company’s ink cartridges. Most customers were outraged by the behind the scenes scheme they felt was being put in place by HP. It was an automatic download that was done, in many cases, without the customer’s knowledge.

One day their printer was working smoothly, and the next day they were locked out and told there was a damaged or incorrect cartridge causing the issue. Like in most scenarios, those who understood the ins and outs of printers found a backway into the system to log back in and continue business per usual.

For those who did not share that deep knowledge for printers or technology, they were forced to buy the overpriced HP ink cartridges. HP soon realized how angry they had made their customers, and discontinued the block on third party ink printer cartridges. About a year later, there was rumor that HP was considering reinstating the lockout.

This news spread, and customers were angered once more. However, HP’s spokesperson came out and let everyone know that HP was not planning on going back to their old ways. This allowed customers and companies to relax a little, including HP hardware parts distributors. Distributors were impacted the most by the lockout, bot good and bad. These distributors allow customers to receive HP parts, along with many other brands, at reasonable prices.