{"id":130358,"date":"2024-02-03T11:34:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T16:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/?p=130358"},"modified":"2024-02-03T11:34:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-03T16:34:11","slug":"hp-greedflation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/hp-greedflation\/","title":{"rendered":"HP Greedflation"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

G\"HP<\/a>reedflation<\/strong> prevails more among companies with near-monopolies. In such instances, customers have little choice but to pay the listed price for the good or service due to limited alternatives. Greedflation price hikes are not tied to a legitimate need for a rise in the cost<\/strong> of a good or service.<\/p>\r\n

HP drives greedflation<\/strong>. HP drive greedflation by continuously releasing software updates for its Dynamic Security system<\/strong>. This system bricks HP printers when they’re used with third-party ink cartridges. Resulting in several<\/a> lawsuits<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

\"\"HP greedflation<\/h3>\r\n

HP CEO Enrique Lores told<\/a> CNBC<\/em>, why the company pushes the maligned software. Ars Technica<\/em> says<\/a> that the reason for persistently pushing the hated software, is HP’s aim to transform printing into a subscription-based servic<\/strong>e. Lores said, “Our long-term objective is to make printing a subscription … This is really what we have been driving.”<\/em>

Lores states that HP locks users out<\/strong> of using HP printers when loaded with a non-HP ink cartridge to protect customers against potential viruses. Lores claims, “We have seen that you can embed viruses in the cartridges … Through the cartridge, [the virus can] go to the printer, [and then] from the printer, go to the network<\/em>.”<\/p>\r\n

\"BS\"<\/a>Fake claims<\/h3>\r\n

Security experts call BS<\/strong> on Lores. The plausibility of a virus in an ink cartridge being used to perpetrate an attack is low. even calling it “wildly implausible even in a lab setting, let alone in the wild<\/em><\/a>.” Ars <\/em>points out that HP released HP released Dynamic Security released back in 2016. However, the “research” justifying the cartridge threat didn’t come out till 2022. Additionally, HP established a bug bounty program in 2020<\/a>. The bounty has largely been aimed at identifying third-party cartridges<\/strong> according to Digital Trends<\/em><\/a>. HP claims third-party cartridges violate its intellectual property (IP) and is another argument for bricking consumers\u2019 printers.<\/p>\r\n

\"HP<\/a>Greedflation – the real reason<\/h3>\r\n

The security claim is weak at best. Their decision is to lock their customers HP’s ecosystem to boost profits<\/strong>. Lores told Ars<\/em> “… this customer doesn’t print enough or doesn’t use our supplies, it\u2019s a bad investment<\/em>.”<\/p>\r\n

HP’s Instant Ink plan<\/strong> is an example of a subscription service. The Instant Ink plan charges $1.49 per month to print 10 pages, in addition to the cost of buying your printer. Additional pages are available in sets of 10-15 pages, for $1.00 more per set. The cost to the user rises to $27.99 per month on top of the $549.00 base price for a low-volume printer like the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw, plus shipping.<\/p>\r\n

rb-<\/em><\/h3>\r\n

So, after 3 years of service, you end up paying HP $1,367 for the purchase price for the rights to use your $549 printer. That is 2.5 times the cost subscription over the purchase price.<\/em>

I know what this customer thinks of this HP greedflation.<\/em>

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Related article<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n