Imagine our delight when we read the following quote from Hewlett-Packard in the March issue of Hard Copy Supplies Journal. "Regarding steps taken to prevent the cloning of smart chips, because HP's design process is customer-focused, we have not taken steps to prevent clone chips from being used or to prevent resetting of the chips as is done with the Fuji-Xerox engine-based machines."
This passage unequivocally answered the question of whether the new HP 4100’s smart chip locked out or impeded remanufacturing. This news was buttressed by the information acquired earlier from Hewlett-Packard and set forth at http://www.rechargermagazine.com/news.asp?id=200103305.0.
It seemed that perhaps Hewlett-Packard was embracing an "open door" policy toward competing with the aftermarket, and thereby taking the high road. It makes good sense for HP to undertake an open policy on chips and their resetting by aftermarket competitors.
At least 8 percent of all cartridges sold by remanufacturers are new OEM cartridges, and since that survey was published more than a year ago, we are certain that number has increased.
A full 86 percent of remanufacturers service and maintain printers as part of their business (source: Info & Analysis Survey published May 2001). This year's survey on service reflected a dramatic increase in OEM-authorized remanufacturers. Six years ago, only 12 percent of respondents who serviced printers were OEM-authorized. Two years ago, 34.4 percent of remanufacturers had aligned themselves with an OEM by becoming an authorized service provider.
This year's survey reveals that a full 44 percent are now authorized dealers.
Of those respondents who specified OEM authorization, 100 percent have secured that status from Hewlett-Packard. However, we hear that Hewlett-Packard’s new Authorized Service Provider threshold requirements effective June 30 will make authorized status harder to obtain. That’s too bad.
Hewlett-Packard has an opportunity here to help expand its dealer base -- remanufacturers sell its products, new or remanufactured, and its printers.
However inviting and exciting the statement from Hewlett-Packard appeared, the story does not have a wholly happy ending. Repeated pleas to HP to issue the same statement directly to Recharger Magazine resulted in a lukewarm response, and no statement similar to the one published by Lyra Research, Inc.
Lexmark never sends mixed signals
If nothing else, Lexmark consistently reiterates its intent to lock out aftermarket competition. Its new Lexmark J110 inkjet cartridges come with a "signature button" that starts tracking ink from the day that the cartridge is installed in the printer. Thirteen months later, the cartridge’s life terminates and the chip shuts down the cartridge. (Thanks again to Hard Copy Supplies Journal for reporting on this new cartridge).
Add yet another cartridge to the rogue’s gallery of technological time bombs in imaging supplies.
E-mail tricia@rechargermagazine.com
