Sorry. I meant to include a "vanity" notation somewhere, but it's been awhile since I posted something, and I got caught up in the moment.
Never got a parallel cable with my parallel printers.
Never got a parallel cable with my parallel printers.
I just checked on the Staples site, and they clearly state that no cable is included. Did you really wait weeks for them to send you a cable before using the product?
I always seem to upgrade or receive used printers with cables, so I've two or three extra laying around I can send you if you give me your address in Freep Mail.
Its usually not included for a reason. Printers these days have multiple interfaces, and HP doesn't want to provide connectivity for each method. HP is no different from anyone in this regard.
They can't afford to, since Carly Fiorina has to be paid her $70 million in options or whatever, while she is flying around in her cmoopany-supplied private jet.
Back during the transition from parallel to USB on these
types of devices, it was common for the cartons to
prominently display "Interface cable not included".
Did the HP carton lack that warning? If so, I'll wager
that you aren't the only unhappy 5510 customer.
Even though we've moved into the USB-only era, the warning
is still needed, because:
a. high-end devices often can afford to include a cable,
b. low-end devices often can't, and
c. in any case, the consumer needs to know the cable length.
Cameras at all price points, for example, usually include
the USB cable, because one end of the cable is at least
the mini-style USB connector, if not outright proprietary.
The printer-scanner-fax-copier device market, at the 5510's
price point, is highly competitive, and I'm not surprised
that the bill of materials cut out a buck or so by
omitting the cable.
The remainder of your "total customer experience" seems to
require no comment. I wonder if the phone even rang in
the Western Hemisphere.
Yeah, that's pretty cheap. From my recent experiences, it appears that the USB cables aren't coming with mainboards or cases, either.
It appears that price is what competition is all about, now. I read a piece here yesterday about how millions of Chinese are croaking on the toxins from factories that our corporate officers are administering and buying from over there.
After spending more than 40 hours troubleshooting recently the damage caused to our PC by an HP-Software Update recommended by HP for our HP All-in-One printer, and trying to find someone at HP Customer Service competent enough to resolve the matter, I found HP telling me the only solution was to reformat my PC.
Time and again I met up with the most incompetent, uncaring personnel imaginable. The hours piled up largely because the software could not be simply uninstalled, but one would have to follow this elaborate procedure that never really removed all traces of what was installed, and no one at HP understood how to correct the mess. Some would simply not reply at all during Tech Support chat sessions and then cancel the session without warning, and some stayed silent on the phone, then redirected my call to some apparently nonexistent person who never arrived.
After writing to Corporate, eventually HP offered to send to me a couple of ink cartridges to make up for my wasted time. They also said they would pay to have my PC reformatted, up to $150. When I explained I've nearly 30 years' computer experience and would not take my PC to a business where it would be further out-of-commission for some unspecified period of time, HP told me that's the best they would do, and that they didn't even have to do that; they blamed me at one point for not heeding their hidden warning that installing their recommended software is to be installed at a consumer's own risk, then backed off on this position.
The "improved", recommended software update removed features and function from a fairly costly peripheral; I was asked by one HP Tech that it didn't matter, if the printer could still print -- ignoring all of its other functions -- "Isn't that good enough?"
Incredibly, one HP Tech actually told me the software I downloaded from HP's website at HP's recommendation may contain a virus, their guess as to why I experienced the results I did.
I'll be purchasing and recommending their competitions' products.
A post-script to my initial response to you, by the way, HP never sent to me the two ink cartridges it offered, either.
Sorry doll, but you sound like a real jerk.
USB cable doesn't come with it. End of story. I can't believe you wasted a couple MONTHS for an item that costs a few dollars.
Customer support is hard enough with reasonable people!
That's how it works, buddy. When I bought a ~vey~ expensive Epson inket printer a few years ago, no cable was included. I was a bit annoyed, but just took it in stride, and drove back to the store to get the cable.
The model I bought could be connected by USB or parallel. Both types of cables are available in various lengths. How are they supposed to know what kind and what length you want or need? Should they include an assortment, and let the extras get thrown away?
Why all the bitching and moaning and weeks wasted with HP when a few bucks at the local Target is all it would have taken to get you hooked up?
W/o power it won't work. So, you should demand free electricity too.
I'm hardly one to stick up for bad service, but you are being totally unreasonable here. First, I've never bought a printer that came with a cable -- parallel printer or USB. I have bought several printers that, when I got it unpacked, I discovered it didn't have a cable and went, "oh, ____", then went back and got it. Or stole a cable from some other hardware item. Either way I never called the manufacturer.
I've bought several HP printers over the years and frankly, consider HP one of the best hardware companies going. All have worked flawlessly. I've bought a Deskjet, an Office Jet, a LaserJet 5MP, my wife's color one (don't know model number), and recently a 1012 that I use on my desk at work. On the other hand, I bought a Canon machine for copies and faxes that I am now having trouble with.
If you are that unhappy with the product, why don't you return it?
Why not take it back and get a refund. I boycott HP and dear ole Carly. What makes them think they're entitled to a sale when they treat people this way?