After reading about the infamous “two blinking buttons” error problem with the HP 3820, I decided to chat with an HP tech.
In the end, HP replaced the printer with a newere 6122 model + cable and ink cartridges, which “works perfectly” under Linux, according to LinuxPrinting.org
I have to say, I am very please with HP’s response, and their support of the Linux community by releasing a hpijs driver as open source.
Tech: Hello Anthony.
Tech: Welcome to HP Total Care for Deskjet Products.
Tech: How may I assist you today?
Anthony: hello
Anthony: my 3820 has stopped working properly
Anthony: i get the bottom two lights flashing (paper jam, and power lights) simultaneously.
Anthony: hello?
Tech: I am still with you.
Anthony: i have both cables unplugged at the moment.
Anthony: when i power up, the cartridge does not move at all, it’s all the way to the right.
Anthony: and both bottom lights are still blinking.
Tech: This is the carriage stall .
Tech: I will provide you some steps and let me know after you are done with the steps /
Anthony: ok
Tech: Here are the steps :
Tech: 1. Turn off the printer by pressing the Power button on the front panel of the printer.
2. Open the top door on the printer and leave it open.
Tech: 3. Press the Power button to turn on the printer.
a. Printer activity continues for approximately 20 to 25 seconds (feed roller activity, alternating between turning forward and reversing).
b. After activity stops, the Power light and Feed light (bottom two lights) will now be flashing.
Tech: 4. Pressing the Feed (middle) button results in activity and activity duration similar to the power up cycle noted above, with the Power light and Feed light continuing, uninterrupted, to flash in unison.
5. Pressing the Power button after step 3b, have completed will immediately power down the printer with no further activity or flashing lights.
Tech: I am done with providing you the steps.
Tech: Let me know your observations after you are done with them.
Anthony: ouch, that didn’t sound good.
Anthony: the cartridge went from right-to-left, and heard some loud cracking sound.
Anthony: at step 3
Tech: Fine.. proceed further with the steps.
Anthony: ok, i’m done
Anthony: the cartridge is now 3 inches in from the left, powered off
Tech: Are you done with the steps ?
Anthony: yes
Tech: Let me inform you…
Tech: HP has identified some issues with the printer and has decided to replace the printer for FREE !
Anthony: hmm…
Tech: Let me take an opportunity to replace the printer for FREE !
Anthony: with the same printer?
Tech: Let me explain you the replacement process.
Tech: You will have to provide me the information that I ask you.
Tech: Then you will get a call for the credit card information.
Anthony: ok
Tech: You will not be charged from the credit card, this is for the security purpose.
Tech: After you get the printer, you will have to place the defective printer in the same box and send it back with in 30 days.
Tech: Then you will not be charged on your credit card.
Anthony: ok, postage included in the defective box?
Anthony: which printer will i be getting in replacement of the 3820?
Tech: Yes.
Tech: You will get the deskjet 6122 printer as a replacement along with the cartridges, power cod and the software.
Tech: Am I clear with the replacement process ?
Anthony: yes.
Anthony: so just send the defective one back when I get the new one.
Tech: Yes, you are correct.
Tech: To initiate this case and escalate the same, we would require the following information:
First Name
Last Name
Email:
Mailing Address
(including City,State and Postal Code)
Time and Dates to Call ( Only Business Days)
Telephone No.
Product Serial No.(ex: MX23I5Q7B9)
…
Tech: Please provide me few minutes while I update my database.
Anthony: ok
Tech: Are you Ok if we call you now for the Credit card information ?
Anthony: sure
Tech: Let me know after you are done with the call .
Anthony: k
Anthony: no call yet
Tech: Let me check the call status.
Anthony: hello
Tech: did you get a call ?
Anthony: ?
Anthony: are we back online?
Anthony: think i lost you
Tech: We are still connected.
Anthony: k
Tech: Did you get a call ?
Anthony: yeah, done. they are sending one out.
Tech: That’s Great !
Tech: Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
Anthony: nope!
Tech: A copy of our chat session will be e-mailed to you shortly. You may also receive a chat survey. We would appreciate your feedback.
Tech: This survey is based on your experience in this chat session. So, please ensure you take the survey.
Anthony: i just want to say that I have a new found respect for HP, replacing a defective printer, and HP’s willingness to release their driver as open source into the Linux community – this will go a long way with me and my colleagues!
Greg Pelcher
January 31, 2006 at 7:00 pm
I have a HP Deskjet 3820 which has stopped working. I have the 2 bottom loghts Flashing, and have replaced the Cartridges and have not found a paper jam. Can someone guide me as to a fix or a replacement.
Greg Pelcher
444 Thrushwood Lane
Webster,NY 14580
585-671-1811 home
585-265-1810 work
financiering
February 6, 2006 at 1:38 am
Hi, I think you are totally right. Great! – :) Susan.
Kevin
February 6, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Well they are not replacing them anymore!
Chat Transcript Begins Here
—————————————————–
Gary
Hello Kevin.
Gary
Welcome to HP Total Care for DeskJet products.
Gary
How may I help you today?
Kevin
hi
Kevin
my 3820 has stopped working properly
Kevin
i get the bottom two lights flashing (paper jam, and power lights) simultaneously.
Gary
Please tell me if the cartridge carriage moves almost to the center automatically, when you open the top cover of the printer.
Kevin
no
Kevin
they move all the way to the left
Kevin
one pieces of paper rolls through
Gary
It does mean that there is a carriage stall.
Kevin
and then
Kevin
they move all the way to the right
Gary
Turn off the printer by pressing the Power button on the front panel of the printer. 2. Open the top door on the printer and leave it open. 3. Press the Power button to turn on the printer. a. Printer activity continues for approximately 20 to 25 seconds (feed roller activity, alternating between turning forward and reversing). b. After activity stops, the Power light and Feed light (bottom two lights) will now be flashing.
Kevin
done
Gary
4. Pressing the Feed (middle) button results in activity and activity duration similar to the power up cycle noted above, with the Power light and Feed light continuing, uninterrupted, to flash in unison. 5. Pressing the Power button after step 3b, have completed will immediately power down the printer with no further activity or flashing lights.
Kevin
i’m not following Gary
Kevin
you want me to push the middle button?
Gary
Yes
Kevin
i did… and it does the exact same thing… exactly… the cartridges end up all the way to the right
Gary
How about the lights on the front panel, Kevin?
Kevin
still blinking together Gary
Kevin
i was just trying to put in new inks
Kevin
and can’t get them to stop in the middle
Kevin
i hope i didn’t spend $50.00 for nothing… : (
Gary
The issue at hand seems to be related to a physical hardware malfunction, which would require an onsite diagnosis.
Gary
You can either get the printer repaired or buy a new printer.
Gary
Can I suggest you a cheap and best model in the market, Kevin?
Kevin
yes… is it an HP? are there any HP’S that last longer than a year Gary? i’m losing faith
Gary
There are printers which have been in use from 4 to 5 years, Kevin.
Gary
I suggest you to go for Deskjet 3940 which costs only $49.99
Kevin
and the inks for the 3940? are they comparable to the 78 and 15?
Gary
No, Kevin
Kevin
these don’t last very long Gary
Kevin
do they last longer?
Gary
They use 21 and 22 cartridges.
Gary
If you want to use same cartridges, you can buy an Officejet.
Kevin
i appreciate you suggestion Gary
Kevin
just a little dissapointed…
Gary
Would you like to use the same cartridges, Kevin?
Gary
Did you already buy some more ink?
Kevin
no… i was hoping you were going to tell me that the 21 and 22 lasted longer… that’s all
Kevin
i’ll look at the 3940 Gary
Gary
Do you want me to arrange a callback to order a new printer, Kevin?
Gary
Do you want me to share the printer specifications, Kevin?
Kevin
call back Gary?
Gary
Yes. So that you can order it on phone.
Gary
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=printers&category=inkjets&subcat1=deskjet&catLevel=2&product_code=C9050A%23B1H
Gary
A web page must be popped up in your computer. Please have a look at the printer in the web page.
Kevin
thank you… but no thanks
Kevin
i think i’m all set Gary
Gary
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts& landing=printers&category=inkjets&subcat1=deskjet&catLevel=2&product_code=C9050A%23B1H
Gary
You are welcome and thank you for using HP Total Care and providing us an opportunity to serve you through Real-Time Chat.
Gary
A copy of our chat session will be e-mailed to you shortly. Please contact us again if you require any further assistance.
Gary
Take care. Bye.
——————————————-
Chat Transcript Ends Here
Search engine marketing tutorials
February 13, 2006 at 9:14 am
Hi, I thought I’d just leave this message on your blog. I hope you don’t mind. I’ve been trying to find blogs where people are talking about Search engine marketing tutorials and when I was looking, I found this one on this post. You have helped me in some way. Anyway, I want to say thank you before I go off to find some more info about it.
Gojko Kasich
March 12, 2006 at 11:18 am
I just talked to them . . .
And “Angelina” told me to take it to a Best Buy Service Center. She couldn’t tell me if they have the parts, or how much it would cost.
haiki
April 28, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Think about a HP ink cartridge that has a warranty. Bad ink cartridge, color bad, light ink which appears watery, what-ever, they give you another one. That’s the way a warranty works. You buy a recycled ink cartridge, with no HP warranty. It may work momentarily, but then you get these same messages, remove cartridge. Why should my printer shut down after purchasing a recycled ink cartridge? But then if you buy an HP ink cartridge, your printer is up and running again. Or until that time HP thinks you have printed long enough, even if you have plenty of ink. HP forces you, according to HP predetermined usage, in order for your printer to work, to buy their ink cartridges, or HP will shut your printer down.
Don’t focus on the ink cartridge, focus on the fact HP, and other printer manufacturers, stop your printer from working, because of some silly game they are playing of cheating customers before the ink runs out, or wrong ink standards, or what-ever. I say, go ahead send these stupid messages, but don’t stop my printer from working. This is anti-competitive, and in violation of anti-trust laws.
To be perfectly clear
Hewlett Packard recycles their ink cartridges by promoting that HP cartridges be returned for recycling, using a self addressed, stamped envelope. Allowing HP, through their “refurbishing and reselling” effort to conserve resources, using the various recycling facilities of manufacturers around the world contracted by HP. Thus, the mere fact that there also are other recyclers available to refurbish, and recycle ink cartridges, but except for lower cost, and the free choice of the consumer, HP has restricted the consumer the full use, and the operation of HP printers.
Smith and Roberson’s Business Law, ninth edition. West Publishing. Chapter 43; ANTITRUST.
“Characterizing a type of restraint as per se illegal therefore has a significant effect on the prosecution of an antitrust suit. In such a case, the plaintiff need only show that the type of restraint occurred, she does not need to prove that the restraint limited competition…..Tying arrangements. A tying arrangement occurs when the seller of a product, service, or intangible (the “tying” product) conditions its sale on the buyers purchasing a second product, service, or intangible (the “tied” product) from the seller….Because tying arrangements limit buyers’ freedom of choice and may exclude competitors, the law closely scrutinizes such agreements.”
Hewlett Packard has, unbeknownst to customers who purchased HP printers (tying product), tied as a condition, the purchase of new HP ink cartridges (tied product), or HP recycled ink cartridges, through the use illegal anti-competitive consumer practices.
After all, what are we talking about, it’s a ball point pen refill morphed into a printer ink cartridge. It’s a recycled auto part! Again, I say Hewlett Packard, and the rest of the conspirators, play your silly games by cheating consumers on ink cost, and supplies. I say go ahead! But don’t stop me from the use of my printer.
Zack
September 10, 2007 at 7:41 pm
That was beautiful. lol
Tamala Mcquirk
May 14, 2010 at 6:04 am
does anyone have any info on whether or not apple is making a 3rg gen iphone this summer, I want a new telephone today and was waiting on getting the up-to-date iphone and merely update it to the 3.0 in the summer, but i’m simply wondering if it worth holding off in case a new one does come out