ThankfullyHP is droppingits ridiculous HP Plus printer ink subscription schemeby discontinuing those models of printers.
It is not unlocking those printers for any existing owners.
Companies got greedy, sacrificing customer trust for quick profits.
Wait til they find out how much that ink is costing them.HP
But the tactics never last,“Will Mitchell, the founder ofStartupBros, told Lifewire via email.
“I helped one TV company refocus on quality and partnerships.
Their revenue grew as customers saw real value.
If it rained ink, printer makers would still find a way to charge you for it.HP
Customers accept bad tactics out of necessity, but flock to brands offering transparency and mutual benefit.”
“Plus”
HP Pluswas an ink subscription service.
It’s a straight-up money grab.
Who wouldn’t want a second screen showing 24/7 ads?.Telly
Well, perhaps not.
Another contender for the Most Abusive Practices award is TV makers.
Growth
The reason for all this is pretty transparentunlike the business practices of the companies involved.
It’s all about growth.
But perhaps the most surprising part of all this is that we swallow it.
“For many big-ticket purchases that happen infrequently, subscriptions are the hot business model.
There was a time when you could simply buy a car.
Today, most cars (especially premium cars) have various subscriptions.
The car has navigation installed, but to use it, you gotta pay monthly.
Some companies position themselves as being more ethical, for example.
“The future favors ethical companies benefiting customers and shareholders.
The razor-blade model fails once customers realize they’re being taken advantage of,” says Mitchell.
