HP Blocked My Ink… So I Replaced All 4 Printers TGP#778

HP Blocked My Ink… So I Replaced All 4 Printers TGP#778

From The Gadget Professor (Audio) by Don Baine

February 20, 2026

About this episode

Don Baine discusses his decision to replace four HP printers due to frustrations with ink subscription programs and mechanical issues.

Welcome to The Gadget Professor Show #778 hosted by Don Baine. This Week on The Gadget Professor Show This week, I’m doing something a little different. Instead of reviewing the latest cutting-edge gadget, I’m talking about something we all rely on… printers — and why I made the decision to remove four HP printers from my studio and home office. After years of mechanical issues, frustrating customer service experiences, and being transferred endlessly on support calls, I finally hit a breaking point. My printers refused to print, claiming I did not have “valid HP ink” — even though I was enrolled in the Instant Ink program and using genuine cartridges sent directly from HP. When I cancelled the subscription, the printers blocked the cartridges entirely. That was it. In this episode, I’ll break down: What actually happened How subscription-based ink programs really work Why your printer may not truly belong to you And the financial reality of cartridge printing vs tank systems I replaced all four units with the Epson EcoTank ET-2988 — and the cost comparison may surprise you. This isn’t about brand bashing. It’s about consumer ownership, control, and understanding the long-term…

People in this episode

Host: Don Baine

Topics covered

  • printers
  • consumer ownership
  • ink subscription programs
  • cost comparison
  • printer issues

Keywords

  • HP printers
  • Epson EcoTank
  • Instant Ink
  • printer issues
  • ink costs
  • subscription services
  • consumer rights

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HP, Epson

Products: Epson EcoTank ET-2988, Instant Ink

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