Yesterday I solved all my printer problems by buying a new one. I drove to Comet, somewhere in the vicinity of Oxford and only went wrong once (it was Tom Baker's fault, he told me to turn right and made it sound like it was a closer right turn than it actually was). I got harassed in the shop, which I hate. I much prefer to be left alone, although of course when you need someone to ask something there's no one around.

On the way home I got all exciting by the big Tescos having space for chocolate buttons, which is a start. When I got home I was very good and did some things that needed doing before unpacking the printer. I read the setup guide and established it was all very simple. I managed to get the printer out of the box without too much difficulty. Then I went to plug it in.

My old printer had a lead with a plug on one end that plugged straight into the printer at the other. The new one has a transformer with a lead connected to it that plugged into the printer. What it doesn't have, is a plug. Not anywhere in the box. The setup guide tells me that not only should I have one (although their picture has an American plug) but also some inks (although I knew from reviews that these don't contain much ink, so I did buy some yesterday).

By this point it was too late on a Sunday to call anyone at all, so I emailed HP (since I'd got an HP printer). They asked me exactly what was in the box and I told them. I got an email this morning to tell me that they don't deal with international deliveries and I should ring. The bloke who sent the email understood that I had no USB cable or cartridges. At which point I beat my head against a brick wall for a bit and phoned them up.

I told one person my problem, who put me through to another person, who I then told the problem to. There was a lot of putting me on hold and he eventually told me he was completely useless I had to talk to Comet.

So I rang Comet and got lost in their menus when I reached a dead end of options that I didn't want any of. When I eventually got a person at the other end they told me that if I took it back within 72 hours they could exchange it and it would be fine. The slight problem is that they're a 40 min journey away and I don't fancy doing it in the dark. And to get there before they closed I'd have to do it while the roads are busy too.

So she put me through to the actual shop, who happily wrote a note to say I'd be coming in this weekend to exchange it. What I really want now is:
a) a working printer
b) my petrol money, if nothing else because it's currently £1.05 a litre here and that journey will push me over into needing to fill up.

In summary: I've gone from having one non-working printer to having two non-working printers, less space and less petrol. Which I don't think is an improvement.

2 Responses to “Printer saga”

Fuzz Says:
Wednesday 30th January 2008 at 6:30 pm

Hard luck about the printer and the useless menus.

Remember to take your old printer with you to comet. IIRC they are supposed to dispose of your old items as part of the recent EU making manufacturers dispose of items they produce. Also, you can't just chuck electronic stuff in the bin anymore so it would involve a trip to the tip to dispose of anyway (another recent EU thingy).

Nic Says:
Wednesday 30th January 2008 at 8:24 pm

Thanks. I was actually going to give the old printer to a friend of mine who tends to scavenge parts of old printers & computers etc.