Is there anything left that doesn’t require a subscription?

“I just tried to print something from my printer that I own, with ink that I purchased, and paper. And I can't print without a subscription plan,” said TikTok user Jakie Sevna in a video that had 300,000 views at the time of publishing.

According to Sevna, she couldn’t use her HP printer without paying a $7.50 subscription fee.

“They remotely shut off my printer,” the TikToker said.

While this shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who use an HP subscription plan, what seems different in this case is that Sevna said she already owned the device and its add-ons.

The company offers customers a subscription-based deal that includes a new HP printer, ink delivery, an optional paper add-on service, and paper through an HP All-In Plan.

In this case, users don’t need to buy a printer, but rather get everything delivered to their home.

The subscription price ranges from $8 to $15 per month, depending on their printing needs.

According to the company, customers who already have a printer can also get a subscription to ensure they don’t run out of ink by getting an HP Instant Ink plan.

The pricing of these plans ranges from $1.50 to $28 per month.

The woman didn’t specify whether she was enrolled in this plan. In the comments, she added that she needed to “look into printer subscriptions.”

Subscriptions prevent us from fully owning devices

Nevertheless, the video sparked debate in the comments, with some users sharing their two cents.

Some users encouraged the woman to return the printer, expressing their frustration that many things we buy are no longer ours, since they require a paid subscription to work.

“[...] You didn’t read what you bought. Avoid the subscription model printers like the plague,” wrote one user, adding that it’s best not to use aftermarket ink, since it will “break the printer.”

The person explained that “the printer checks the computer chip on the ink cartridge, and a firmware update will break your printer.”

In 2024, a woman named Maggie bought an HP printer that worked fine for 6 months before it stopped printing, reported More Perfect Union.

The customer didn’t know where the issue was because the device wasn’t damaged and had both ink and paper.

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Later, she learned that she was enrolled in HP’s Instant Ink subscription. According to the company, if the subscription is canceled, the HP Instant Ink cartridges will no longer work.

This means that if you have a full HP Instant Ink cartridge and decide to cancel the subscription before you use it all, you will no longer have access to it.

So, instead of getting a copy of whatever the woman decided to print, she got a page that said the printer couldn't print because “payment method needs updating.”

“Requiring a subscription to use a physical item you bought should be illegal,” noted one TikTok user.

“You think it's annoying with a printer. Now imagine being a farmer who paid $300,000 for a tractor that won't work if he doesn't pay the dealer service subscription,” added another netizen, referring to the fact that many other companies create products that are based on subscriptions.

For example, Oura, the smart ring, costs between $350 and $500. While the device provides basic features, if you’d like to see insights and personal health data, you’ll need to pay $6 for a monthly subscription.

Many car makers also add new features and lock them behind paid subscriptions. Among these are well-known brands such as Tesla, BMW, Toyota, and Volkswagen, which offer paid services such as remote vehicle control, vehicle finder, health stat checks, and more.

HP printers involved in a class action lawsuit

Some netizens said that the HP subscription model matter should be settled in a class-action lawsuit. This wouldn’t be the first one in the company’s recent history.

Last year, the company reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit related to HP LaserJet printers.

It was argued that, by installing Dynamic Security firmware updates, the company blocked third-party ink and toner cartridges in some LaserJet printers from 2020.

While HP didn’t admit any wrongdoing, it agreed “to continue making certain disclosures about its use of Dynamic Security, and to continue to provide printer users with the option to either install or decline to install firmware updates that include Dynamic Security.”

Cybernews has contacted the original poster and HP for additional comment.

FAQ about HP printer subscriptions

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