[rant]

Why do Canon, HP etc seem so insistent on not supplying the necessary leads anymore.

I bought a new USB printer on the internet (my old one was a parallel port jobby), finally arrived today- nothing to say on the box what / wasn't included. Whip it open. No USB cable... So now I either have to rob my scanner or cable modem to run it (or take a hour long round trip to PCIdiotsWorld).

It seems to be happening all the time. Last month I bought a USB modem. Again, no USB cable....

I wouldn't mind too much because the printer was only £50, but my father just bought a £250 HP A3 inkjet printer for architectural drawings. Still didn't include a bloody cable. Ended up having to hack the lugs off a wierd lobbed USB connector that came with his broadband modem (which he was running via ethernet).

Are USB cables really that much?? I would have thought the manafacturers could buy them for pennies....

I'm glad to say, however, that Canon did include both a UK 3-pin mains cable and a continental mains cable just in case I want to take the printer I can't actually use to Europe on holiday

Isn't it a bit like buying a new car and finding out they don't supply it with wheels. After all, you *might* just have the right wheels at home from your old car.... Off to fricking PCClueless we go....

[/rant] that feels better

2 words - Wireless network


probably not very helpful.

The reason they put a mains cable in the box is it's a legal requirement to supply one.

The reason they don't put a USB cable in the box (anymore) is it costs 20p which comes straight off their profit.

PCRetard and friends also like the policy as they can sell an overpriced cable and even 'upgrade' the unwary into buying an extra special 'premium' one, or if they are extra lucky an extended warrantee on the cable

Our HP printer had a USB cable supplied with it. To add, it's also a very thick one in heavy insulation.

[Edited on 5/2/08 by Peteff]

Its gash isnt it.
- Found the same myself, and have also lopped off the 'weird lobbes' off a usb cable that came with my moden, that i was using though eathernet. (bt voyager? electric blue cable...?)

But yeah, then equally annoying is that PC world only sell really expesive cables.
-Std 1.2m long usb-a to usb-b cable. £8.50 or whatever.
- You can get the same thing for 18pence off ebuyer, but no, they'll have a tenner please.

Then flipside, the number of really cheap promotional usb pen drives ive been give (8mb being the smalled yet, usefull size that...)
- And ever single one of them comes with a 1/1.2m usb extension lead. Which ish often the most usfull bit.
- Ive strung six of them together to run my printer to the other side of the room.

While we're on the a rant. USB printservers.
- Why are they about £50 when you can get a parrallel one for £5?
- So annoyed with that was i that the last printer i bought for home i picked because it still had a parallel port. Then i bought another one for me at uni because its a good printer. And i can nick ink cartrages and visa versa.


Daniel

quote:

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Originally posted by iank
The reason they put a mains cable in the box is it's a legal requirement to supply one.

The reason they don't put a USB cable in the box (anymore) is it costs 20p which comes straight off their profit.

PCRetard and friends also like the policy as they can sell an overpriced cable and even 'upgrade' the unwary into buying an extra special 'premium' one, or if they are extra lucky an extended warrantee on the cable

---

I remember reading an article in PC Pro many moons ago.

I seems that the manufactures were under intense pressure from the Major retailers (manly the Dixons group) , not to include data cables with printers.

When you see the prices they charge for them. I all becomes clear.

The article also stated the manufactures were also under pressure not to supply ink with printers either.


Ronnie

HP printers come with a USB lead

Well the big bad HP printer my dad got didn't come with a cable!!! Hence the blue BT cable chopping! £250 and no cable!!!

Just got back from a useless trip to the shops. WHSmiths wanted £10 for a USB A=B cable, went to Dixons they wanted £15!!!!

Ebay here we come....

It makes sense that its pressure from the PCWorld places of this world actually...

Ben
(temporarily scanner-less!!!)

tescos flog 'em for a couple of squid
(hazy memory.....)

quote:

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Originally posted by britishtrident
HP printers come with a USB lead

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even though you didnt buy your printer from me, U2U me your address and i'll drop you one in the post for a beer at the next show

Good point

Thanks for the offer but I Ebay'd some as soon as I got back from the shops!!

HP printers defo do come with a USB lead

None of the HP printers I sell come with USB. Tescos have em for £1.99 as do woolies.

£15 SQUID a pop.......to think of how many the stores at work dumped when they moved out.... about five skips worth....
we had no storage otherwise we would have had them