F100 print support costs soar in new schedule

Customers report that HP is nearly tripling support charges in the coming year for using its F100 Series printers, devices in use at some HP 3000 sites requiring continuous-feed print capability. The high-speed printer’s support includes “click charges,” a way of measuring the actual use of the printer to determine support fees. HP has dropped its free-clicks-per-month allowance while reducing the overall charge per click. But the adjustment left one site with a support bill that jumped from about $20,000 yearly to more than $60,000.
HP is apparently basing its decision on the impending end of support for the devices, set to expire at the end of 2002. “Basically, they want the F100 users to start looking at other HP printers,” said one manager. “The HP support on this printer has been less than enthusiastic.”