Goodwill: It’s the trust in a product, in a company, in a brand. And HP just trashed their goodwill for good. Yesterday I was half joking when I said HP should give TouchPad buyers a free iPad. But only just. Those people bought the company’s reputation when they decided on a TouchPad. They believed it would be good because HP said it was a was. They were probably not too put off by all the bad reviews because they were confident HP would get everything right in the end. That confidence, that loyalty to the HP brand, is now shattered.
Imagine if Apple introduced a product, sold a hundred thousand or so and then withdrew it within weeks. Would you be happy that your $600 device was now selling for $99? Or that there was no future, no software updates, hardly any applications? If I were a TouchPad buyer I would be incandescent with rage. I would never trust HP again. Ever. HP has just done so much damage to its reputation that I doubt the company has a future in the consumer field. I wouldn’t even buy an HP printer cartridge after this. They should do the decent thing and refund everyone. The total cost would be but a fraction of the cash they’ve just spent buying Autonomy. And they might just rescue a shred of their reputation.
It looks like HP have done the decent thing in offering refunds. I imagine u wasn't the only one who suggested it. Incidentally, HP now do ink jet printers with separate cartridges but I agree on the price. I don't print often but when I do there is invariably one cartridge needing replacement. I am so fed up that I've just bought a Samsung monochrome printer. I don't know if it will work out cheaper, but it starts instantly and works quietly. I don't need colour anyway.
I couldnt agree more!!!!! i have frequently purchesed HP devices over the years, but have moved away from their printers because of the rediculous price of their (three colours in one) cartridges to Epson, who at least allow me to merely replace the cartridge that is empty.
But this Tablet fiasco is beyond comprehension. How on earth did they make that mistake? I imagine there are a number of Corner Offices at HP HQ that have had their occupants removed with their cardboard boxes of odds and ends in the last few days.
I am also waiting for the class actions to start up, as I suspect that what HP have just done to their customers might well be fodder for those vulpine lawyers who deal in class actions.
I know I would be beyond fury if I was one of those unfortunates who had paid the full price a week ago, only to see the damn things being almost given away all over the world.
Going to be some exciting scenes in the shops where those things were sold I suspect.