HP LaserJet 1012 - Why all the heavy discounting?

[Wombat]

I'm in Canada and it seems like everywhere I turn this month with the
big technology and office supply chains, the HP LaserJet 1012 printer
is being heavily discounted - typically $100 off in sales, promotions
and various "instant rebates".

Anyone know why this might be? Past experience has shown that a
product like this might be heavily discounted to get it out of
stock/warehousing prior to the product's phasing out or replacement
with a superior model. Even HP USA online is selling "refurbished"
versions of this product.

I've been seriously looking into getting this printer (and a decent
laser, by all accounts at epinions.com and magazine reviews), but
should I be at all worried that it's being offered for slashed bargain
prices everywhere? What gives?


Wombat

 

[BobS]

Wombat,

I'm just south of you (and would you please close the door - it's getting
cold down here...) and I see the price is $199USD for the printer. Consider
that I paid almost $1,000 for my HP4 LaserJet and $700 for the HP6 LaserJet
and now you can get this one for a song in comparison - go for it. I also
have an HP 4 scanner and an HP plotter in the office and other than normal
maintenance (replace ink supplies, toners and cleaning) they all work well.
A couple of these are 10 years old and still going strong...

At this price level, the printer is probably considered a throw-away so
don't expect about more than 3 years of parts availability and original
toner cartridges. Your concern over the price cutting is most likely
exactly what you suspect - move'em out for the new models, just like
everything else.

I have no experience with this model, so unless others tell you it's a real
dog, grab it while you can.

Bob S.