[ale] Refill ink cartridge, go to jail!!

[adrin at bellsouth.net (H. A. Story)]

Geoffrey wrote:

>Brian Hartsfield wrote:
>  
>
>>On 9/5/05, Geoffrey <esoteric at 3times25.net> wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Brian Hartsfield wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>What is somebody is absent-minded (like myself) and simply forgets to 
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>send
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>the thing back? Have I now broken the law?
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>As laws go, in general, yes. If you're driving down the road and you
>>>forget the speed limit is 45 and you're caught doing 65, you will get a
>>>ticket.
>>>      
>>>
>>My problem with that is that normal rebates are based on the assumption that 
>>most people will not take the time to send it in. Now you make a "prebate" 
>>and the same assumption has to apply - that most people are not going to 
>>send it in. So what is the point?
>>    
>>
>
>No, it's certainly different.  When you get a rebate coupon, that's all 
>you have.  You have gained no value.  With the prebate, they are giving 
>you the value up front with a promise that you'll do your part when the 
>time comes.
>
>  
>
>>To sue people who don't follow 
>>instructions to the letter or just the people who refill?
>>    
>>
>
>Good question.  It depends on the wording.
>
>  
>
>>The example is not 
>>a good analogy since if you are driving it is easy to control you speed.
>>Here, you are forcing people to go out of their way to do something (mail a 
>>cartridge back) which is not part of their normal routine.
>>    
>>
>
>Driving the speed  limit may not be a part of their routine either. 
>I've always had a heavy foot and have to work at driving within the 
>legal speed limit.
>
>  
>
>>A better car 
>>anology would be telling people if they are out of gas they cannot stop 
>>anywhere but have to come to station X to refuel even if that is out of 
>>their way.
>>    
>>
>
>Sounds like a Microsoft solution. :)  If you make such a stupid legal 
>agreement, then you are likely bound by it.  IANAL, so don't take that 
>to court on my account.
>
>I don't know the whole story, but I'd doubt that they'll sue folks who 
>fail to return, more likely, those who refill.  I really don't know. 
>I'm not saying it's right mind you, I was addressing the question of 
>breaking the law.
>
>Consumers simply need to react with their wallet.  Don't buy their 
>products and let them know why, every chance you get.
>
>  
>
>>I still don't like this prebate thing at all.
>>    
>>
>
>I don't either.
>
>  
>
Sounds to me like,  If you have a Lexmark printer.  You need to pay cash 
for your ink.   Mine was a gift.  I will NEVER buy a product from them.  
Just because of the last lawsuit they did to a ink cart. remanufactor.  
They want to be in their own world let them.  And whenever someone ask 
me about Lexmark printers, they get my recommendations.

Adrin