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Deb wrote:
My old HP Deskjet 600C went belly up. I had it to 2 electronics repair shops (one was was an authorized HP repair center) but I can't find anyone who is able or willing to fix it. The HP dealer said he had a used printer that didn't print in color that he would sell to me for $99 which seemed pricey for a used one. I shopped at CompUSA, Staples and WalMart looking for a parallel port connection printer, but the clerks look at me like I was asking a Ford dealer for a Model T! I can't buy online cause I don't have a credit card. Any ideas what I can do about getting a parallel port compatible printer?

Joe Responds:
They wanted $99 dollars for a 'used' one that didn't even work properly itself? Wow, there's a good example of profit-making! A newly refurbished HP Deskjet 600c can be purchased for only $89 dollars.

http://choiceprinters.com/ij/hp_dj600.html

So, let's see.... hmmmm... an old used defective printer for $99 dollars or a NEWLY REFURBISHED printer, same make, same model for $89 dollars?? Wow, that's a tough one...

I'd stay away from that repair shop AND report them to the better business bureau. Better yet, get a friend to print out the web page above, and take it to the repair shop. Show them the page and tell them you want them to order it for you, and you will pay them $89 dollars, plus any verified shipping cost, and $10 dollars extra for their trouble.

When they balk at that because it doesn't involve them making gobs of profit by selling their old junk to unsuspecting 'marks'...ooops I mean 'customers' let them know you think they are very unethical, and you intend to notify the BBB and everyone you know what kind of a scam they tried to pull on you.

As far as buying one on the internet without a credit card, sorry you aren't able to do that. Two options:

Get one of your better-off relatives to use their credit card to order it for you, as you are handing them the cash for it (Don't ask them for their credit card, just give them the web address and let THEM order it as if they were buying it for themselves)
Go to the web site yourself and send them an email saying that you can send them a Postal Money Order for the cost and would they accept that? Do NOT offer to send them one of your 'good' checks unless they say that that is okay.

...Joe

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