I encountered some issues with my older HP 7800 printer so I decided the best solution was a new one. Having issues off and on throughout the years with HP printers I decided to go with a Epson. What a MISTAKE!!
Epson is the WORST company I’ve seen in many years. But let me explain…
When I opened my new printer I was quite pleased with quality and packaging; although it was quite convoluted how they packaged the ink cartridges. However that is where the pleasant experience ends.
Having completed unpacking and putting the printer in place, I was greeted with information telling me the only way to setup my new printer was to install the Epson app. This upset me but Epson was not going to stop there and quickly pissed me off to the point I would never recommend their printers to anyone.
I installed the app, well since I search the App Store and inadvertently installed the wrong app I then had to use the QR code in order to get the right app. The second thing pissing me off. But hey, they always tell me change is good. I know better but sometimes we hope.
I fired up the app and immediately is requests access to Location Services on my iPhone, I respectfully disallowed access to these services. Immediately after doing so a popup comes up saying Epson App WILL NOT setup my brand new printer unless I GIVE THEM access to location services. Now I am pissed off. Why does Epson need to use location services to setup my printer. Epson explain that one to me and do not give me the garbage you used on the device.
Needing to solve my printer issue I reluctantly gave the app access to location services and the nightmare got worse. Suddenly Epson’s wireless was telling me my wireless signal wasn’t strong enough. Really Epson, this printer was sitting right next to my wireless router, so close it was precisely 3 inches away from my wireless router. As for my wireless router it covers my 1700+ square foot house, end to end without a booster and without any connection issue other than this brand new Epson printer sitting 3 inches away.
You know printers are great, they serve a simple function and require a single driver to operate. In the old days you bought your printer, set it up, put the CD in your CD drive, installed the driver and were good to go, not every needing anything else except maybe the once every 5 years a driver update and in most cases Windows takes care of that for you. Mac, well my gosh it is so difficult to search and locate updated drivers that companies think Mac users as stupid and unable to figure it out. Yet, Mac users tend to be more computer savvy than your average Windows user.
Today with Epson it is give them location services so they can track your location. Yes, your location after all location services are on your phone, your phone is with you wherever you are; Epson is not collecting data on the location of the damn printer.
The printer is boxed and being returned to the store. I have never used a bigger piece of crap for a printer when it comes to setup. I have now done what I have many times in the past, worked around to get my older HP working again. I will use this printer until it completely stops working as anything newer requires an app and others I am sure are demanding location service access to setup and configure your printer.
Someone explain how all this technology is an improvement? Really how to you improve setup printer, install driver, print? Better because I have to now setup printer, install an app using a QR code, then allow the access to location services before they will setup and install drivers to my new printer; and this is supposed to be better?
I will not get started on QR codes and how much information is gathered from scanning that so called easy link. But in summary of QR codes, yes the company creating the QR code has information on everyone, their device, etc. of everyone who scanned that code into their phone only to be taken to a link in the App Store, Google Play or some damn website. All accompanied with more data collection and tracking.
Remember Google was funded by DARPA to develop a way to track everyone across the internet with full details of what they are doing on the internet, and Google search was born, Google Ads, Analytics, etc. all tracking everything you do just as DARPA requested they created.
Enough already people. It is time to wake up, to stop accepting terms you have not read because once it is installed you accepted what you did not read on technology you have not even begun to understand.
