Customer Service? I don't think so.

About 5 years ago, I bought an all-in-one printer, a Canon.  It has done what I needed and, because I don't print that much stuff, it's still in excellent condition.  This is actually only the second computer printer I have owned.  The first one worked fine for 10 years and I only replaced it because I wanted to have a printer that did a better job with photographs.

I recently upgraded my computer and got the newest level of operating system as part of the deal.  Naturally, I go through and set-up all of my peripherals, including the printer.  Only the printer needs a driver.  Going to the Canon website I find that they don't have one for my new operating system and printer.  I contact Canon support and am told that my printer is too old and not enough people would be using my old printer with the new operating system.  It would be too much work to build a driver.  Not worth their effort.

MY BRICK

The result is my printer is useless with my new computer.  It is basically a brick.  Canon's suggestion is that I should take advantage of a customer loyalty discount and buy a new printer.  FAT CHANCE!

So this is what passes for customer service these days, at least at Canon.  Perhaps in the whole consumer electronics industry.  They assume that they can force us into buying new hardware every few years just because they stop supporting software.  Unfortunately, short of a deeper understanding of Linux and writing my own software, it appears that they have me by the balls.

It's amazing that they can get away with this.  If the auto industry built a car that only lasted 5 years, we would get driven out of business so fast.  In fact, the average age of a car in the US market is now up to 11 years, so at least cars aren't being made completely obsolete.  My watch, my TV, my refrigerator, my alarm clock, everything in my house and including my house will last for years and years.  They won't become suddenly obsolete because somebody didn't write new software.  In fact, most things are only replaced when a worthwhile performance upgrade is worth the new price.

So what can I do about Canon and other companies of their like?  For now, I'm taking advantage of your indulgence in my little bitch session here.  I've also been on a few of the biggest retailers of Canon products and written reviews of their poor customer service.  Maybe, if we all took bad actors like Canon to task by stopping purchasing their products, and took advantage of social media, blogs, and website reviews to tell the tale, maybe they would hear us.

So, please do me the favor, stay away from Canon.  Also, let everyone know when you have similar grips with other companies.  Maybe, if we all work at this, we can make a difference.  Maybe, maybe customer service would begin to mean something again.

Hmmn...  I wonder if I need a printer at all.  Maybe I could just send my printer files to my local UPS store and have them be my printer.