A
word about your rights
You have the right to choose your suppliers.
Frequently (and unfortunately), some manufacturers threaten to void
equipment warranties if their customers do not use manufacturer-brand media,
parts or service. This is illegal!
You have rights to do business freely-and now you have quality, guaranteed
service options through LESS.
Know
your rights
It is illegal for any manufacturer to require or force owners of their
equipment to use or purchase manufacturer-brand media or parts exclusively. It
is also illegal to require equipment to be serviced by the manufacturers
alone, and it is illegal for a manufacturer to void equipment warranties if
non-manufacturer parts or service are used.
Cite
the U.S. Supreme Court Case "IBM vs. the United States:"
In 1936, IBM leased data processing machines to customers with the requirement
that they were only allowed to use the tabulating cards manufactured by IBM.
IBM threatened their customers with termination of their leases if they used
cards produced by other manufacturers. The U.S. Supreme Court found that IBM's
lease agreement constituted a "tying agreement" and directly
violated the Sherman and Clayton Anti-Trust Laws of the United States.
Don't
be intimidated by sales or service people
Firmly let any sales or service person know that manufacturers cannot legally
require-whether verbally or in writing-that printer owners or lessees purchase
ribbons, labels, service or any other supplies from them exclusively. In order
to make this requirement, manufacturers must conclusively demonstrate and
prove that other brands are incompatible with their printers. This has never
been accomplished!
Compare
your printer with any other piece of equipment
Consider these scenarios: Would you believe your car dealer if he
threatened to void your vehicle's warranty if you buy tires from anyone else
but him? What if your telephone company demanded that you can only be eligible
for service if you buy and use its brand of phones?
Thermal
transfer printers follow these similar examples.
Don't be intimidated by them! Understand that printheads have a
limited life span, much like light bulbs. Their average life is from one-half
to two million linear inches of material, then the print elements simply burn
out. As long as you are using quality media and your ribbons are wide enough
to cover your thermal label or tag stock, the media you use will neither
damage your printer nor accelerate the degeneration of your printheads.
Show
this information...
...to anyone who insists on voiding a warranty or charging you for service
calls because you are not using manufacturer-brand media or parts. Warn them
that you will send a copy of your lease or purchase agreement-along with a
report of their threats-to your District Attorney, or you will report their
actions to the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Protect
your right to use the supplier of your choice.
Owning equipment does not mean you must give up your rights as a citizen!
