CCMDA gives ultimatum to HP

Raipur based-Chhatisgarh Computer and Media Dealer Association (CCMDA) has decided to take a strong stance against HP with regards to the case of Priyanka Computer Services. The sub distributor of HP has had an ongoing issue with HP with regards to expired inkjet cartridges worth Rs. 8 lakhs.

Devender Marwah, president of CCMDA said, "This issue was brought to our notice couple of months back. The association has decided its give its full support to Priyanka Computer Services." Priyanka Computer Services is planning to take legal recourse against HP's Imaging and Printing Group (IPG). 

The president of the association informed The DQ Week that Priyanka Computer Services is one of oldest operation distributor in this region and has been dealing with HP cartridges catering to corporate customers for the more than a decade. 

Two years back HP decided to appoint Balaji Computers to be the regional distributor for the cartridges in that region. However, as per the president the regional distributor has already stocked up the cartridges. Marwah said, "Kishore Makhija has been since then talking with HP to sort this problem out but there has been no solution from the company. As majority of the cartridge are for corporate printers it was not possible to dilute the stock into open market. And now the products have expired and Makhija is left with lakhs of worth stock." 

Priyanka Computer Services had requested HP to take the cartridges back and return the money or replace the expired cartridge with new ones, but HP refused to do so citing policy reasons. 

Seeing no solution coming out of the discussions and email exchanges, CCMDA has unanimously decided that all the RSR will not purchase inkjet cartridges from national ditsy from 1st May 2012, until the company declares that it will replace the expired inkjet cartridges from RSR and OCR.

The association has not yet issued an official circular on this matter but in due course of time if no consequences come out, it will go ahead with the banning of HP cartridges in the region. For the same, all HP regional distributors have agreed for this strong move against the company. Going ahead, if no results yield out of this move, the association has decided to ban first HP PSG products followed by HP IPG products. 

On the other hand, evaluating the response from HP indicates that the company has spent consider time verifying the facts and it has explained Kishore Makhija the matter and the reasons in detail.

HP-Priyanka matter seems to have reached a turbulent stage with the CCMDA association deciding to take a strong stance against the vendor. Only the coming days will decide the fate of HP operations in this region.