Region change on Pixma (TS3350)

[minimart0]

I'm sure this has been posted before, but can't find anything so will try, though I suspect the (official) response will not be a positive outcome.... :-(.

- we needed an MFD for home, and as we were planning on emigrating (UK - to South Africa) 6 months later, we decided to buy a Canon - a balance of global brand, reliability, good price-point etc.

- I naively did not know/consider the regionalisation of these products, especially having worked 32+ years in IT (for Manufacturers and S.I/Resellers), which means I am well aware of 'grey marketing' - but that is purely a result of the tech industry's significant pricing disparity from one region to another, globally.

-   Very disappointing this 'regioning' extends to consumables, such as ink cartidges.

- Even more disappointing to have resort to get our original (UK) black and white cartridge re-filled here in South Africa at local specialist, and whilst I manage to get that working again ok in the printer (but with no ink level indication in the print manager util, but I don't mind that), the colour (UK) cartidge ran out recently and after getting that filled, NOTHING I have tried - from numerous online 'suggestions' * can get the printer to clear the E04 and the printer to see/use cartidge.

* ..and I don't have '4 other cartidges to cycle through install to exhaust the serial number memory' etc.

- I don't want resort to (questionable/risky) 3rd party tools that 'reset' cartidges, and/or re-region the printer.

- I certainly don't want to pay delivery charges for UK cartidges to ship to South Africa, and sadly I do not have any trips planned to the UK where I could 'stock up' etc.

SO, I would like to know if Canon can assist to re-region my printer, so I can:

a) buy cartridges locally here in SA

b) avoid throwing out a perfectly good printer, and buying one locally (which will almost certainly NOT be a Canon).

If, as I suspect, Canon cannot help here, then option b) above is a TERRIBLE environmental message, borne from a global company trying to protect revenues on consumables. 

I hope I'll be pleasantly suprised......?!

Thanks.

[Ron]

Hi minimart0,

Welcome to The Canon Community, and thank you for your inquiry!
We appreciate your participation, however, we need to let you know that the Canon Community is hosted and moderated within the United States by Canon USA. We are only able to provide support for Canon products manufactured for and used within the US market. The PIXMA TS3350 isn't sold or supported by our team here at Canon USA.
If you live outside the United States, please CLICK HERE and select your country or region for your support needs.
You're welcome to discuss Canon products sold outside of the United States, but please be aware that you will not receive support directly from Canon USA.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

Printer manufacturers do not re-region devices.  This isn't just true of Canon.  All manufacturers work this way, so stating that if Canon doesn't help that you're going to buy something else that won't won't be Canon is inconsequential and without merit. Manufacturing is subject to hardware, parts availability and applicable laws.  

Products have to be manufactured to comply with the standards and laws applicable to the region where they will be sold.

Here is the best advice.  Leave your printer with a friend, family member or donate it to a church or school.  Don't bother dragging it to a different country only to find out you can't buy ink for it. You may have problems getting support and warranty too. Not because the manufacturer doesn't want to help you, but because parts available in one part of the world may not be available in another. 

Buy a new printer in South Africa.  It will have the correct power connection, valid support and warranty and you'll be able to buy ink for it locally.  

If and when you leave SA, do the same thing. Donate to a church or school, someone less fortunate, etc and return home.

Software is the same way. As I stated, Canon is no different than any other manufacturer.  You'll save yourself a lot of headache and frustration if you just buy what's available and intended for sale in the region where you will reside.  😉

[minimart0]

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

However, your advice (re 'leaving the printer with a friend') is redundant as, per my post which you comment on, we are IN South Africa and so that stable door is banging in the wind......

I would also point out that whilst the Pixma TS3350 is not sold in the US (as pointed out by 'Ron') the Pixma TS range IS available to buy here in SA, and serviceable/repairable etc. So as far as I can tell, this particular instance/issue is more about a tech company trying to control the potential grey-marketing issue that they themselves effectively create (and yes, I agree certainly not specific to Canon), and not about "hardware, parts availability and applicable laws".

So, whilst I probably should have checked first, my assumption was not completely unjustified.