Error 41: Oh Brother!
Error 41: Oh Brother!
September 4, 2007: For most of us, printers aren’t noticed that often unless it breaks down or needs to be refilled. With the ‘Error 41’ epidemic getting worse for Brother Printers, owners of the effected models are really starting to take notice.
Error 41 is a term that sends shivers of fear down the spines of Brother printer owners, for it represents the epidemic of print head problems that has been plaguing owners worldwide. New Zealand is the latest to feel the brunt of the problem, with an explosion of forum posts, blog entries and social networking discussion raining down hatred towards the printer company.
The problem originates from the failure of brother print heads, the device which sprays the actual ink onto the paper. When the print head fails, users are greeted with Error: 41 which usually require a complete replacement. The print heads themselves cost around $170 plus labour costs to replace, when you consider that often the printers themselves cost around $100-$150 the replacement is hardly worth it.
Now, the logical assumption here would be why not return it under warranty like any other fault with consumer products? The kicker is most Brother printers are out of their one year warranty as the Error 41 problem has been around for over four years. Quite often users have had their print heads replaced multiple times before their warranty expires when they are completely out of luck.
One user on printer help forum, ‘FixYourOwnPrinter’ reported “I myself first purchased my 3220C in Dec 2003.In July 28 2004 I was given a replacement due to error 41. Now a little over 6 months have passed and the replacement is doing the same thing”.
What isn’t known is why Brother hasn’t recalled the effected models which have been plagued with the infamous ‘Error 41’ problem since 2003. The spate of anger rising up out of New Zealand Brother owners is being echoed worldwide, the main complaint being the way the entire ordeal has been handled by the printing company.
Brother’s response has been to extend the warranties on effected machines to two years and release a list of models plagued by the problems. What it has failed to do is recall the products and inform consumers who are only becoming aware of the problem when the print heads fail.
A Christchurch technician told The Press of the problem "We noticed it wasn't an isolated incident. It was happening in other places in New Zealand, as well as around the world," he said. The company started to notice the flood of complaints coming in and caught on to the fact New Zealand wasn’t alone. The technician believed "The print heads should have been recalled years ago."
The entire debacle has become an amazing demonstration of the power of social networking, Brothers reputation is quickly being dragged through the mud as word lights up all over the web. Comments on Brother Printer sales on auction sites like Amazon and Ebay are being flooded by angry comments about Error 41. New Zealand users have taken to making comical $1 auctions selling their Brother printers labeling the auction "error 41" or "needs new print head".
Unfortunately Brother Printers were unable to be contacted at the time of this article.