HP partners wait for their prints to come

Hewlett Packard has been forced to issue an apology to its channel partners after suffering severe supply delays on its printers, which are not expected to be in free supply until next year.

On 1 December, HP sent out a letter stating that the manufacturer was experiencing difficulties with its LaserJet 4 and 5 and DeskJet series.

The manufacturer attributed the stock problems to huge demand and component shortages.

The printers affected are the LaserJet 5, 5M, 5N, 4V, 4MV and 4000, and the DeskJet 400. LaserJet paper handling accessories have also been hit by the shortages.

John Yelland, peripherals marketing manager at HP, said: 'We are thanking people for their patience and seek to assure them that we are still manufacturing the products.'

He conceded that 'product availability was not as great as we would like it to be', but was confident that the stock issues would be resolved in the new year.

Peter Rigby, director of networking and storage at CHS Electronics, said: 'The product supply has affected business. But it is good that a high level of customer back orders are not being cancelled.'

It was estimated by distributors that resellers were facing up to three or four weeks' delay for the orders to be fulfilled.

Computer 2000 has received an HP award for being its largest distributor over the past four years. It has been an authorised HP wholesaler for four-and-a-half years.