InkCartridges that come with Brand New HP Inkjet -are they full?

Hi,

I am in the UK.

My father has purchased a new Photosmart C4580 printer today for his birthday.

He purchased it from Comet, but also visited PC World and Staples to look at them.

All three shops told him that "the cartridges that come with the new printer in the box, are 'sample cartridges only' and only contain a miniscule amount of ink, to allow the printer to be callibrated - also to fill the nozzles as there will be none in there .....". They told him to buy new catridges (HP 350 Black Ink Catridge & HP 351 Tri-Colour Ink Catridge) with it also.

However, when I am looking at the box it says:-

Contents:-

- HP Photosmart C4580 All-in-One Printer, Scanner, Copier,
- HP 350 Black Ink Cartridge.
- HP 351 Tri-colour Ink Cartridge.
- HP Photosmart Essential software.

Now, for HP to list those specific cartridges on the printer packaging, indicates to me that they are in fact the full genuine cartridges.

The additional cartridges purchased will, no doubt be used eventually. However, it is more money to shell out, especially if it does not need to be spent at the time.

I have read the manuals for this printer on the HP Website and searched the FAQs and have found no reference to this, and find no other reference to it when searching google. I have phoned HP but they are closed for the bank holiday weekend.

I wonder if this is some underhand method of getting people to shell out more for extra cartridges, when in fact they are the genuine cartridges in the box.

I look forward to hearing from anyone!

Thanks and regards,
Richard.