Incredible Connection
HP 3 year warranty a hoax

I bought an HP printer almost 3 years ago.
One of the main considerations for the specific brand and model was the warranty, which was written on the printer and detailed by the sales person to be three years.
Now, once I need to make use of said warranty, less than three years later, I am told that I needed to have registered the printer, online, for Warranty when I bought it. It is thus no longer under warranty and I need to pay for the repairs.
Neither the printer label detailing said warranty nor the sales person explained this to me when I bought the printer. I see a lot of people have exactly the same issue. Can this not be dealt with in a more professional and dedicated manner without upsetting the consumer who will resort to legal action?