Are Epson Printers a rip-off

[junger]

I have bought an Epson PX800FW, According to the printer util screen It was running low on ink and offered a link to the Epson site to replenish them. I bought new inks for ?48.00 and the duly arrived, i fitted them and the epson util showed full inks, the screen suggested that the printer go through a head clean, so I ran a head clean, When I ran the Test Page I noticed that 40% or ?24.00 of the inks had been used cleaning the head.I spoke to an advisor at Epson and he explained that "The printer does not always report the level correctly", "That's rich, I have just paid ?48.00 on the reporting of that Epson Utility". I told him, "Is there Anything else I can help you with".
Be warned, Epson printers cost a lot more money that the purches price of the printer, Anyone else have any view on them.
Thanks
Junger

[Bulld0g]

Yea use compatibles, i've got an old CX3200, original cartridges about ?30 compatibles ?5. No noticeable difference in quality.

EDIT: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EPSON-PX800FW-...c737b7fd6d4033
?1o for your model

[junger]

Here is the transcript of the supposed support

08/21/2010 10:43:08AM System: "Thank you for connecting to EPSON e-Talk through the EPSON website."
08/21/2010 10:43:10AM System: "Genuine EPSON consumables and media can be purchased directly from EPSON through Epson - Store. Home of Genuine Epson Printers, Inks and Paper. EPSON stock the complete range of consumable items for past and present EPSON products including ink cartridges, laser toners and ribbons."
08/21/2010 10:43:12AM System: "Please wait a moment while we connect you to an advisor who will respond to any questions you may have. Whilst waiting to be connected, you can continue to browse the EPSON Store website."
08/21/2010 10:43:18AM System: "Did you know you can purchase new hardware directly from EPSON?"
08/21/2010 10:43:28AM System: "If you are interested in purchasing a new product, your advisor will be able to recommend the right product to meet your requirements."
08/21/2010 10:43:48AM System: "The range also includes paper and special media for EPSON inkjet and laser printers and a range of optional extras for printers, scanners, digital cameras and projectors."
08/21/2010 10:43:58AM System: "For further details on EPSON products including full product specifications and Technical Support tools, please visit the EPSON UK website at http://www.epson.co.uk"

08/21/2010 10:44:08AM System: "Genuine Epson ink offers greater value, superior image quality and longer print life."
08/21/2010 10:44:18AM System: "We have made EPSON Store easy to navigate so that you can quickly find and purchase the items you are looking for. The site is as secure as possible so you can place your order online with confidence."
08/21/2010 10:44:28AM System: "You also have the reassurance of purchasing Genuine EPSON products with reliable and prompt delivery."
08/21/2010 10:44:38AM System: "For easy, convenient shopping available 24 hours a day, Epson Store provides for all your Genuine Epson needs."
08/21/2010 10:48:57AM Session Started with Agent (Phillip Stone)
08/21/2010 10:48:57AM ken: "printer ink"
08/21/2010 10:49:05AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Welcome to EPSON e-Talk. My name is Phillip Stone."
08/21/2010 10:49:07AM ken: "Hi"
08/21/2010 10:49:22AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Hello Ken how can I help?"
08/21/2010 10:49:51AM ken: "i bought a set of px800 ink cartridges they arrived yesterday"
08/21/2010 10:50:01AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "I see"
08/21/2010 10:50:30AM ken: "when i installed them there was no ink being printed on the paper"
08/21/2010 10:50:55AM ken: "I spoke to an advisor and taken throught a manual head clean"
08/21/2010 10:51:41AM ken: "When i went to print the test page i noticed that about 40% of the ink had gone"
08/21/2010 10:51:54AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Are you using Epson cartridges?"
08/21/2010 10:52:05AM ken: "how has that happened?"
08/21/2010 10:52:13AM ken: "of course"
08/21/2010 10:52:37AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "The levels are not 100% accurate and it does get used during the head cleaning process"
08/21/2010 10:53:02AM ken: "about ?48 .00 the cartidges"
08/21/2010 10:53:27AM ken: "therefore it cost ?24.00 to clean the heads"
08/21/2010 10:53:35AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "How many head cleans have you done?"
08/21/2010 10:54:10AM ken: "This printer is used daily and should not have needed the heads cleaning"
08/21/2010 10:54:19AM ken: "2"
08/21/2010 10:55:13AM ken: "Hold on, the printer reported full injet cartridges when i installed them"
08/21/2010 10:56:57AM ken: "i have a screen print of the current levels can i forward them?"
08/21/2010 10:57:35AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Head cleaning is required from time to time Ken and as I have stated the levels are not 100% accurate. Are all the colours working correctly now?"
08/21/2010 10:57:56AM ken: "yes"
08/21/2010 10:58:45AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Ok so how can I help you now?"
08/21/2010 11:00:12AM ken: "You cannot be serious in what you are asking me to accept, I have installed new cartridges because the previous one were being shown as low, i then install new cartridges and lose 40% of the ink"
08/21/2010 11:01:10AM ken: "I had an hp all in one for about 5 years and never came across this"
08/21/2010 11:01:35AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Ken I have advised you that the ink levels are not 100% accurate. The ink gets used during the charging process and also on head cleans, you are likely to be fine to continue printing and should get full life from your cartridges."
08/21/2010 11:02:08AM ken: "i will ask the questions on the forum"
08/21/2010 11:03:07AM ken: "and when these cartriges run out i will buy a printer that does not waste 40% of the ink"
08/21/2010 11:03:39AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Ok Ken im sorry you feel that way but as I have advised it is more than likely going to be fine."
08/21/2010 11:03:53AM ken: "bye"
08/21/2010 11:04:07AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Thank you for using EPSON e-Talk. Goodbye."
08/21/2010 11:11:24AM Session Ended

[Bulld0g]

08/21/2010 10:43:08AM System: "Thank you for connecting to EPSON e-Talk through the EPSON website."
08/21/2010 10:43:10AM System: "Genuine EPSON consumables and media can be purchased directly from EPSON through Epson - Store. Home of Genuine Epson Printers, Inks and Paper. EPSON stock the complete range of consumable items for past and present EPSON products including ink cartridges, laser toners and ribbons."
08/21/2010 10:43:12AM System: "Please wait a moment while we connect you to an advisor who will respond to any questions you may have. Whilst waiting to be connected, you can continue to browse the EPSON Store website."
08/21/2010 10:43:18AM System: "Did you know you can purchase new hardware directly from EPSON?"
08/21/2010 10:43:28AM System: "If you are interested in purchasing a new product, your advisor will be able to recommend the right product to meet your requirements."
08/21/2010 10:43:48AM System: "The range also includes paper and special media for EPSON inkjet and laser printers and a range of optional extras for printers, scanners, digital cameras and projectors."
08/21/2010 10:43:58AM System: "For further details on EPSON products including full product specifications and Technical Support tools, please visit the EPSON UK website at http://www.epson.co.uk"

08/21/2010 10:44:08AM System: "Genuine Epson ink offers greater value, superior image quality and longer print life."
08/21/2010 10:44:18AM System: "We have made EPSON Store easy to navigate so that you can quickly find and purchase the items you are looking for. The site is as secure as possible so you can place your order online with confidence."
08/21/2010 10:44:28AM System: "You also have the reassurance of purchasing Genuine EPSON products with reliable and prompt delivery."
08/21/2010 10:44:38AM System: "For easy, convenient shopping available 24 hours a day, Epson Store provides for all your Genuine Epson needs."
08/21/2010 10:48:57AM Session Started with Agent (Phillip Stone)
08/21/2010 10:48:57AM ken: "printer ink"
08/21/2010 10:49:05AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Welcome to EPSON e-Talk. My name is Phillip Stone."
08/21/2010 10:49:07AM ken: "Hi"
08/21/2010 10:49:22AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Hello Ken how can I help?"
08/21/2010 10:49:51AM ken: "i bought a set of px800 ink cartridges they arrived yesterday"
08/21/2010 10:50:01AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "I see"
08/21/2010 10:50:30AM ken: "when i installed them there was no ink being printed on the paper"
08/21/2010 10:50:55AM ken: "I spoke to an advisor and taken throught a manual head clean"
08/21/2010 10:51:41AM ken: "When i went to print the test page i noticed that about 40% of the ink had gone"
08/21/2010 10:51:54AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Are you using Epson cartridges?"
08/21/2010 10:52:05AM ken: "how has that happened?"
08/21/2010 10:52:13AM ken: "of course"
08/21/2010 10:52:37AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "The levels are not 100% accurate and it does get used during the head cleaning process"
08/21/2010 10:53:02AM ken: "about ?48 .00 the cartidges"
08/21/2010 10:53:27AM ken: "therefore it cost ?24.00 to clean the heads"
08/21/2010 10:53:35AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "How many head cleans have you done?"
08/21/2010 10:54:10AM ken: "This printer is used daily and should not have needed the heads cleaning"
08/21/2010 10:54:19AM ken: "2"
08/21/2010 10:55:13AM ken: "Hold on, the printer reported full injet cartridges when i installed them"
08/21/2010 10:56:57AM ken: "i have a screen print of the current levels can i forward them?"
08/21/2010 10:57:35AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Head cleaning is required from time to time Ken and as I have stated the levels are not 100% accurate. Are all the colours working correctly now?"
08/21/2010 10:57:56AM ken: "yes"
08/21/2010 10:58:45AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Ok so how can I help you now?"
08/21/2010 11:00:12AM ken: "You cannot be serious in what you are asking me to accept, I have installed new cartridges because the previous one were being shown as low, i then install new cartridges and lose 40% of the ink"
08/21/2010 11:01:10AM ken: "I had an hp all in one for about 5 years and never came across this"
08/21/2010 11:01:35AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Ken I have advised you that the ink levels are not 100% accurate. The ink gets used during the charging process and also on head cleans, you are likely to be fine to continue printing and should get full life from your cartridges."
08/21/2010 11:02:08AM ken: "i will ask the questions on the forum"
08/21/2010 11:03:07AM ken: "and when these cartriges run out i will buy a printer that does not waste 40% of the ink"
08/21/2010 11:03:39AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Ok Ken im sorry you feel that way but as I have advised it is more than likely going to be fine."
08/21/2010 11:03:53AM ken: "bye"
08/21/2010 11:04:07AM Agent (Phillip Stone): "Thank you for using EPSON e-Talk. Goodbye."
08/21/2010 11:11:24AM Session Ended

All the more reason to use compatibles

[Cronus]

I've only ever used Canon or Epson printers,never had any problems with them.

Just buy the printer and get a continuous ink system for it.

This is one for the epson px800fw Ciss for Epson printer: Epson PX800FW | Dye Ink | City Ink Express

[junger]

Thanks, I will get one of those

[Trionz]

I have been using a CIS from Rihac UK in a Canon Pixma for the last year. Great piece of kit. Well worth the money and i've not had any problem's with it.
Just takes a bit of time and patience to install.

[3sgte]

SX600FW - does the lot and print cartridges aren't a bomb like HP!

[masterz2k]

Ive always gone for Epson Printers, always replaced with compat catridges....

if you think Epson are bad for Catridge prices - check out some of the HP or Lexmark ones...
Lexmark - the printers about 30quid... the ink about 40!

Epson all the way for me.... i usualy go for slightly better compats... JetTec are very good usualy

[smirnoff_rules]

CIS on epsons is the balls .. u cant beat them for cost ,, l have 3 and at work l have was spending 17 quid a week on ink now l spend next to nothing

[autolockmasters]

The problem is "ink jet printers" or shall I say "money machine" for these big manufacturers. There is a big controversy about these printer and the cartridges. Manufacture does not make much profit on the printer but the ink they double it. That's why I always invest in a good colour laser printer.

By the way you can get the cartridges refilled for the fraction of the cost.

[itr703]

I don't use my printer often and because all cartridges get constipated after not using the printer for a while I mainly use the compat cartridges . The compats i can just throw away because they only cost a few buck.

Regards,

ITR703

----------------------------------------------------
Please consider the Thanks button if my post is usefull
----------------------------------------------------

[xant14]

Epson photo RX600 here, 6 inks full epson cost = ?72.00
Hucknall carboot 6 inks = ?6.00
There is a slight loss in quality, but not 66 quids worth.

[thegunners]

i have a epson and use CIS system , get one of these mate there the nuts .. so happy with mine .and it will save you on ink.

[Canker_Canison]

Mine comes from the stone age. Still using an Epson R300 with compatible cartridges. I've only had a few problems with the chips not being recognised, but I just take 'em back to the shop & they replace them.

Epson is more a rip on repairs. The injectors do like to clog if not used for a while.