Posted by JOHN SLONINA on January 20, 2012 at 3:23 PM
Hi
I have had a long history with Epson. At one time for my tour participants I even recommended them.
Now it’s been one issue after another
First was the 2200. This printer uses an excessive amount of ink and the status showed the ink was gone even though there was still ink left in the cartridge. Epson ended up being sued for this. Please check the following link
Then I purchased the Artisan. This printer I was using for general office letters etc (not photographs). This printer uses an incredible amount of ink. The paper does not feed properly so you constantly have to load and reload printer. The feed mechanism is incredibly sensitive. Whenever you purchase a printer please consider the cost per ml. I have to replace a cartridge on this printer approx every 20 pages i print.
I also purchased the 7880. This printer has had problems since day one.
a.) Epson serviced it once under warranty.
b.) The design is terrible. Why when I switch ink from Photo Black to Photo Matte does it have to drain all my cartridges? I understand the black. Guess why Profit.
c.) The printer wastes paper like crazy sometimes it feeds an extra 6 or 7 inches before it starts printing even though I lined it up properly.
d.) I was printing canvas paper. My roll size is 24 inches. I printed some images successfully that was 24 inches wide by 10 inches long. When I tried printing canvas that was more than 10 inches i get paper Skew Error. It would print a first few images then stop. I would make adjustments it would look fine then again Skew Error. I called Epson Tech Support after one hour they were unable to resolve problem. They suggested I get a service rep to visit my house. Cost $100 evaluation then $149 hour plus multiple parts for additional money.
I don’t feel I should pay for a defective printer repair. I called Epson Corporate office John Lang is the President his office refused to talk to me.
Their office sent me to another department who I spoke with a manager Colleen.
She stated I should have purchased the extended warranty if I remember correctly was around $500 but I am not honestly sure. She also stated if I don’t want to pay for the repair I should consider a new printer. She stated that I was talking in circles and that she doesn’t want to talk to me and if I call again it will be just her I will speak to.
I will Canon.
I am really disappointed in Epson. I am just one consumer but they odiously don’t care. I also feel their printers are designed to maximize profit so you waste excessive ink and paper. I also feel you need to trust and like a company before investing in their products. This company has proven that they don’t care about their customers which disappointing. I the future I will look for a company with good corporate ethics.
Sorry for the long post
John Slonina
Slonina Photography Tours
Posted by Richard Waas on January 21, 2012 at 7:15 AM
What a shame.... I have 2 Epson's, the 4880 and 7900 and love both of them. Hope you get it all resolved! Print on.......
Posted by John Reed on January 21, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Hmmmm, interesting. I have always been an Epson user mainly because that's what I started with and have had no print quality issues but this ink usage question has me real concerned. I'm embarassed to say I never paid that much attention and just "assumed" all was as it should be. I'd be very interested if any others are having the same experience so I hope you get more replies.
John
Posted by Greg Lessard on January 21, 2012 at 9:03 AM
I agree with your sentiments that Epson has a long way to go with the durability of its printers and their customer service. Their printers make outstanding prints when they work.... However, their printer durability is so bad that it borders on being fraudulent. I have had poor luck with the r1800 and the r1900. Both clog up their inks too frequently. Epson acknowledges this and tells their customers to print on a near daily basis. This of course means more ink sales. Customer service was polite, but informed me that I should go to a local printer repair person for $150 every time the printers jam. Furthermore, they informed me that I would have to pay a fee for future customer service with them. What kind of comapny does that??? One agent even admitted that their printers are defective. They have had this issue for at least ten years. I have to wonder if they are purposely building printers to last for only a year and a half, so that we are forced to buy the next model, the extended warranty, and a customer service plan. I just want a printer that produces high quality prints and is reliable. I would think that would be Epson's top priority!
I bought my R2400 from an NPN member a few years ago. Aside from the infrequent clog that I was able to clear with a head cleaning, the printer has served me well (knock on wood). It does love ink, though, and the carts are too small to be economical. Of course, that is the name of the game: The printers are inexpensive (relatively) compared to the cost of ink.
I haven't had to contact their customer service, so I cannot report on that. However, I have heard horror stories, including the ones in this thread. It is indeed unfortunate that we now live in a 'disposable' world and customer service takes a back seat.
I agree with David when he says, " I just want a printer that produces high quality prints and is reliable. I would think that would be Epson's top priority! ". The only way to get the current situation to change is to vote with our money.
--P
Posted by Mark Stahlke on January 21, 2012 at 12:56 PM
The trouble with inkjet printers isn't so much the printers themselves as the business model. Printer manufacturers are enamored of the Gillette business model - give away the razors and make a fortune selling the blades.
I have a Canon iPF6100 24 inch wide printer. A full set of consumables (12 ink tanks, 2 print heads, 1 maintenance cartridge) costs over $1800. I can buy a new iPF6300 (the latest model) for about $2500. This is crazy.
We photographers seem to be very happy with the output from our printers regardless of the manufacturer (Epson, Canon, HP) but we're disgusted by the operating costs imposed on us by the Gillette business model. There is no good reason for ink to cost in the neighborhood of $2000 per gallon.
I understand that Kodak wanted to re-invent itself as a digital printing company. I think there's a business opportunity there. If Kodak would abandon the Gillette model and build a high quality printer that's economical to operate, they could make a nice profit.
On a related note, sometimes I wonder if color management is the can of worms that it is so that we have to waste copious quantities of paper and ink making proof prints. Is my tin foil hat too tight?
Discussion
5 repliesI have had a long history with Epson. At one time for my tour participants I even recommended them.
Now it’s been one issue after another
First was the 2200. This printer uses an excessive amount of ink and the status showed the ink was gone even though there was still ink left in the cartridge. Epson ended up being sued for this. Please check the following link
http://www.pcworld.com/article/113112/epson_faces_consumer_suits.html
Then I purchased the Artisan. This printer I was using for general office letters etc (not photographs). This printer uses an incredible amount of ink. The paper does not feed properly so you constantly have to load and reload printer. The feed mechanism is incredibly sensitive. Whenever you purchase a printer please consider the cost per ml. I have to replace a cartridge on this printer approx every 20 pages i print.
I also purchased the 7880. This printer has had problems since day one.
a.) Epson serviced it once under warranty.
b.) The design is terrible. Why when I switch ink from Photo Black to Photo Matte does it have to drain all my cartridges? I understand the black. Guess why Profit.
c.) The printer wastes paper like crazy sometimes it feeds an extra 6 or 7 inches before it starts printing even though I lined it up properly.
d.) I was printing canvas paper. My roll size is 24 inches. I printed some images successfully that was 24 inches wide by 10 inches long. When I tried printing canvas that was more than 10 inches i get paper Skew Error. It would print a first few images then stop. I would make adjustments it would look fine then again Skew Error. I called Epson Tech Support after one hour they were unable to resolve problem. They suggested I get a service rep to visit my house. Cost $100 evaluation then $149 hour plus multiple parts for additional money.
I don’t feel I should pay for a defective printer repair. I called Epson Corporate office John Lang is the President his office refused to talk to me.
Their office sent me to another department who I spoke with a manager Colleen.
She stated I should have purchased the extended warranty if I remember correctly was around $500 but I am not honestly sure. She also stated if I don’t want to pay for the repair I should consider a new printer. She stated that I was talking in circles and that she doesn’t want to talk to me and if I call again it will be just her I will speak to.
I will Canon.
I am really disappointed in Epson. I am just one consumer but they odiously don’t care. I also feel their printers are designed to maximize profit so you waste excessive ink and paper. I also feel you need to trust and like a company before investing in their products. This company has proven that they don’t care about their customers which disappointing. I the future I will look for a company with good corporate ethics.
Sorry for the long post
John Slonina
Slonina Photography Tours
John
I haven't had to contact their customer service, so I cannot report on that. However, I have heard horror stories, including the ones in this thread. It is indeed unfortunate that we now live in a 'disposable' world and customer service takes a back seat.
I agree with David when he says, " I just want a printer that produces high quality prints and is reliable. I would think that would be Epson's top priority! ". The only way to get the current situation to change is to vote with our money.
--P
I have a Canon iPF6100 24 inch wide printer. A full set of consumables (12 ink tanks, 2 print heads, 1 maintenance cartridge) costs over $1800. I can buy a new iPF6300 (the latest model) for about $2500. This is crazy.
We photographers seem to be very happy with the output from our printers regardless of the manufacturer (Epson, Canon, HP) but we're disgusted by the operating costs imposed on us by the Gillette business model. There is no good reason for ink to cost in the neighborhood of $2000 per gallon.
I understand that Kodak wanted to re-invent itself as a digital printing company. I think there's a business opportunity there. If Kodak would abandon the Gillette model and build a high quality printer that's economical to operate, they could make a nice profit.
On a related note, sometimes I wonder if color management is the can of worms that it is so that we have to waste copious quantities of paper and ink making proof prints. Is my tin foil hat too tight?