OT: EPSON PRNTERS--IMPORTANT

jazzmaster wrote on 5/12/2009, 11:49 AM
i have a new Epson Artisan 700. I got a notice in the print screen yesterday to change the cyan cartridge. The printer would not function until I did. I was being held hostage by Epson. I e-mailed tech support and this is what they said:

I am sorry you are experiencing difficulties with your Epson Artisan 700. Epson printers contain a permanent print head that needs to be charged with all colors to work. Even when users are printing black text only, a small amount of color ink is used to keep the print head charged. Air bubbles can damage the print head. The print head needs to be kept charged to prevent air bubbles from entering.

Therefore, once one of the cartridges are expended, the printer signals you to replace the cartridge in order for printing to continue.

Since you are using a color printer, it is normal for it to consume color ink as part of its normal operation.

The printer will consume small amounts of color ink when the printer is first powered on (initialization process) and when Head Cleanings are performed. Also, when you are printing in black ink only, the printer will still consume marginal amounts of color ink to ensure the color print heads remain primed, and in top working condition.

Is there an attorney out there? This is a Federal Case. They can't do this. The printer will absolutely NOT FUNCTION until I chanage the cart, even if I am printing in B&W!

Burt Wilson

Comments

gpsmikey wrote on 5/12/2009, 11:53 AM
As far as I know, they (Epson and others) have done this for years - it is not new that it uses some ink when you turn it on -- that is what that sponge is for under where they park the head). Yes, they hold you hostage with their cartridge games, but this aspect is not new as far as I know.

mikey
Former user wrote on 5/12/2009, 11:56 AM
I don't know about that specific printer, but sometimes if you take the cartridge that is low out and put it back in, it will work again, at least for a while.

Dave T2
ChipGallo wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:03 PM
There are "continuous ink systems" advertised for the Artisan printers. Other than voiding the warranty and requiring special support and cleanup, have you considered the potential cost savings of these?
jazzmaster wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:03 PM
in 20 years of printing, this has never, NEVER happend to me before. I have used previous Epson printer, HP printers, Dell and they have never before frozen me out COMPLETELY from using the printer because of low ink in one or another cart. I'm flabbergasted!!
richard-courtney wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:06 PM
What if you keep all your old spent color cartridges and fill each with distilled
water? It would keep the head clean and filled with a fluid. Use your black ink
with less color ink waste.

You would still need to prime all colors before color printing.
DGates wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:07 PM
It's IS frustrating, but many ink jet printers do the same thing, irregardless of brand.

DGates wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:08 PM
RC, that was lame.
ingvarai wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:11 PM
I agree an dunderstand your frustration. I have an Epson R256, and if forces me to replace the cartridge even if the printout is perfect. I can often live with less quality on some printouts, and in any case I want to take the decision myself. I recently printed a user manual on my HP Photosmart, with low ink, I dont care, I can read it and the quality is sufficient.

So far I haven't found software for restting the catridges, but if anyone knows, give me a hint. I was very angry the first time, because I was in a hurry and wanted to print out train times and bus routes for a trip. I could care less if this has a bad quality. I called Epson, and they only said "you get a warning beforehand". Yes. But the local dealer was sold out of ink..

ChipGallo wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:17 PM
I have an Epson R-200 and an R-280 and I use printonadime.com

They have refillable cartridges with a reset function, but nothing listed for the Artisan line. There is also an attachment that uses an authentic Epson ink cartridge to fool the printer into thinking that the other cartridges are the real deal rather than OEM. And from time to time the printer firmware changes so you need to update the refillable solution.

Clogging is also an issue, and PrintOnADime sells a cleaning solution with syringe.
gpsmikey wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:18 PM
Many of the Epson's (not sure about yours) have added a "microchip" to the cartridge. I forget the exact explanation they use for it (I'm sure it is there to "protect" us from something ... ), but the bottom line is it was added to keep people from refilling the cartridges etc (the chip keeps track of how much ink has been used). If these are chipped, you have to at a minimum reset the chip if you refil the cartridge or it will keep insisting you change it. (they make most of their money from those silly little cartridges with 50 cents worth of ink they sell for $40). If they don't run a little ink through all the heads each time you power up, the heads will clog (that is why they tell you to turn it off from the printer pannel, not from an outlet strip -- it lets the printer park the heads correctly and do it's ink thing).

mikey
richard-courtney wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:21 PM
Free advice not not always worth what you paid for it!
DGates wrote on 5/12/2009, 12:24 PM
I don't think Jazz is looking for cheap ink. It's simply that his printer refuses to print when one cartridge is out.

ingvarai wrote on 5/12/2009, 1:01 PM
Same here. I will continue to use Epson ink. But I want to decide myself when the quality is so bad and the printout so important that I have to replace ink.
blink3times wrote on 5/12/2009, 1:02 PM
"i have a new Epson Artisan 700. I got a notice in the print screen yesterday to change the cyan cartridge. The printer would not function until I did. I was being held hostage by Epson. I e-mailed tech support and this is what they said:"

I've said this every time these printer threads come up. That's why I trashed Epson. Even if ONE cartridge goes empty... one that you don't even need for a particular print job... the whole machine stops working.

Have you ever cut one of those cartridges open to see if they're REALLY empty?

Epson is a TOTAL rip off.... and I will NEVER buy from them again.
blink3times wrote on 5/12/2009, 1:05 PM
"They have refillable cartridges with a reset function, but nothing listed for the Artisan line."

Epson... the sly little buggers have filled that little loop hole already. The newer printers (most of them now) won't accept cartridges with reset functions.
JJKizak wrote on 5/12/2009, 1:28 PM
Well I suggest getting a Xerox color laser copier with the printer input. You don't have to worry about ink, just the 180 dollar replacement cartridges and there are no clogs. They are also hugely fast and will rip out 100 pages faster than seaguls heading for a garbage landfill. You can also use it as a copier with all the cutsey functions as such.
JJK
Coursedesign wrote on 5/12/2009, 1:42 PM
There are lots of color lasers nowadays, and they are by far the best for printing on paper (including on glossy ditto).

I donated my Samsung CLP-600 color laser to a local charity, and replaced it with an HP 1518ni. Haven't looked back, it just works and prints on just about anything.

Except DVDs and CDs, for these I use a Canon PIXMA iP4500 with an eBay disk tray, replacing a series of worn-out Epsons.

If I was a photographer selling luxe prints, I would seriously consider the Epson higher end models.

But for disks, Canon is a very easy choice thanks to zero maintenance, zero head clogs, and very low ink consumption.

jazzmaster wrote on 5/12/2009, 2:41 PM
Mikey is right! I talked to my printer tech today and he says they do not recommend Epson anymore because their cartridges have become so complicated. It is certain to me that they are trying to eliminate off-brand ink, but I think they are cutting their own throats.
To not give the ucstomer the freedom to treat his purchase as he pleases is just...well...unamerican (even for a frog printer!)
MozartMan wrote on 5/12/2009, 3:52 PM
This is from 2006:

Class action lawsuit against Epson, printers bought in last 7yrs

http://forums.dealnews.com/read.php?9,2557783

"Class action lawsuit against Epson because their printers would notify user that ink cartridge was empty when it wasn't and halting use of printer forcing them to buy a new cartridge.

They have agreed to settle to avoid fees. If you purchased an Epson on or after April 8, 1999 to May 8, 2006 you can receive a $45 dollar credit to the Epson estore as part of the settlement. There is an alternative to treceive a $25 check and $20 credit to the estore or 25% of an estore purchase for a total of up to $100 discount."
DGates wrote on 5/12/2009, 4:48 PM
Course,

He got this printer specifically for printing DVD's. He has a prior thread on the matter.

So laser printers are out of the question in that regard.
Coursedesign wrote on 5/12/2009, 5:07 PM
I'm aware of his primary use for DVDs, but people use color printing also for packaging and enclosures.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/12/2009, 6:24 PM
I've seen printers doing this for a long time now. The HP's I've seen that didn't would always have bad heads & need replacement cart's much faster then the epson (head on cart). I have nothing but good things to say about the epson printers I've owned. Get the ink cheap, thing doesn't break (even with matchbox cars in the print area) & makes a nice looking picture.
DGates wrote on 5/12/2009, 6:59 PM
I think Jazz should get a hold of the person that recommended the Artisan 700 to him, and then engage in a serious pummeling.

If we could only find out who that was.
NickHope wrote on 5/12/2009, 9:08 PM
I even had a situation with one of my Epson printers where a number of cartridges ran out of ink one-by-one in the cartridge-changing process. So by the time I changed the last one, the first one I had changed was half empty without ever having printed anything.

I finally threw my Epsons out and use Canons now and love them.