Mercer Loc: Houston, TX, USA

Recently, I read a UHH member posting saying he had no problem with Epson's product sabotage. (Apparently, Epson puts a subroutine in firmware updates that will actually disable their printers when a customer tries to use aftermarket inks.)

The posting member said he solved this problem by using refilled Epson cartridges. Does any UHH'er know who provides this service? Or, does any UHH'er know how to refill and where to get appropriate inks?

I am surprised Epson has not been sued for malicious mischief and restraint of trade for destroying their own product to the detriment of their customers. If anyone knows of a class action suit addressing this, maybe it's time we spread the word. :thumbdown:

EstherP

What does the manual that comes with the printer, say about using "aftermarket" or "other-brand" inks? Seems to me there is a statement somewhere that tells you to use Epson inks only.
Is it really any different than using a lens by a different manufacturer than your own camera's, then having to buy an adapter to make it fit, and then having to change all the settings on that lens manually?
Or for certain car-parts, having to buy from the manufacturer because no other brand will fit or work?
If you consider the price of inkjet printers, you know right away that the company needs to get their earnings from the inks. I bought my Epson all-in-one for $69.00, a set of cartridges was $50. Go figure.
But if you want to try refilled cartridges (and I'm not sure that they actually work), you should be able to Google for a shop in your area. Or keep an eye open the next time you go to a shopping mall or Walmart. Many malls here have a booth somewhere, where you can bring your empty cartridge, go shopping, then pick it up on the way out. But be aware that your printer profile may show the cartridge as "empty" even then.
Good luck,
EstherP

gjtoth Loc: Louisville, Kentucky, USA

I installed a Continuous Ink System in the last two I've had and have had no problems other than the occasional head cleaning. I've saved a TON on ink over buying cartridges -- either OEM or third-party aftermarket.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

The Office Max in my neighborhood refills some types of ink cartridges, but I'm not sure about the Epson brand. The refill service costs about 20-25% less than buying a brand new cartridge.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

I seriously doubt that any of this has much truth to it. Epson is an upstanding company, making wonderful pieces of equipment. I can't imagine they would alienate their customers in such a way. Nonetheless, if I warranted your printer for proper operation, would you expect me to replace/repair it because some cheap ink messed it all up?

I'll share my position, and readily admit that others may not agree. I spend thousands of dollars for photo equipment, take the time to wander out to take some photos, spend the time to post process them on a computer that cost hundreds of dollars using software that cost hundreds of dollars, then send it to a printer that cost me hundreds of dollars. Why would I want to skimp by using $5 ink?

alf85 Loc: Northumberland, UK.

Hi, i installed a Continuous Ink System years ago, all i do is keep it topped up with ink, i buy six x 100ml bottles of ink that cost about £11.00, it has saved me hundreds of pounds.
I buy the inks on Ebay, same place for the system Ebay.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

You get a message that says the cart is not an Epson, and using it will void the warranty.
Ink works fine

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

I and a friend of mine use nothing but after market with no problems.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

Reminds me of a friend that had an hp printer. If the ink cartridges expired, the printer quit printing. Replacement cost for new ink cartridges was $10 less than a new printer with the ink cartridges! Go figure?

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

In my Hp 9180 i used third party inks all the time, never an issue.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

I wouldn't never use a none Epson ink on high end photo printer anymore. I tried once and had nothing but trouble printing, brought it to the shop and was told "Dump it" Bought a new Epson R2880 and use it heavily with the Epson ink, no problems.

nicelights Loc: 30 miles east of LA

I don't do any "Serious" photo printing so I use remanufactured cartridges. Some do not work well. Cartridges I purchased last week had a sticker that says "with chip" or "chip reset"(depending on printer brand). They all work well. Just thought folks ought to know this.

Mercer Loc: Houston, TX, USA

Mr. Wells, you are wise not to use aftermarket inks in Epson printers, particularly if you have installed an Epson firmware update. Thanks for your input. :D

Mercer Loc: Houston, TX, USA

That has been the case with me and many other users I know, including some ink suppliers. None of us had a problem with aftermarket inks until they installed an Epson firmware update. I wish you well. :D

Geezer54

Duh, the manual is just a manual, not some kind of conditional use agreement.



Manuals are for providing information for the consumer to experience maximum functionality of the product bought and paid for. Dictating mandatory commands, ordering the product owner as to what he shall and shall not do with his purchased item is just not the way manuals work.



Not sure of your logic here, but what is only too obvious though is that in the above scenario, the owner is free to attempt whatever modifications he wishes to with his own purchased property. Whether he is able to succeed or fail based on his abilities and/or the product's construction, in attempting such it is his rightful prerogative to go ahead and find out, not having to mention, that he be free from harrassment for so doing by what in fact constitutes an act of violence aggressively unleashed against his property, whether in person or through programmed code maliciously planted by its previous owner, the manufacturer.



Again, another analogy with no logical relevance to the issue just as the first, which is that of manufacturers actively and deliberately "booby trapping" the consumer's bought and paid for product so that if the owner doesn't comply with the company's arbitrary whims, the item will self destruct in its owners possession. This is not really very different from copyright content companies who randomly hack into consumer's computers with the intent of erasing audio and/or video works which the computer owner has stored on her hard drive; the rationale being those works could have been copied (whether legally or not legally) from someone else's purchased discs.
"As far as those times when it is the case that the consumer whose computer we broke into, leaving it's hard drive in a mess, was one who had actually had bought and paid price in full for these works that we corrupted and/or erased on her machine, she'll find the time to just upload these back again into her computer from the original discs she had originally purchased. This is of course provided she is deservingly smart enough to not have dispensed with those original discs... After all, we're big, we're mighty, and as long as we can get away with it, might equals right."



What the company *needs* to get, it is not the consumer's role to anticipate. The company will be the first to answer the question no differently and point out that the consumer's needs are none of their concern. Further, I think it is downright sleezy, schemingly manipulative way these companies boost their printer sales by presenting artificial low prices, while knowing those who couldn't afford to pay more will now be facing an enormous and forever rising cost to use (i.e. buy the ink for) their initially seeming "affordably priced" printer .



"Go figure"?? No, the word is more like, "Now that we got you to take the bate, it is from here on, go pay, and pay, and pay, and pay... for a printer whose real price ratchets higher again and again and again without limit...with each grossly price inflated ink purchase.

Geezer