Canon Printer Ink Scam: This just chaps my grits Canon charges an arm and a leg for their ink And THEN fails the cartridge when it is still 30% full No clue if Epson, HP, Brother, and...

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

This just chaps my grits
Canon charges an arm and a leg for their ink
And THEN fails the cartridge when it is still 30% full
No clue if Epson, HP, Brother, and the rest do the same as I've not owned those
But Canon has gotten MUCH worse since I first bought into them with their Pixma ip5200
This "Canon Experience" is with the MG5520
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Photo is of a Canon PGI-225 BK cartridge which will no longer allow the printer to print because it registers as Empty
Yes - the liquid ink reservoir on the left is now empty - - but the sponge is nearly full - or about 30+ % of the cartridge capacity
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Not being a lawyer, I'm not sure if this is consumer fraud or not - - but how's a layman to tell the difference ?

(Download)

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Nope, it's always been like this for inkjet and laser printer cartridges. HP is the worse, not allowing anything but an official cartridge.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

After having the graphics chip fall off of TWO HP Laptops due to MoBo overheating, I'll not touch anything made by HP - - IMHO they epitomize the WORST
They used to be the leader in electronics test equipment. I'd not trust them now with ANYTHING as far as I could throw the QE2.
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Printers are the throw away - - the cash cow is in the ink
Which is why 3rd party ink suppliers are having a field day

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

When I had two Canon printers, I used only Staples store brand ink. The last I looked, they no longer carried it. They tried to tell me they didn't sell enough; I said, "BS, you and I both know the store brand ink virtually flew off the shelves." I wonder if they were sued, bought by Canon or just bought off. I now have a cheap Epson printer; the ink lasts longer and, when I disassembled a cartridge, it was indeed empty.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

BHC wrote:

I now have a cheap Epson printer; the ink lasts longer and, when I disassembled a cartridge, it was indeed empty.

I had an Epson printer once - - I really liked it as it was one of the only 'consumer grade' printers that would print directly on a CD or a DVD.
Of course after 6 - 8 weeks of non-use one year, the print head clogged, and no amount of coaxing with EtOH and Ammonia would clear it.
And of course, the print heads on Epson printers are NOT user replaceable.
Into the Trash can with Epson !!

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Merlin1300 wrote:

I had an Epson printer once - - I really liked it as it was one of the only 'consumer grade' printers that would print directly on a CD or a DVD.
Of course after 6 - 8 weeks of non-use one year, the print head clogged, and no amount of coaxing with EtOH and Ammonia would clear it.
And of course, the print heads on Epson printers are NOT user replaceable.
Into the Trash can with Epson !!

OFF TOPIC: I haven't heard or seen the term EtOH in years. That's the term that we (EMT's and LEO's) used to use when talking about someone who was drunk. We responded to a DUI with minor injuries one night; CHP had to cuff her because she was combative. When we called the local hospital and said we had a combative EtOH female with minor injuries, the ER resident told us they would refuse her and to take her to the county hospital an extra 20 miles away.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Yeah - - probably an inaccurate term - - abbreviation just slipped out - -
I meant Isopropyl & Ammonia
Would never use 'the good stuff' to clean a printer <LOL>

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Merlin1300 wrote:

After having the graphics chip fall off of TWO HP Laptops due to MoBo overheating, I'll not touch anything made by HP - - IMHO they epitomize the WORST
They used to be the leader in electronics test equipment. I'd not trust them now with ANYTHING as far as I could throw the QE2.
-
Printers are the throw away - - the cash cow is in the ink
Which is why 3rd party ink suppliers are having a field day

I find my Canon PIXMA PRO-9000 drinks like an alcoholic. And I agree HP stuff is c*** today. Back in the Seventies and Eighties HP made great electronics. I have an ancient HP45 Calculator (1974 Vintage) that still works. Well, on AC as the battery will no longer hold a charge. And I have C12, C11, and C10 HP pocket calculators that also still work.

I had a then Top-of-the-line 18" HP LapTop. It finally died a slow heat death.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Merlin1300 wrote:

This just chaps my grits br Canon charges an arm a... (show quote)

I print infrequently on a wide carriage Canon printer and most of my ink is consumed by head cleaning.

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

Merlin1300 wrote:

This just chaps my grits br Canon charges an arm a... (show quote)

When the reservoir is empty the printer registers as empty, that assures the printer will not be damaged by insufficient ink supply and also that any photos are printed at their best image and not effected by insufficient ink supply.
By the way I believe all the better photo printers have this same feature.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

I have had no problems for the past 6 years from http://www.inkfarm.com

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

For what you paid for the 5520 you could have picked up a Pixma Pro 100 and then gone to Precision Colors and filled your own inks at a much better rate. Precision Inks are the closest to the OEM inks that I have found.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Pixma Pro is $380 on Amazon, doesn't scan, fax, or copy
The MG5520 is $159 and prints, scans, copys, and even has a rear feed. Just doesn't FAX.
Canon carts are chipped - which makes refilling a bit trickier. Better to buy third party carts.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

warrior wrote:

I have had no problems for the past 6 years from http://www.inkfarm.com

Me too (or to-I can never remember which is correct- too or to or 2

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Merlin1300 wrote:

Pixma Pro is $380 on Amazon, doesn't scan, fax, or copy
The MG5520 is $159 and prints, scans, copys, and even has a rear feed. Just doesn't FAX.
Canon carts are chipped - which makes refilling a bit trickier. Better to buy third party carts.

Good point I wasn't looking at it that way I only use my Inkjet printer for Photos. Another way to go if you use a lot of ink is a color All-in-One Laserjet. I don't need to fax from my printer any longer and I have a V600 Epson scanner when I need to scan but I eliminated all my woe's about dried up or clogged Inkjet's with a color LaserJet printer the I paid about $199 for. It's a great printer and I think the full set of carts that I eventually put in it will last me 10 years as I don't use it that much. Bottom line your cost per print will be dramatically reduced with a Laser printer if you don't mind a little reduction in color quality and you are primarily working with text documents that need color enhancements. Good Luck.