jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you're considering getting a new printer, look at the ink tank printers. I got an Epson ET-2760 a while ago, and I am still on my first bottles of ink. The levels of colored inks are at about the halfway point, and the black is slightly below, but there is still ink in the bottles. I've printed 2,872 pages. I bought a complete set of ink bottles for $68. That's for a complete refill of all the ink tanks. Compare that with the prices of cartridges.

I got an email from Canon yesterday promoting their line of ink tank printers. That's what prompted me to post this.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

If you can get that much ink at that price, it begs the question of why the 8 ml of ink in the typical cartridge is so costly. Surely the cost to produce of the two inks can’t be that different.

Stan

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Too bad none of them are photo printers.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

The way the manufacturers really make their money is by making the printers affordable but the ink expensive. They lure you in with a nice price for a decent printer the “BANG,” your refill cartridges cost a fortune.

Ollieboy

That only works if you buy their ink. If your not printing photos they loose.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I understand the "razors and blades" marketing philosophy, but it still begs a response to the question of the relative cost of cartridges vs tanks. Sure, a tank printer cost more than a cartridge printer, but the cost difference can be justified by the savings in the cost of ink, if one does a decent printing volume.

Stan

ricardo00

Good to hear! I just tossed my two ink jet printers (an Epson and a Canon) and bought a Brother ink tank printer (the MFC-J5845DWXLB from Costco). Hoping I don't regret it.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I've got an Epson ET-7700 with a double set of inks thrown in. About 2/3 through in just over 3 years.

It does clog up under the printer head, but you can clear this using an unofficial method on You Tube. I've done it twicw now and am about to do it a third time. Each time the period between cleaning gets shorter so there must be some residual ink left behind.

On his latest update the author of the You Tube Unofficial fix that I use eventually sent it back to Epson.

chikid68 Loc: Tennesse USA

I have that one too but I have not had it clog yet.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Keep this on the back burner for if it does. The author goes to great lengths to tell you it is unofficial. All this will cost you is 100% alcohol, a pair of latex gloves and some kitchen towel. And 30 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySw66VRnggU

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks for the link. Using CC might be a good idea.

For ET-2760 owners: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=epson+et-2760+cleaning

tcthome Loc: NJ

Your not paying the price for the small cartridges each time which have to be manufactured, filled &, packaged with such a small amount of ink.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

The Epson Jerry identified prints photos just fine. No, it is not as good as a printer that is designed for photo printing but if all you are printing are 4x6 prints, then why go to the expense? Also, if you use Canon or HP printers that do a better job with photo prints you are paying a premium price for the convenience of printing from home. A 4x6 print will typically cost you over 50 cents per print -- why do that when you can have prints made at WalMart for 17 cents. Some mail order prints are even less. The only way to come out ahead price wise on photo printing from home is to invest in an actual photo printer. These typically will accept roll paper to print on, but then again, you would have to make a huge investment in equipment. These printers start around 1800.00 and go up to several thousand dollars. The ink cartridges (usually between 8 to 11 colors) cost 70.00 to 100.00 each. Once you have spent those thousands of dollars to get set up, you can print for about 35 cents per square foot. That means you could print 8x12s for about 30 cents or if you could configure a group of 4x6 shots to work on a particular size/width of paper, they would run less than a dime each. While it would be nice to own a good photo printer, unless you are doing serious work like entering photos into top galleries or you are doing commercial work, you will never recoup your investment.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

These printers from Sam's sell for 249.98 and the refill pack 58.98. They claim you can print up to 7500 pages from one refill of ink. The typical Canon or HP printers in that group sell for 127 - 149 dollars. These printers will usually print 600 - 800 sheets per set of ink and then the replacement cartridge will run 55 - 90.00 each. Just do the math and you will see that even though the printer is more expensive initially, you will save a great deal of money in the long run.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

The high cost of cartridges is way the printer cost is so low on the consumer level.