Non-OEM Bottled Ink: I've heard about updates making it impossible to use generic ink cartridges in printers, and I'm wondering if it would be possible for an ink tank printer to...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've heard about updates making it impossible to use generic ink cartridges in printers, and I'm wondering if it would be possible for an ink tank printer to detect non-OEM liquid ink. At the current time, the OEM bottles are cheap enough that going generic isn't a temptation. However, if they give us an update that makes generic ink impossible to use, they could raise their prices as high as they want. Of course, by the time you find out your printer can't use the cheap ink you bought, it's already through the system, so you'd probably have to buy a new printer.

A firmware update notice for my Epson ET-8500 made me wonder about that.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Price is too high now -
Cost of printer ink per gallon us crazy...
There are 128 ounces in one US liquid gallon:
128*[$13, $75] = [$1664, $9600]
Ink price per gallon is between $1,664 - $9,600 or an average of $6400
And $20 billion is consumed around the globe every year!

Is printer ink overpriced? Depends - are you the seller or the buyer?

BebuLamar

I don't think so Jerry. The ET-8500 uses cartridges so they can do it. I don't think they can do it with the bottle ink.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

jerryc41 wrote:

I've heard about updates making it impossible to u... (show quote)

Jerry, I buy my Epson Black 774 ink from Epson for my ET 4550 Epson Tank printer.
Why? Well, it is not much more than generic ink.
Secondly, Epson has at least two "Black" inks for some of their Tank Printers.

Your Epson ET-8500 uses an Epson 552 Black Ink Bottle or an Epson 552 Photo Black Ink Bottle. Why not the Black 774???
https://epson.com/i/C11CJ20201

I'm happy with my Epson Printer which has printed thousands of pages . . . Now why would I want to take a chance for a few $$$?
You are right, Epson could change all of that with a firmware update, but for now, I will stay the course.

Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Shellback wrote:

Price is too high now -
Cost of printer ink per gallon us crazy...
There are 128 ounces in one US liquid gallon:
128*[$13, $75] = [$1664, $9600]
Ink price per gallon is between $1,664 - $9,600 or an average of $6400
And $20 billion is consumed around the globe every year!

Is printer ink overpriced? Depends - are you the seller or the buyer?

And how much ink is left in the cartridges that we throw out?

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

BebuLamar wrote:

I don't think so Jerry. The ET-8500 uses cartridges so they can do it. I don't think they can do it with the bottle ink.

EcoTank Photo ET-8500 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer Ink
https://epson.com/i/C11CJ20201

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

BebuLamar wrote:

I don't think so Jerry. The ET-8500 uses cartridges so they can do it. I don't think they can do it with the bottle ink.

My ET-8500 uses bottles of ink. I see the price has gone up since I bought mine.

https://www.amazon.com/Epson-Wireless-Wide-Format-Supertank-Touchscreen/dp/B08R57JK88/ref=asc_df_B08R57JK88/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=508198951409&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17341360470201053629&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004811&hvtargid=pla-1266750066375&psc=1&mcid=3bca3ac6a0c6319d9debeb14e204944a&gclid=CjwKCAiA_OetBhAtEiwAPTeQZ21oKS2T9qhJivLHKmmQaZ5OmuKujtKndosimbJFrOUvPYMn166rORoCl3sQAvD_BwE

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

jerryc41 wrote:

And how much ink is left in the cartridges that we throw out?

Well, that depends - on the tricolor cartridges, it could be a lot when one color runs out and you replace it.
Some of the ink, however, doesn't even make it to the printed page, instead being used for maintenance like printer head cleaning after the printer has sat idle for a while. Consumer Reports found that some models even lost more than half their ink to maintenance, although others had much lower ink loss.

I use a laser printer for non-photo work - have had my laser printer for about 15 years and am on the 3rd cartridge. Unfortunately, the print drivers are not keeping up with the operating systems - so I have an older laptop that works with my printer.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Shellback wrote:

Well, that depends - on the tricolor cartridges, i... (show quote)

Yes, it is a losing game. I'm hesitating to update my Epson firmware.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

jerryc41 wrote:

I've heard about updates making it impossible to u... (show quote)

My EPSON ET 2800, uses the 522 bottled ink. After two years I just bought new ink. I but it from EPSON. It last me a long time. 20 bucks for black and 18 for color. WHY get non OEM. I dumped my ink cartridge printers, they are a money hungry machine uses ink and cost too much.
Cannot complain about the cost of bottled ink.
bruce

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

riderxlx wrote:

My EPSON ET 2800, uses the 522 bottled ink. After two years I just bought new ink. I but it from EPSON. It last me a long time. 20 bucks for black and 18 for color. WHY get non OEM. I dumped my ink cartridge printers, they are a money hungry machine uses ink and cost too much.
Cannot complain about the cost of bottled ink.
bruce

Right! If they keep selling at reasonable prices, I'll be happy.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

jerryc41 wrote:

Right! If they keep selling at reasonable prices, I'll be happy.

EPSON told me the shelf life is two years, to me, meaning AT LEAST two years. IF you are so concerned about the low cost of this ink then just buy some extra ink now and you will have it. At todays cost, I would not worry about it.
bruce

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

riderxlx wrote:

EPSON told me the shelf life is two years, to me, meaning AT LEAST two years. IF you are so concerned about the low cost of this ink then just buy some extra ink now and you will have it. At todays cost, I would not worry about it.
bruce

rcarol

BebuLamar wrote:

I don't think so Jerry. The ET-8500 uses cartridges so they can do it. I don't think they can do it with the bottle ink.

The ET-8500 does not use cartridges. It is a tank printer.

AlMac Loc: Newcastle Upon Tyne - UK

jerryc41 wrote:

I've heard about updates making it impossible to u... (show quote)

I hope not Jerry. I use an old Epson ET-2710 as a sublimation printer for t-shirts, mugs etc.
As Epson do not make sublimation ink you have to look to other suppliers. If an ink tank printer could detect non-OEM liquid ink and render the printer useless, it will make a lot of craft people extremely angry.