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Epson Ink prices

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BGM

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I know this is not likely to happen and may generate some negative feedback, but here goes anyway.

I suggest a one month boycott of Epson ink purchases starting Oct. 15th, ending Nov. 15th. No reason for those dates. But got to start somewhere.

I believe it is high time for consumers and professional photographers to take some sort of stand against these insane ink prices being shoved down our throats. I understand Canon and HP are no different than Epson, but you have to start somewhere. Epson is the printer powerhouse these days.

I do think that consumers have some power to drive prices down. If enough people take a stand and stop buying ink for 30 days, Epson may just see a drop in sales. If no response from Epson, then another 30 day boycott.

As a semi pro photographer, I do appreciate the superb quality of Epson printers and ink, but lets get real. Replacement ink on the 7900 is pushing $1000. Hello! I smell a rat and I also smell price fixing.

So come one, come all. Put Epson on notice. We anna gunna stand for this no more!
Regard and don't kill me for this
Bill
 
True, Epson inks are over priced but hey have a monopoly and can charge what they want. I use my printers professionally and would never use other manufacturers copies for many reasons. I therefore bit the bullet and buy them as they do what they say on the box. I see no way to make them reduce prices although is they did I'm sure their percentage in the printer market would increase.

I do though hassle them at ever show i see them at to simplify their over complicated and un-user friendly printer interface for use with PS.
Jules

--
Wouldn't it be great is the ESC key on PCs did something?
 
rojj said:
There are inks out there that are as good as Epson's and in some cases surpasses their gamut:
Click to expand...
The only Epson originals I have used over the past 12 years or so have been those that came with the printer.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
 
JulesJ said:
Correction
In your opinion there are inks out.....
Not in mine though.
Jules
Click to expand...
We've been though all this so many times Jules - I am not starting it all up again as totally fed up with being told I must use original inksets or all hell will break loose and my orinter will explode into the atmosphere. I use perfectly fine, quality wise and far cheaper, compatibles with CIS units. Have done for 12+ years so please don't keep trying to tell me that I am doing something wrong or I will begin to believe that you work for Epson.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
 
All i can say is that you've been lucky up to now. How do you know that the archivalness is as good as Epson Inks. I went on a course at Epsons at Hemel and they did a little show about how their inks are made and how carts are filled. i know this was very biased but a lot of the stuff was unargueable.

If you are happy with the saving that's absolutely fine by me and good luck to you. Coupled with the fact that I do know of nightmare stories about om inks, couple with the fact that the price of our prints easily covers the cost of the Epson inks, I will stick with them. The 220ml carts last quite a long time on the 4800 too.
jules
Zone8 said:
JulesJ said:
Correction
In your opinion there are inks out.....
Not in mine though.
Jules
Click to expand...
We've been though all this so many times Jules - I am not starting it all up again as totally fed up with being told I must use original inksets or all hell will break loose and my orinter will explode into the atmosphere. I use perfectly fine, quality wise and far cheaper, compatibles with CIS units. Have done for 12+ years so please don't keep trying to tell me that I am doing something wrong or I will begin to believe that you work for Epson.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
Click to expand...
--
Wouldn't it be great is the ESC key on PCs did something?
 
So the battle for cheaper ink begins! Into the breach once more!
 
Are you printing large quality archival expensive prints including b&w for clients every day Doug, or is this work for yourself?
Jules
Doug R said:
I absolutly will not buy any Epson ink untill they submit !
--
Doug

Won't work in my Canon printer anyway. :)
Click to expand...
--
Wouldn't it be great is the ESC key on PCs did something?
 
While the ink prices are low due to your artificial demand decrease!! Then I will sell it back onto the open market and PROFIT!! $_$

Actually, I'm using cone color ink in my 7800 and inkvillage ink in my 2200...

xilvar
BGM said:
I know this is not likely to happen and may generate some negative feedback, but here goes anyway.

I suggest a one month boycott of Epson ink purchases starting Oct. 15th, ending Nov. 15th. No reason for those dates. But got to start somewhere.

I believe it is high time for consumers and professional photographers to take some sort of stand against these insane ink prices being shoved down our throats. I understand Canon and HP are no different than Epson, but you have to start somewhere. Epson is the printer powerhouse these days.

I do think that consumers have some power to drive prices down. If enough people take a stand and stop buying ink for 30 days, Epson may just see a drop in sales. If no response from Epson, then another 30 day boycott.

As a semi pro photographer, I do appreciate the superb quality of Epson printers and ink, but lets get real. Replacement ink on the 7900 is pushing $1000. Hello! I smell a rat and I also smell price fixing.

So come one, come all. Put Epson on notice. We anna gunna stand for this no more!
Regard and don't kill me for this
Bill
Click to expand...
 
JulesJ said:
All i can say is that you've been lucky up to now. How do you know that the archivalness is as good as Epson Inks.
Click to expand...
You don't give up do you Jules. I think successful use for 12+years says something for the compatibles. On numerous other posts, I have detailed the archival qualities and I am quite happy, as are my clients for many years, to display my prints without worries about fading, so I am not going to continue to answer you - I have done this all before on many occasions.

I print on watercolour paper for large prints and have covered this extensively,including quite severe tests with colleagues. I have also some prints made using Epson inks, on Epson glossy paper, that faded in the drawer within a couple of years. I have similar prints, made with compatibles, on watercolour paper that show no signs of fading, even after 10+ years both in a drawer and on display too, not in a drawer.

I have an Epson, for the office, DX7400 all-in-one. Have switched to a CIS with dye inks because with the Epson originals, it clogged severely soon after first using. DuraBrite pigmented inks, to me, are rubbish in terms of their tendency to clog, even from one day to the next. Epson offered to exchange this (then brand new) printer but out here in Spain, I had to get it to one of their distributors, meaning a 3-hour return car journey - like twice, to take and get back. So, I decided to do the sensible thing and get rid of the DuraBrite inks altogether. I had a lot of trouble freeing the Magenta nozzles clogged with the DuraBrite Epson original inks before I could install the CIS with Claria compatible inks that I use in my 1400.

Carry on subsidising Epson by all means but take note that a lot of Pros like myself are more than happy with the compatibles we use. Do what you think is best but just stop telling us we are wrong. We are NOT.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
 
I print for myself. But had I not put the fact that I use a Canon printer under my signature and the new hide signature feature hid it you wouldn't have needed or wanted to ask.
--
Doug
 
. . . . that I received as a gift last Christmas.

I couldn't agree more !! Not only is the Epson ink WAY TOO EXPENSIVE, but, my printer wastes even more by doing its' "unclog/clean" maneuver every time I start it up !!

I have sent Epson a "disgruntled customer" email, and, received a form letter email back telling me that (para phrasing) . . ."We are doing the best we can" .

Count me in !! In fact I'm going to try some off brand inks. Where should I start ?

(I'm not a pro, but, I do a fair amount of printing.)

Paul
Vancouver, WA . . . USA

galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spdavis/my_favorites

 
I am very happy that you have experienced no problems. You say you don't want to enter into a repeated discussion and then do so. Living three hours drive from a dealer has nothing to do with the issue. I have no idea what DuraBrite is or means. Whilst you are obviously a fan of OM inks I have read many horror stories of them on the web. Different people have different experiences and we are just two of many. But ask yourself this question. Do you use a genuine dslr or an eastern copy of one if such a thing exists. Would you be happy to have non manufacturers brake pads/air bags etc used by your garage in you car. How about safety gear that you use or is in places that you habitat. Genuine or copies.
I know what I prefer.
Jules
Zone8 said:
JulesJ said:
All i can say is that you've been lucky up to now. How do you know that the archivalness is as good as Epson Inks.
Click to expand...
You don't give up do you Jules. I think successful use for 12+years says something for the compatibles. On numerous other posts, I have detailed the archival qualities and I am quite happy, as are my clients for many years, to display my prints without worries about fading, so I am not going to continue to answer you - I have done this all before on many occasions.

I print on watercolour paper for large prints and have covered this extensively,including quite severe tests with colleagues. I have also some prints made using Epson inks, on Epson glossy paper, that faded in the drawer within a couple of years. I have similar prints, made with compatibles, on watercolour paper that show no signs of fading, even after 10+ years both in a drawer and on display too, not in a drawer.

I have an Epson, for the office, DX7400 all-in-one. Have switched to a CIS with dye inks because with the Epson originals, it clogged severely soon after first using. DuraBrite pigmented inks, to me, are rubbish in terms of their tendency to clog, even from one day to the next. Epson offered to exchange this (then brand new) printer but out here in Spain, I had to get it to one of their distributors, meaning a 3-hour return car journey - like twice, to take and get back. So, I decided to do the sensible thing and get rid of the DuraBrite inks altogether. I had a lot of trouble freeing the Magenta nozzles clogged with the DuraBrite Epson original inks before I could install the CIS with Claria compatible inks that I use in my 1400.

Carry on subsidising Epson by all means but take note that a lot of Pros like myself are more than happy with the compatibles we use. Do what you think is best but just stop telling us we are wrong. We are NOT.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
Click to expand...
--
Wouldn't it be great is the ESC key on PCs did something?
 
I'm sorry for you. I use a 4800 and I probably do a standard unclog about once a month. Us ually takes one or two passes to unclog one colour and then I'm off printing again. I have had the printer for a few years now and only had to do one major clean.
Jules
SPaul said:
. . . . that I received as a gift last Christmas.

I couldn't agree more !! Not only is the Epson ink WAY TOO EXPENSIVE, but, my printer wastes even more by doing its' "unclog/clean" maneuver every time I start it up !!

I have sent Epson a "disgruntled customer" email, and, received a form letter email back telling me that (para phrasing) . . ."We are doing the best we can" .

Count me in !! In fact I'm going to try some off brand inks. Where should I start ?

(I'm not a pro, but, I do a fair amount of printing.)

Paul
Vancouver, WA . . . USA

galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spdavis/my_favorites

Click to expand...
--
Wouldn't it be great is the ESC key on PCs did something?
 
. . . it is "normal" for the R1900 to clean itself at start-up. Listen carefully and you can hear the print mechanism travel its' merry way up and down the rails several times every time you turn it on. After it does this, take a paper towel and see how much ink it has left on the underlying foam.

I DID NOT mean to imply that I do a special clean prior to every start-up.

NONE of my other printers have ever dumped as much ink at start-up. Either Epson has an ink that clogs easily, OR, it is yet another way of increasing their ink sales.

Epson makes a good printer, but, it CLEARLY does NOT understand that CUSTOMER SERVICE is the ultimate weapon !!!

Paul
Vancouver, WA . . . USA

galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spdavis/my_favorites

 
I'm wondering if ConeColor might be the answer. Anyone with experience with these inks?
 
SPaul,

I also have an Epson R1900 and am very pleased with its performance. The R1900 is one of the most efficient printers in its price class in regards to ink usage based on a few third party tests/reviews I have read.

Obviously, if you are using the printer at higher volumes the R3880 would be a better choice, but as a home hobbyist I am very happy with the R1900.

FYI- I leave my printer in standby mode all the time and it seems to eliminate/reduce the startup cycle.
SPaul said:
NONE of my other printers have ever dumped as much ink at start-up. Either Epson has an ink that clogs easily, OR, it is yet another way of increasing their ink sales.

Epson makes a good printer, but, it CLEARLY does NOT understand that CUSTOMER SERVICE is the ultimate weapon !!!

Paul
Vancouver, WA . . . USA

galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spdavis/my_favorites

Click to expand...
--
--
Doug
 
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