Computer help forum: Why don't printers last ??

The root of the problem is the low price of inkjet printers these days. Same goes for computers and virtually everything else you buy.

Every commercial company is out to make a profit. When the product becomes commoditized -- like printers and computers -- competition is based largely on price. This means the profit the company is making per unit gets less and less, so they start looking for other ways to cut costs. Moving jobs to Mexico, then China when Mexico got to expensive, and now they're being moved to Vietnam, Nigeria, and other third world countries, because even China is getting too expensive. In addition, every corner that can possibly be cut on production usually will be cut. The quality of parts going into computers since someone started offering a sub-$2000 computer has plummeted along with the price of systems.

The very simple reality, is that the great deal you thought you got, wasn't so great after all. It's just taken until now for some of the non-monetary hidden costs to show up. This isn't to say you always get what you pay for, but typically higher end items will have higher margins on them, and be higher quality.

With inkjet printers, the printers themselves are sold at a loss usually. Printer companies make it up on the back end with inflated cartridge prices. But the printers are still constructed pretty poorly most of the time, so they will break down. Usually the cheapest route is to just buy cheap printers, and then get a new one once the supplied ink runs out. Inkjet printers aren't worth getting attached to.

Rebuild them and sell them back to the third world nations that made them!

Welcome to "inkjet" printers. they work great for awhile and since many are made cheaply or low-cost in mind be happy with what you get. BUT, its important more than anything to try "cleaning cycles" in order to resolve some printing quality issues. Inkjets do get clogged and thier process for printing creates small amounts of dried ink(crud) to accumulate over time. Inkjet jets then tend to become less reliable and simple blockage in any matter reduce print quality. The best inkjets are those that replace the printhead along with the ink cart. In this matter, the ink clogs, etc. get replaced with a new printhead. the models you mention retain thier old printheads and thier cleaning cycles are even more important as the "old printhead" remains after ink carts are replaced. You can with deft care manually wipe printheads with a clean damp cloth/paper shop towel and remove such accumaltions. Plain old damp cloth(water) will do fine, some use alcohol, or even Windex, but try that before giving up. AND yes, sometimes its better to toss and buy another as costs associated with new ink, etc. make that possible to simply replace.

tada -----Willy

Willy's post is right on target regarding inkjet printers. The clogged/dried-up printheads on ink cartridges are usually the culprit when poor printing suddenly strikes. Clean-up can be a nasty business but if done carefully it can save you the $30 cost of a replacement.

Al
"It's A Tablesaw--Do You Know Where Your Fingers Are?"

Thanks for the good advice. I have an Epson Stylus C66, still new. How does one clean the printer head? Does it come out? Honestly, I'm not even sure what it looks like, and which part it is.

Epson printers are crap. I have worked at a local retailer who sells epsons for over 3 years. We gets epsons back all the time. The printheads on them clog up or dry quite often. I have had an HP printer and a canon both of which I like.

Has anyone tried the inkjet cleaning cartridges? I have some success with using them on Epson photo 750 bought in Feb 99 but it has just decided to give bad prints and cleaning cartridges did not revive it. I used compatible ink cartridges for Epson but will use originals for the Canon ip4200 that has replaced the Epson until the warranty runs out. I wonder whether the new printer will last as long?

L O L ! ! YEAH... you just keep on believing all that HYPE that only the GENUINE MFG's cartridges are good enuf while I laugh all the way to the bank!! . For the cost of ONE overpriced MFG cartridge, I can get TWO compatible cartridges!!

Then we have these HP 3-in-one color catridges which force you to replace them when only ONE of the 3 inks in them has run out. Oh not to mention they are very expensive cause they have the printhead on the cartridge instead of inside the printer.

I have been using compatibles from 123INKJETS.COM on all three of my EPSON printers for years and have never had any problems with them at all.

Try buying a new Epson today and see what results you get.

I know different models of epson inkjet printers, and if you don't use them every day (black and colour) the inner
printhead dries.
with hp no problem you change the head and the cartridge.
My first epson last for 7 years ( i give it to a friend who use it really often...).
now i have a laser printer BW and an hp deskjet that I refill, AND if it last 2 months whitout printing ,it runs
well when i decide to use it.
I try to repair 3 epsons and 1 canon (dry) nothing to do... putting the heads in solvant , sending it with pressure... nothing.

canon&epson inkjet is attractive for low price BUT don't change cartrige, put it in the trash and by a new one it's less expensive.

1)-Use genuine cartridges
2)-Use the printer at least weekly (print test page)
3)-iIf printhead dryes, try putting it over a damp cloth(water, don't use alcohol-solvents), maybe all night!
4)My opinion,HP generally had beter printers .

I love my Epsons. Have 2 right now R320 and 6600 had a 880 prior and it is still going. Their service is great. I had a Stylus that died just after the 2 year warranty had expired and they fixed it and sent new ink with it for free.

I have had Epson printers in my house for the last 10 years and would use nothing else!! The quality is far superior to other brands, the individual ink tanks are cost effective and they produce great results!!! My daughter received a high end (approximate cost $400) HP printer about a year and half ago for her birthday; it spent 90% of the time in the shop for repairs and finally crapped out for good about a month ago. This was supposed to be a very high end printer and it was a piece of junk! I HIGHLY recommend Epson for home use all the way!

I couldn't agree more with your assessment of Epson printers. I've struggled with a couple of them, including the 2200,and found them requiring never-ending adjustments with continuing poor results. It amazes me that so many photographers swear by them, when, in fact, they are cheaply made and undependable. I am currently using the i9900 Canon printer, and it blows anything Epson has to offer right out of the water. I am also using Kodak's Professional Inkjet Paper (luster surface) with outstanding results.

I'm always giving away printers that are older models. My current "Main" printer is an Epson Stylus CX5400 that I print about 100 sheets a day for the past two years. Have an HP LaserJet 4000, HP OfficeJet T45 with Fax, and an HP DeskJet 940C that won't die. All have printed Ten's of Thousands of copies. I guess you just have bad luck with them!