"Remaining ink is low": Who are they kidding?

[JDArt]

I've been using the Epson r2400 for a few months now. I've noticed that the message "the remaining ink in xxx is low," and you're presented with a dialog that asks you to buy now, wait, etc.

Yet I can go on printing, with no apparent ill effects, many, many 8x10 pictures. At first I replaced the cartridges when I got the message (no doubt what they want), but this time I'm just letting it ride. I've printed 25 8X10s after receiving the message. I still get the message, but the prints come out fine.

The dialog warning indicates that the printer will stop printing if a cartridge runs out. I'm going to take the dialog for its word and let the cartridge "run out." Let's see just how many extra prints I get.

[dc2]

I heard this about epson printers years ago . The price of ink is bad enough here without this .
Hope you squeeze every drop out of the tea leaves [ means thieves here]

[Michele]

I have run into this same issue with all my printers I have had. Mostly Epson for photo printing when I use it and HP basic little two ink cartridge printer for all my general printing. I can print many pages out on both printers after I get the first warning. I just let it print till it runs out and then change them. I don't see a reason to waste "good" ink.

Michele

[ohenry]

Same issue with Canon and HP. They give you notice FAR in advance!

[ohenry]

Originally Posted by bauerman

The printer business IS ink - not printers...........at some point the "ink companies" (because that is what they are) are going to start giving away printers because that is just the way in the door.....the cartridges are the virus.......and the real (inflated) cost of printing. I'm bitter - I am sorry.

Jared

bitter perhaps...but on target re: where the profits lie.

[mikej]

My Epson 2200 gets to a point and will say I have xxx number of pages like the last one left before I need to change the cartridge. It's petty accurate too. But since I have six cartridges I don't worry about one or two running out. I keep printing. That's why it's go all those cartridges, right? Yep, my Epson 2200 is a great printer, but for some reason, the prints start looking a bit funny after the first cartridge runs out. It gets worse when another one runs out. I figure it must be a heat problem because when I stop printing to swap out the empty cartridges, it cools down and the prints are good again when I start up. For such a great printer, it shouldn't be so heat sensitive.




Mike

[Wobbler]

Dont any of you folks use a bulk ink system??

You just buy bottles of ink and top up each one as you need it - you can save a fortune!! Cartridges are a VERY expensive way of printing!

I have a 2100 with Lyson photocrome inks, and andother with fotonic inks...

Worth a look, anyway.

http://www.lyson.com/

I know there are other companies that do bulk inks, but I've always found these guys pretty good, and their inks are stable, no change from batch to batch.

[Olyirrisistity]

I read somewhere that if you keep going until the flashing ink is completely empty, you run the risk of letting the printer suck in air, instead of ink, which can cause problems later due to airlock. As I like to be safe and sorry, I tend to replace the ink soon (1 or 2 prints) after I get the low-ink warning .

What annoyed me most recently was, after replacing the cartridges that (I think) need replacing, my printer (Epson R2400) then refuses to charge the inks, saying that there are (still other) ink cartridges need replacing. There are indeed low-ink warning of others that has just started to flash, but I don't want to replace them so soon. Still, I have no alternative, as the printer won't charges the inks I've just replaced, unless I replace the others as well.
It sounds like blackmail, doesn't it?

[happusa]

I use Media Street bulk ink system on my R2400. Had some problems clogging at first, but that has gone away. Media Street also sells a cartridge loaded with print head cleaning solution. They recommend using the cleaner when changing brands of ink as some are not compatible and will clog the heads when two inks are mixed.

As far as cost, a four ounce bottle of ink (that's 10 cartridges!!) is $19.95. That is less than one Epson cartridge.

[EOS_JD]

Originally Posted by Olyirrisistity

As I like to be safe and sorry, I tend to replace the ink soon (1 or 2 prints) after I get the low-ink warning .

You are wasting a lot of cash by doing this. I've run the R2400 for almost 2 years now and would never change a cartridge until it runs out completely.

It's not just inkjets.... I bought a C900 colour laser and have had a warning that toner was running out for about 128 months and it's still printing my colour docs perfectly!!!

These warnings are there for a reason and it's not safety....... it's cold hard CASH!

[riha]

The warning is just an warning. It dies not say that the ink is empty, it says that it is low. Reason for this is that people who tend to buy the highend versions of Epson printers (2400, 4800, 7800, 9800), they also prints lots of copies and if the ink suddenly would end/finish/finito/empty, then their business would stop until new ink is available.

So, first of all, have a spare set of ink home and second run until it is empty and use that warning to know that it is SOON empty.

Also, it does not have anything to do with cash and selling more ink, it has to to with safety, whatever you all say. It gives you the time to prepare yourself with new ink cartridges and if you do not have any at hoem, then you have the time to buy new ones.

We have customers running these highend epson printers 24x7 and if the ink is empty and they do not have more ink at home or ready, then THEY loose LOTS of money because proofs cannot be made for their big clients.

[Olyirrisistity]

Thanks to all above who responded to my comment.

From the replies, I guess that there's no danger of airblock even if the printer runs until some catridge has gone completely empty ?

When the ink is empty, I suppose the printer then will stop and tell you to change ?

If the printing has to stop midway for catridge changing, will the quality of the print affected by the stop and re-start? (= Would the print be ruined by this?)

[Nikonfreak]

That's usually my clue to check to see if I have another cartridge on the shelf for the color that's "running out".

You can print quite a few more when you see that message.

Run out the cartridge. You'll note that when you do replace it, the others seem to "drain" a bit. ... at least I seem to feel that way.

I've replaced cartridges in the middle of printing an image. No ill effects. Replace the color that's run out and let the printer continue. No big.

Julio

[KenC]

With the smaller epsons like the 2200, there's another 25% useable ink in the cartridge after it runs "dry" i.e. the printer will no longer print and the red light goes on solid.

[angelsfort]

Originally Posted by happusa

I use Media Street bulk ink system on my R2400. Had some problems clogging at first, but that has gone away. Media Street also sells a cartridge loaded with print head cleaning solution. They recommend using the cleaner when changing brands of ink as some are not compatible and will clog the heads when two inks are mixed.

As far as cost, a four ounce bottle of ink (that's 10 cartridges!!) is $19.95. That is less than one Epson cartridge.

Is this system where you have the needle and you inject more ink into your current cartridges? (sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but I've been wondering about how well the cartridges work after they've been injected with more ink...)

[happusa]

anglesfort,
No, these are not injected. The cartridges are connected by small tubing to 4oz bottles of ink. You can refill the bottles as needed. Check out Mediastreet.com .

[Fusion]

Bought a bulk system for my Epson and its great, I never get buy now messages I just top up the ink reservoirs when needed with bulk bought (and a lot cheaper) ink. Ian

PS I have noticed absolutely NO drop in image quality.... no crazy priced Epson inks..