Compatible cartridges vs. The Real Thing

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devraj50

I have a brand new Epson Stylus CX5400 multifunctional unit.

I was looking for opinions regarding compatible cartridges vs. epson
cartridges.

My main use of the unit is documents and my main concern is whether the
compatible cartridges can f**k up the print heads. If they can then I would
rather spend the money and get the real thing.

All input is appreciated in advance,

Devraj
 
devraj50 said:
I have a brand new Epson Stylus CX5400 multifunctional unit.

I was looking for opinions regarding compatible cartridges vs. epson
cartridges.

My main use of the unit is documents and my main concern is whether the
compatible cartridges can f**k up the print heads. If they can then I would
rather spend the money and get the real thing.

All input is appreciated in advance,

Devraj
Click to expand...

My Epson C60 was working beautifully, then I started buying replacement ink
from an office chainstore in the UK. Originally the photo output was so
good, I couldn't believe the printer had only cost £30. Then the colour
started going weird, then the black stopped, I bought new cheap black carts
( I think I was giving a sick person poison to cure them), it just went
downhill from there. I'm sitting here now, with a pile of letters and
projects to do, looking at a piece of worthless plastic.

I've only bought the one brand of cheaper refill (staples) and other makes
may be wonderful. I'm now wondering if other people end up blaming the
printer, when the ink has been the main cause of the problem. If
manufacturers are putting out such rubbish machines that fail so easily,
then it's a silent scandal that needs addressing- on the other hand if it's
the ink then they or their resellers should be made aware of this. If it was
mobile phones, it wouldn't be tolerated if they failed to function about
like some printers seem to.

james
 
James Young said:
My Epson C60 was working beautifully, then I started buying replacement ink
from an office chainstore in the UK. Originally the photo output was so
good, I couldn't believe the printer had only cost £30. Then the colour
started going weird, then the black stopped, I bought new cheap black carts
( I think I was giving a sick person poison to cure them), it just went
downhill from there. I'm sitting here now, with a pile of letters and
projects to do, looking at a piece of worthless plastic.
Click to expand...

Unlike HPs and some other brands, Epson printers have semi-permanent print heads
that do not get replaced with the ink cart. If you damaged the print heads with
unsuitable ink, going back to Epson ink is unlikely to fix the problem. The cost
of replacing the heads will far exceed the cost of a new printer. Fortunately,
£30 is not a high price to pay (as compared with some of the more expensive
Epsons).
 
James Young wrote:
(snip)
If it was mobile phones, it wouldn't be tolerated if they failed to
function about like some printers seem to.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree. I know lots of "connected" people who continue
to pay big per-month charges for their flipper service while raging
about all the places where the silly things can't connect.
 
....and in reply I say!:

OOI, how many "real" carts did you run through vefore you started
buying others? I am not arguing with your experience (it actually
matches mine :-<), but if you had only used one or two genwines then a
problem _may_ have been developing already.

I went into OPs after the supplied cart ran out, so I cannot test
this. So I am asking with the intent of learning.

Have I toadied enough to not sound like I am attacking your theory?
My Epson C60 was working beautifully, then I started buying replacement ink
from an office chainstore in the UK. Originally the photo output was so
good, I couldn't believe the printer had only cost £30. Then the colour
started going weird, then the black stopped, I bought new cheap black carts
( I think I was giving a sick person poison to cure them), it just went
downhill from there. I'm sitting here now, with a pile of letters and
projects to do, looking at a piece of worthless plastic.
Click to expand...

**************************************************** sorry
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

I was frightened by the idea of a conspiracy that was
causing it all.
But then I was terrified that maybe there was no plan,
really. Is this unpleasant mess all a mistake?
 
devraj50 said:
I have a brand new Epson Stylus CX5400 multifunctional unit.

I was looking for opinions regarding compatible cartridges vs. epson
cartridges.

My main use of the unit is documents and my main concern is whether the
compatible cartridges can f**k up the print heads. If they can then I would
rather spend the money and get the real thing.

All input is appreciated in advance,

Devraj
Click to expand...

We can know what that at least some third party inks ARE inferior.
How?
On the www.wilhelm-research.com/ site there is much information on
inks in general. Also there you will find a current and specific PDF
article printed in September of 2003 where third party inks were
tested. This article may be found at www.wilhelm-research.com/ and
http://tinyurl.com/xy59 will take you right to the article but you
must have adobe reader installed to read it. This is a free program
available here http://tinyurl.com/6ip . Wilhelm mentions the specific
inks he compared. The brands tested were from:

1. Amazon Imaging
2. Carrot Ink
3. OA100 (PrintPal)
4. Rainbow logo (a white box with nothing on it except for a rainbow
logo)
5. Canon
6. Epson (information on these last two inks may have been drawn from
previous testing)

As many on Usenet have pointed out many times, you pay your money and
make a choice. The manufacturers ink cost more but items including:

1. Color balance
2. Print longevity
3. Head clogging

are _ALWAYS_ better with the manufacturers own ink. If these items
are not as important to you as cost then, of course, that is certainly
your choice.

YMMV and many will cite anecdotal evidence to the contrary. However,
until someone presents _ACTUAL TEST DATA_ to refute Wilhelm test data
(not anecdotal evidence) then I will trust his site. I tried third
party inks with my Epson and even reported good results here. Except
for color balance, which had to be drastically changed, I thought they
were OK. After using the ink a while, I noticed that even with color
adjustment, the prints did not have the same color balance as Epson
inks. I also had some trouble with head clogging with one set of these
inks. Based on personal experience and testing by
www.wilhelm-research.com/

Personally, I will stick with ink from the manufacturer.
 
snippped

As many on Usenet have pointed out many times, you pay your money and
make a choice. The manufacturers ink cost more but items including:

1. Color balance
2. Print longevity
3. Head clogging

are _ALWAYS_ better with the manufacturers own ink.
Click to expand...

All good points---I was with you until you used the word "ALWAYS"
above. I doubt if such a statement can be substantiated
**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".
 
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