Epson 3800 - URGENT

External Since: May 11, 2007 Posts: 37

Oops, I meant 3800, not 3880.

And yes, I did mean a 4880 to replace the 3800.

Sorry about the typos.

"John Smith" <JohnSmith RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote in message
news:p7dOj.167258$nr1.17483@newsfe13.phx...
> Thanks much.
>
> Based on discussions with Samys Camera and Epson, along with the feedback
> from here, I've already got commitment from Epson to send me a check next
> week for a 100% refund for the 3880 and I'm going to pick up a new Epson
> 4880 next week from Samys.
>
> Thanks to all who replied. Epson and Samys have been SUPERB throughout
> this frustrating process. I'd highly recommend them.
>
>
>
>
> "measekite" <inkystinky RemoveThis @oem.com> wrote in message
> news:MTcOj.20710$%41.7850@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>
>>
>> John Smith wrote:
>>> Urgent: I need feedback ASAP from other Epson 3800 owners.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Feb 19, 2008, I bought a new Epson 3800 from Samys Camera of Los
>>> Angeles. I set it up, made a single gorgeous 8x10 test print, and
>>> everything seemed fine - for a while. I left the country and didn't use
>>> the printer again for nearly 5 weeks. That's when the trouble started.
>>>
>>> I returned from my trip about 6 weeks after I bought it, tried to print
>>> again, and all it would print was clean white pages, not a single drop
>>> of ink came out. Of course, the brand new Epson inkjet cartridges were
>>> still in the printer for the past 6 weeks. I powered it off, rebooted
>>> my PC, made sure all of the techie stuff was OK (I have 30 years of
>>> hands on IT experience, so I know I covered those techie bases right.)
>>>
>>> Then all of the sudden the 3800 stopped even feeding blank pages though
>>> when trying to print, and started displaying a message on the LCD panel
>>> something like "Serious error - call Epson technical support".
>>>
>>> So I did, and Epson determined the printer was defective, and agreed to
>>> send me a NEW 3800 to replace it. I insisted on a new unit, not a
>>> refurbished unit - which is their standard policy if it's more than 30
>>> days from the date of purchase.
>>>
>>> About 5 days later I received a box from Epson with 3800 Number 2 in it,
>>> and yes, they screwed up and sent me a refurbished unit. Back on the
>>> phone with Epson and they agreed to replace it again.
>>>
>>> Two days ago, I receive 3800 Number 3, and I check it very carefully.
>>> Yes, it IS a brand new printer with all of the manuals, inkjet
>>> cartridges, and software CD inside that come with a new printer.
>>>
>>> Today I hooked it up, and bingo, 3800 Number 3 fails immediately. Once
>>> again, it will not print ANYTHING in spite of the print heads going back
>>> and forth and it's SOUNDING like its printing but nothing comes out
>>> other than a completely blank piece of paper.
>>>
>>> (Before anyone suggests their might be something wrong with my PC's
>>> basic ability to print, I print fine all the time to a HP LaserJet
>>> sitting right next to the 3800.)
>>>
>>> So I called Epson again; they have offered to replace it a 4th time or
>>> give me a full refund. Samys Camera (what a WONDERFUL store to deal
>>> with!) offered to do the same.
>>>
>>> HERE'S MY QUESTION: Are these 3800s fundamentally problematic? Should I
>>> replace it and upgrade to a 4800? Or go back down to a 2400 which I
>>> owned before the 3800?
>>>
>>> I'd GREATLY appreciate any feedback that any experienced Epson 3800
>>> users may have. Other flamers need not reply.
>>>
>>> TIA ----
>>>
>> A friend of mine bought an Epson 3800 and claims he had no problems.
>> What you are writing scares me form looking at Epson. You might want to
>> consider the Canon 5100 17" wide printer. The reviews have been very
>> good but it is a few hundred more than the Epson.
>>>
>>>
>
>

External Since: Sep 21, 2005 Posts: 172

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jimkramer wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:fua7mp$3c3$1@registered.motzarella.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""><a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:user@domain.invalid"><user.TakeThisOut@domain.invalid></a> wrote in message
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="news:fua4uc$mj7$1@news.acm.uiuc.edu">news:fua4uc$mj7$1@news.acm.uiuc.edu</a>...
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Alienjones wrote:

</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">~From your long winded explanation I would say in all honesty, You should
take the refund. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with these
printers.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">That's not true. There is a problem with all Epson inkjet printers.

I know, I own one.

</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">I hope that you can see the fallacy of your own statement at this point.

</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">The problem is ink drying out. Basically, of you don't print at least
one small print every day unless the humidity is 100%, soon the
heads will dry out and it will cost you a bundle of ink to get them
working again.

If you live in Vancouver you may never notice this. But if there are
dry seasons where you live, you will.

However, my $100 printer is otherwise reliable and generates
beautiful prints up to 8 1/2 x 44 inches.

Doug McDonald
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
I have, currently, two Epsons, a sub $100 R200 that I use mainly for CD's
and a $2,000+ 4800 Pro. They are not the same and are hardly even
comparable to one another other than that they are both inkjets. I've had
to clean the R200 4-5 times in the last 2 years, </pre>
</blockquote>
That is a dye based printer 
<blockquote cite="mid:fua7mp$3c3$1@registered.motzarella.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""> the 4800 at least monthly.
The R200 can sit for a month and be fine the 4800 needs to be used at least
weekly.
</pre>
</blockquote>
that is a pigment based printer. 
<blockquote cite="mid:fua7mp$3c3$1@registered.motzarella.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
To the OP: You've gotten some good tips, unfortunately if you've been
trying to print with a dry printhead then the printhead is probably fried.
Jim

</pre>
</blockquote>
Most of the respondents are not taking into consideration the the user
has tried 3 printers and none would work properly. It has nothing to
do with clogged heads. I think it is a computer problem. The Canon
IPF5100 will probably work since there are not driver conflicts. 
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