Still unable to use compatible inks with my Epson printer
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
April 17, 2016 2:45pm CST
All printer manufacturers produce their own inks for use for each product, but these are usually very highly priced. As an alternative many people use compatible ink cartridges, which are available at far lower and economical prices.
Recently Epson released a firmware update that disabled all but their own brand of inks for use in their printers, which is a very dubious business practice. Since people have already paid good money for these printers, it is outrageous that the company should attempt to extort money in this way.
I have been searching for months now to find some way of downgrading the firmware, which does not seem possible. There is a company that boasts the ability to do this, but the claim is unfounded.
Compatible inks are available for as little as £12 per set, but genuine Epson cartridges vary from £62 to over £95 per set.
10 people like this
14 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
18 Apr 16
This seems unethical to me. Why is it legal? Makes no sense. Competition is a good thing. This practice is not.
3 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
18 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace I will be one of those ex customers as well. I would never buy another product from Epson because they cannot be trusted.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
18 Apr 16
@Asylum Here too, and it really bothers me. I feel this way about much in the new technology field. Don't they understand that if they make us hate them, we will find others to sell us these products?
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Apr 16
That is outrageous. I would get rid of it and buy a different printer.
3 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
17 Apr 16
I never allow any updates from HP to my printer, but I still got skunked on some remanufactured cartridges that I bought from Amazon. The printer knew they were not genuine HP and rejected them. I have used cheap cartridges before with no problem. I am wondering if they manage to update when I wasn't paying attention or whether this was just a fluke and another vendor's cartridges might work.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I have an HP Printer but I always use their brand of ink, that is just me.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
20 Apr 16
@BelleStarr I use,colour quite often.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@Asylum Mine takes 4 cartridges but I rarely use the color.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
18 Apr 16
@Asylum It is very much like the ransomware that hackers install to extort money from computer owners.
3 people like this
@akalinus (43209)
• United States
18 Apr 16
I have an Epson XP-400. I have bought ink on the Internet. There is no genuine ink for it available and I think they knew that when they sold it to me. When I ran out of ink the last time, I got a notice that I can only use genuine ink for my model and they will not accept my Internet ink. I am so upset. I need to get another printer and it will not be an Epson.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
20 Apr 16
Certain manufacturers here in the States try to do the same as your printer there. I've been getting my ink at a reduced rate for several years at a small shop called Cartridge World. They carry refills for most popular printers sold here. At first when I had a dell printer, the printer wouldn't recognize the replacement ink even if it was a new one. It still worked, but the printer constantly told me it was out of ink. Now I have a HP printer and it works great with the refillable cartridges.
Many here come with a black cartridge and one for color, but they don't dry up at the same rate. I hope you figure out a way around their update that isn't expensive.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
25 Apr 16
Do you think this would be the same case scenario if you owned an HP? Reason being, I own an HP myself and use the HP cartridges and yes, they are expensive. Good luck with that firmware downgrade.
Here is an article link as to why HP in particular don't recommend refilling inkjet cartridges due to their print quality diminishing with subsequent refills:
You’ve undoubtedly heard or seen advertisements for businesses that promise to save you money on printer ink cartridges -- one problem, though, according to HP: Refilling doesn't work.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
25 Apr 16
@lookatdesktop Those will not work unless the new firmware can be removed.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
25 Apr 16
@Asylum , Here is a link to an Ebay article about the top 7 refillable ink cartridges:
The cost of printer ink cartridges seems to rise every year. Since many businesses and households use printers, many people look for alternative ways to save money on ink cartridges. Refillable ink cartridges...
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
18 Apr 16
Don't know if it is the done thing now but I used to take printer cartridges in to a shop near me to get them refilled.
Maybe with the advance in technology that wouldn't be doable?
2 people like this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
26 Oct 17
Yes, many people do not buy the original ink for their printers and save by buying the one that is not original. My technician only wants me to buy original ink for my printer. I have an HP. I agree with him on that because the other ink I do not think is as good as the original. He told me why once and I cannot remember but it made sense.
1 person likes this
