Of all the dirty, under handed things...

[BFD Deadeye]

I just heard about this crap that Epson is doing. They use a smart chip that prevents the owner from refilling, or replacing Epson cartridges with generic brands. I hear it is in court now, with an anti-trust lawsuit. Depending on the outcome, I'm sure all printer manufacturers will be doing this soon.

Isn't that a little unfair? That would be like Ford or Chevy using a special chip in the gas tanks and/or engine, forcing the owner to use only Ford or Chevy gas or oil.

I'll never buy an Epson. Printer manufacturers have always priced their cartridges ridiculously high, which is why I refill mine. I have always had excellent results refilling. If they all start preventing the owner from refilling, I guess I'll have to learn shorthand. I absolutely refuse to buy overpriced cartridges.

What a slap in the face to the consumer.

On the bright side, I guess there are chip resetting tools that work around this problem, but that is yet another added expense.

I just think that is a crappy and dishonest way of doing business.

[HAL9000]

There are refill kits that come with software to reset the chip. I sell them where I work. The kits are under the brand name Nomi.

[Blakhart]

I think that Amoco and GM are owned by the same folks.

[fudge]

it's not fair at all..

But i understand that printers are sold at less than cost to the manufacturer, and they recoup the loss on cartridges or something.. a bit like with the playstation and XBOX...

But i don't think that they're TOO underpriced, a couple of times when my printer has broken itself i've taken it to the place where i bought it to get it fixed to be told that it'd be cheaper to buy a new printer..

Subsequently i've taken it to another place and had it fixed for $40, now THAT'S one cheap printer.. *sigh* the joys of upselling..

[alexmacdonald]

the best option i have found is a hardware chip resetter.

http://atlascopy.com/refills/resetters.htm

And hopefully Epson get their asses kicked in court.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Doesn't refilled cartridges damage the printer?

[glc]

They can, depending on the printer and the quality of the cartridge and ink.