Cheap(er) source of pigment ink for R1800

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[gstark]

Adam,

A couple of points.

The price of individual carts for the R1800 are not OTT, and the quality is beyond question. With that borne in mind, I see no reason to jump to non-original carts. The potential loss in quality just doesn't justify the risk.

As top shipping costs, find a couple of other members who live close to you, and arrange a group purchase with discounted shipping costs which you can all share.

[Killakoala]

I wouldn't use generic inks. But that's me. I am fussy with the quality of my prints.

I wish Epson made the R1800 cartridges a bit bigger though. You'd think an A3+ printer would have cartridges to match the output size.

[Nnnnsic]

I wish Epson made the R1800 cartridges a bit bigger though. You'd think an A3+ printer would have cartridges to match the output size.

But then how would they make money?

[Ivanerrol]

Have you tried these people?

http://www.ausmedia.com.au/

Just ringing them gives you good advice.

[Matt. K]

I have been using both the R800 and the 2100 in a classroom situation and am delighted with the reliability and the economy of both of these printers. They work heavy-duty and constantly. Consider....When I was teaching black and white photography and processing, the cost for film, paper and chemistry for a class of ten was around$8000 over a 5 week period. The products were purchased at government contract prices and were considerably cheaper than normal shop retail. Since teaching digital only and with no restrictions on the number of A4 and A3 prints students can produce the cost is now under $3000 and the quality of the imagery has gone up to near professional level. And that's in full glorious colour! Consider also that there was a time when an A3 colour print produced from your negative at a professional lab would cost nearly $45 or more and you can see why I have no problems paying the price for Epson brand inks. The quality is outstanding and at around $5 for an A3 print I consider that to be a bargain.

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[Matt. K]

VK4CP
Making ink is not rocket science....but consider that Epsons pigmented inks are very high tech. Each particle of pigment is encapsulated in a tiny spec of UV filtered resin. This is what gives it the ability to last for a hundred years without fading. Do you think a cheaper third party manufacture is going to be able to do that? Perhaps cheaper inks are fine for proof sheets etc....but not for fine art prints. For those who find the inks too expensive consider printing at a smaller size. Say 4 prints on an A4 sheet and only print your very best larger.

[Reschsmooth]

I have been using both the R800 and the 2100 in a classroom situation and am delighted with the reliability and the economy of both of these printers. They work heavy-duty and constantly. Consider....When I was teaching black and white photography and processing, the cost for film, paper and chemistry for a class of ten was around$8000 over a 5 week period. The products were purchased at government contract prices and were considerably cheaper than normal shop retail. Since teaching digital only and with no restrictions on the number of A4 and A3 prints students can produce the cost is now under $3000 and the quality of the imagery has gone up to near professional level. And that's in full glorious colour! Consider also that there was a time when an A3 colour print produced from your negative at a professional lab would cost nearly $45 or more and you can see why I have no problems paying the price for Epson brand inks. The quality is outstanding and at around $5 for an A3 print I consider that to be a bargain.

Given those comparisons, you could almost afford to splurge on Hahnemuhle paper and still be ahead!

[gstark]

By the responses so far, nobody has actually been game enough to try anything but original.

No, I don't think it's a matter of "game enough" at all. You've also used the term "rip-off" in terms of cart pricing, but typically, I've been seeing (and buying) at around the pp16 mark.

With that sort of pricing, I do not consider that I'm being ripped off at all, and there is no incentive at all for me to to try anything other than the genuine article.

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[Reschsmooth]

... I've been seeing (and buying) at around the pp16 mark...

That is a great price!
I'm being ripped off at $20-$23 per.

Granted Gary has paid good prices, but why is RRP of $20 or so a rip off? If it is a rip-off, perhaps the ACCC should be made aware of this? What price should they be sold at?

Sorry if I sound cynical, but an RRP is an RRP and doesn't necessarily constitute a rip-off.

[MCWB]

Adam, considered a CISS? They seem to go for about the sort of money that you paid for the set of cartridges, not sure about the quality though!

http://rechargeit.com.au/site/ciss.htm
http://www.rihac.com.au/product_info.ph ... ucts_id=73

[Killakoala]

centre.net.au has them at $17.30 per cartridge and i'm sure there are cheaper out there.

Actually, if anyone does know where they are cheaper can you let me know?

[greencardigan]

http://www.instantit.com.au/

$16.48