Epson Refurbished Printers: What To Expect:
We recommend them all the time, and here is why.
We really like Epson refurbished printers for several reasons, but tops on the list is saving money. Considering that there have been ZERO major technological advances in inkjet printing in the last decade, it makes sense to purchase what Epson has discontinued or is overstocked on. Refurbished printers are a great way to save money, and in some cases an excellent source for inkjet cartridges. In some cases, the entire refurbished printer can be cheaper than purchasing ink alone.
What’s the catch?
What you will get when you purchase a refurbished Epson printer is about the same as you would get by purchasing one at a local or online retail store. There are a few conditions Epson mentions on their website:
Epson does not accept returns on refurbished items except if product arrives defective, in which case, we will provide a replacement with the same model or equivalent. This unit may not include the same software or paper pack as new models.
Fair enough, Epson will provide a replacement if the item is defective or damaged and they will even cover all the shipping costs. Based on our experience with the 2 defective printers we have received in the past (out of over 100 ordered), a quick call to Epson solves the problem. The replacement printer is charged to a credit card, and you have 7 business days to send the defective printer back to Epson with supplied shipping tag. On both printers that needed replacement, we received the new printers quickly, and efficiently. No sweat.
The 10-pack of sample photo paper is usually not included, but that is not a deal breaker. Printer driver software is included (you can also download the most current version on the Epson web site), but usually no extra software (like the free stuff that usually involves projects which use your ink), again not a deal breaker.
What about the warranty?
Refurbished Epson printers come with the same warranty coverage as the retail version:
Epson also offers extended warranty options that will add one ($20.00) or two ($30.00) additional years to the standard 1-year warranty, but this seems like a waste unless you are purchasing a very high end printer. Also there are some error messages that Epson considers normal like “parts inside your printer are at the end of their life” and would not be covered by the warranty. We had this happen to a hearty Epson Stylus Photo R200, but it was quickly corrected with this awesome utility.
Is it used?
Probably. Take a look inside this new Epson Stylus C120 refurb we recently received, and you can clearly see there are traces of ink on the nozzles where the cartridges are installed. This is what the inside of the cartridge slots looked like before we put cartridges in the printer. There was no other indication of wear as the casing was in perfect condition, and no ink spots or splotches were inside the printer. We don’t really care as long as it works (which it did).
Epson says this about their refurbished line of printers:
Refurbished Products: All sales are final. These are products that have been returned to Epson. They have been inspected and tested to ensure they perform properly. Some may have minor blemishes due to handling.
Again, the same 1-year warranty applies to these printers, so if there is an issue Epson has provided good service to us in the past, and we expect that to continue.
An Excellent Value.
If you don’t mind the plain brown box, the missing 10-pack sample of inkjet paper, and maybe a scratch on the case (we have not see this) a refurbished Epson printer can be a very nice alternative to paying full retail for an inkjet printer. You can expect to get the same level of service, warranty, and quality as the retail version. We continue to purchase these printers and are very happy with the savings.
Models are updated at seemingly random times, so check the Epson web site often.
Filed under: Epson | Tagged: Epson, inkjet, inkjet printer, Refurbished
