Epson 4800: Purchase or not?????

[Maineguy]

I responded to an ad on CL for a used Epson 4800. Apparently it was used as a "back up" printer in an office. It comes with K3 inks loaded in the printer and a brand new set of unopened Epson K3 inks. It was given to one of the office workers and has been sitting in his garage for 4 months which is a big concern to me because of the cold temps and not being used. The owner is going to take it inside his home and will give it 2 days to be a room temperature before he does a cleaning and nozzle check. He is asking $250.00 for the printer and a set of unopened K3 Ultrachrome inks. I do not know the history of the 4800, but I do know that the Epson 4000 had a lot of issues. It would be interesting to hear from owners of the 4800 to hear about their experiences and their thoughts about taking a chance on buying this printer for $250.00?

[Mark Lindquist]

I had a 4800 pro and I can tell you from what you described, better pay the man the money and take off with it before he brings it inside, gets it going and changes his mind.

That's one heck of a printer, and for that price, it's a no-brainer.

[Wayne Fox]

a little risky if the inks have been at freezing or lower temperatures.  Old 4800’s tend to be a little troublesome with clogs (not as bad as the 4900) , but might be worth the risk.  Many like the printer because it has both PK and MK ink live to the head (no swapping), something only available in the 11880 and now the p10000 and p20000.

[Ken Doo]

I'd want to do a nozzle check first. I would avoid inks if they have been previously frozen. If the printer works---might be worthwhile.  I have an old 4800 and it just refuses to die. I rarely use it---just for cards. Clogs clear up after a few nozzle checks.

ken

[Mark D Segal]

I also had a 4800. Clog monster - very risky - save the money and the aggravation. You can't be the least bit sure what to expect - and very dated. If you need a 17 inch printer buy a P800 or a Pro-1000. More money but better IQ and under warranty.

[Peter McLennan]

I also had a 4800. Clog monster - very risky - save the money and the aggravation. You can't be the least bit sure what to expect - and very dated. If you need a 17 inch printer buy a P800 or a Pro-1000. More money but better IQ and under warranty.

X10.  My 4800 p*ssed more ink into the maintenance tank than it put on the page.

[HSakols]

I had problems with my 4800 clogging.  This is printer can not just sit idle.  I finally gave the printer away and found a bargin on a 3880.  It has proved to be a much more reliable printer. Furthermore, I am able to let the print sit idle for weeks between print jobs. 

[Mark Lindquist]

Not my experience at all, but then again, I live in Florida where it is extremely humid.  I just stopped using the 4800 because of having all Z series printers with the exception of 1 canon printer.  The 4800 was justtaking up space and I gave it to a friend who is tech-savy.

This printer sat for over 5 years unplugged.  He just kept doing nozzle cleans, a few power cleans and bango it was back up and running in no time and has been printing flawlessly since.

For the money, it would be worth the gamble to me if I was looking for a bargain printer.  I have nothing bad to say about the 4800 - my experience using it over the years was nothing but excellent.

That printer is built like a tank.

FWIW/YMMV

[Mark D Segal]

.............
For the money, it would be worth the gamble to me if I was looking for a bargain printer.  I have nothing bad to say about the 4800 - my experience using it over the years was nothing but excellent.

That printer is built like a tank.

FWIW/YMMV

Well, each has their own experienced based on climate, operating conditions etc. So the O/P can use this discussion to weigh where he sits on this spectrum and make up his mind. You're right that $250 may not be a large financial risk - for many people, but not everyone - and in my experience with this printer, when it was new and for a while thereafter it clogged much less than the 4000 which it replaced. But as time wore on, it became necessary to expend more time and ink on maintenance, until I was happy to replace it with a 3800; not as robust looking a printer but it served well for years with no concern about clogging. Let us recall this is a second-machine we're talking about, with all the unknowns and risks implied. You are correct that it is built like a tank, but the more important matter, I think, is about usability. It will produce high quality prints when it works, but the Black density will not be quite as good as we now have from the new crop of printers, and the Yellow longevity from the new printers is supposed to be superior. I think these are the kind of issues the O/P should consider before landing on a decision. If one puts no value on time, the one saving grace, if I can put it that way, is the price.

[Mark Lindquist]

Mark, your wisdom knows no bounds.  You have excellent points, and you are right, it is up to the OP to make up his mind.  It surprises me how folks who have bad experiences with printers become so embittered about them.  I see this a lot.  My printer failed me, thus I was betrayed, etc., etc.

I wouldn't argue the points that other printers out-perform the 4800.  For the size of the footprint of the 4800, a Z3200 24" is not that far off and it runs circles around the 4800, and likely many others with the exception of speed and clumsiness of sheet loading.

I suppose it's impossible to know the statistics of how many users had bad experiences with the 4800, when they are the ones that sing out about it, and satisfied users just go on cheerfully using their printers.

One thing for sure about what you have said, is that getting a Pro-1000 would be a better choice.  Now where to find one of those for $250.00.... plus an unused set of inks that may or may not have been subject to freezing temperatures in an unknown garage environment...

[Mark D Segal]

Mark, your wisdom knows no bounds.  You have excellent points, and you are right, it is up to the OP to make up his mind.  It surprises me how folks who have bad experiences with printers become so embittered about them.  I see this a lot.  My printer failed me, thus I was betrayed, etc., etc.

I wouldn't argue the points that other printers out-perform the 4800.  For the size of the footprint of the 4800, a Z3200 24" is not that far off and it runs circles around the 4800, and likely many others with the exception of speed and clumsiness of sheet loading.

I suppose it's impossible to know the statistics of how many users had bad experiences with the 4800, when they are the ones that sing out about it, and satisfied users just go on cheerfully using their printers.

One thing for sure about what you have said, is that getting a Pro-1000 would be a better choice.  Now where to find one of those for $250.00.... plus an unused set of inks that may or may not have been subject to freezing temperatures in an unknown garage environment...

Thanks Mark, appreciated. Now to your last point - the tooth fairy?:-)

[Mark Lindquist]

Thanks Mark, appreciated. Now to your last point - the tooth fairy?:-)

All in good fun, sir.

[Mark D Segal]

All in good fun, sir.

Indeed - we need to smile more - photography is supposed to be fun - at least for many of us!

[CoyoteButtes]

There is some excellent advice in this thread. I have a permanently clogged 4900 that occupies a box in my garage. On Mark Segal's advice I gave up on it and purchased a new SureColor P800. Although not flawless it is a fantastic leap from the 4900 chronic clog experience.

I would not touch a 4800 or a 4900 with a 10 foot roll.

But I do have to confess that I have my eye on Mark's article about the new SureColor P5000.

[Mark D Segal]

But I do have to confess that I have my eye on Mark's article about the new SureColor P5000.

Thanks for your interest, but two things to bear in mind: (1) printers are not available for review yet - perhaps in a few weeks, but we're not sure. (2) It is not possible to say anything related to real experience about clogging in a review of a new model, because the review cycle operates in much too short a time frame for such problems to present themselves and be properly evaluated. Apart from that, I am looking forward to laying eyes on one these things, evaluating what it does and providing some insights. So do stay tuned.