Hi Mark -
Either I've been extremely unlucky with the 3880, or the build quality isn't what it used to be. Over the years I've used the 3800, 1280, 1520, and a couple more whose model numbers I forget, and the reliability has been fine until this one. I was a little nervous after the new one they sent me a few months ago (since my original one had a paper feed problem), since it was clear that it was used and refurbished, not new, and was concerned that I might have gotten someone else's "lemon". I'm hoping the next one isn't going to be a lemon too. Well, I'll give them another try....
I just got off the phone with Epson, and they are sending me a new unit under warranty. I asked the technician whether he had heard of this problem before, and he said "no". A minute later, he said, "No, that's not true, this happens when people aren't using Epson ink and Epson papers. What ink and paper are you using?" I use Epson inks, but Ilford Gold Fibre Silk paper, and was annoyed when he proclaimed, "That's your problem. You're using non-Epson paper. The fibers clog the heads." Despite my insisting that I've used it for several years with minimal (and very minor) clogs in my 3800 and 3880 up to now, and that I find it difficult to believe that the fibers can suddenly clog nearly all the heads at once after years without a problem, he had no explanation and kept insisting that the Ilford paper was the cause. He's probably told to say that to customers to try to shift the blame to someone besides Epson, and I don't believe it for a minute. Whatever, as long as they send me a working printer!
Lisa