New Epson 3880 Ink level showing low

[RawheaD]

Hi, I'm sure this must've been asked before, but some searching didn't find a relevant topic, so here goes… just got a new Epson 3880, and the ink level is showing most of the cartirdges being little over 50% full… is this normal for the first set of ink cartridges that come with the printer?? Thanks.

[madmanchan]

Yes, I think this is normal for new 3800 and 3880 models.

[francois]

Yes, it's normal, don't worry. The ink was pumped into the lines to prime the printer.

[RawheaD]

Ah, thanks... though I'm not 100% thrilled that I have less ink that I thought I'd be getting :-D

[Gordon Buck]

I just got a new (new to me, was "refurbished") 3880 last week and have printed about 20 8x10s.  The ink level is roughly 80% full.

[RawheaD]

Ok, I'm worried again now... that's exactly what I got, too (Factory refurbished 3880). The inks were all in their original boxes, too. I wonder if there is more ink inside that is being reported.. which would be a great waste at the end.

[AFairley]

I would not sweat it.  What you see is relatively close to what I saw when I fired up my refurb 3800, though I would say your levels are a little lower.  I had to return the first one soon after, and the replacement came with two carts, so I've done it twice.

[Steve House]

Ah, thanks... though I'm not 100% thrilled that I have less ink that I thought I'd be getting :-D

  You're not getting less ink than you paid for, don't worry.  The ink was used to charge the lines and the print head.  It was not squirted away and discarded, it's still in the printer, in the que waiting to be used, as it were, and will be used for your prints, it's just not in the cartridige itself any more.