Epson 3880 and maintenance contract

[jerrygrasso96]

I am close to pulling the trigger and buying the 3880. I was also thinking about getting a 3 year maintenance contract at the time of purchase. Is the contract a good idea, or should I just "roll the dice"? Thanks for any help.

[startkapital]

If you are going to use the 3880 as a source of income or dont have a suitable replacement on maintenance or failures
I would suggest a service contract.

I bought a second hand R3000 myself and an Epson 4000 Pro. I took both of them to a Epson Service Partner and let them clean them and they changed the the Ink supply system on the R3000 since it was leaking photo black (that why I picked it up for less than 100€ approx 130 USD) and the 4000 I picked up as not tested "maybe" defective turn out everything was Fine except residue ink in the dampers formed a clog, they changed them (picked up the 4000 pro for 100€ too !) For Repairs and a 24 month service on both machines I paid € 450,- ALSO they equiped both printers with Full Inks.

After I got the printers I immedeately change to refillable cartriges and bulk ink.

I print for customers on a regualr basis and earn money with it. Had one local "small" maintenance since I got both printers and it was free. (technician cleaned the Cleaning Assembly and showed me how to do it )
Just gave him a good tip for that.


Am*zon has very good reliable service, I am a IT service guy and own a business, I do BUY printers and other units of am*zon to supply my customers with that since it so easy.

Local Pickup with incl. servies is another good option. Or even a refurbished 3880 pro with additional original servies directly from epson, since then you can pick any epson premium partner

thats my 5 cent

[StuNY]

If it is just for making personal prints, it is a tough call. My original 3880 developed a paper loading error three months in that epson said had to be fixed by service. Or, I could get a refurb overnighted with a full set of inks. I went for the refurb and a couple years later still going without a hitch. I almost bought the extended service contract after the first error (you can buy it anytime it is under the original 1 year warranty) but decided not to and have no regrets. From what i have read in posts here, it does seem to be a little of "if something is going to go wrong it will happen in the first year" and once that is worked through it should be fine.

[jerrygrasso96]

I appreciate the comments...I guess I am influenced by a local mentor of mine who had nothing but angst from Epson with this printer...I pulled the trigger on this prater, an extra set of inks, and a 2 year maintenance contract from Epson...I hope this works out... Thanks for all of your help.

[dgberg]

Guess I am too late but of all Epsons printers the 3800/3880 series are the least to need the service contract.
An extra set of inks is also not necessary.
You replace one at a time and they do not run out all at the same time.
When you get the low ink warning on a cartridge all that means is it is time to order that one in. The printer will actually stop printing in the middle of a print and then pick up where it left off. You might print a week or 3 months after you get a low ink warning.
I have had a low pk black warning on my 9900 for 6 months so do not jump the gun on replacements.

[Sal Baker]

This comment is also too late, but...

I would have just bought 2 new 3880s.  At $890 another 3880 would only be a little more than an extra set of inks and the 2-year warranty extension.  Use one for pk ink and the other for mk and never worry about switching black inks for matte paper. It's rare that anything goes wrong with a 3880 outside of the standard warranty.  Mine has gone more than 3 years without even a head clog. 

You would have the same amount of ink (almost) and you would have something you could use every day rather than a warranty you may not ever need.

Sal