Would you buy a used Epson P9000 that has been stored for 2 months?

[mcpix]

While looking for a replacement for my aging Canon 8300 (still in daily use), I stumbled across an Epson P9000 that is in a storage unit. The owner has moved  out of the area and is very motivated to get it sold (he just lowered the price to $1,500). He says that it has only been stored about 2 months. There is no real way to print a test print, so I'll be taking a chance that I can revive it. I once bought an untested Epson 7880 that had a magenta channel that was clogged. I spent about $600 on various inks and a lot of time and I never did get it going. I swore I would never buy another Epson without a clean test print, but here I am again.

There is also the question of how much ink is left in the machine. The owner said all the inks were printing, but he didn't know how much of each ink was left.

I would normally pass on a machine like this, but the low price has me interested. Is it reasonable to think I can get it up and running after sitting for 2 months?

[dgberg]

Personally I would pass at that price until you know if it prints or not. If you cannot get in to test it you could take your chances for around$500 if he will go for that. If you can, take a laptop and some paper over and run some simple tests. You will be able to see how much space is left in the maintenance boxes and how much ink is in the printer. If the inks are low you could spend $1000 for a half dozen new inks unless you go to the smaller carts. You also may want to run the file that gives you the printed page history and age.

[mcbroomf]

I can't help with your questions but could you take something like a APC battery UPS to get it running for 15 mins or so.  It would be enough to show you the level of your inks and if you can load a sheet you will be able to get a nozzle check.  If the UPS is big enough maybe even a full clean and 2nd nozzle check.

EDIT, of course if there's power there you won't need a UPS.

[mcpix]

Thanks for the feedback. Since it's in a storage unit, I don't have a way to power it up. A battery powered UPS is a good idea although I would need to purchase one and hopefully have enough power to run a few tests. The other issue is that it's in a storage unit about 2 hours away. So, getting it back to my lab will definitely add to the cost.

I also agree that given it's current state and location, it's probably not worth $1,500. However, sellers always think "I paid $5,000 for this printer and didn't use it that much". They don't realize that once you take it offline and put it in storage, the value drops dramatically.

[Kyle Jackson]

Hi, my experience is with HPs, but I was definitely able to run them in my storage unit (as well as in the back of my truck) by using a portable power pack. The one I used was an automotive "power box" (sold at Canadian Tire up this way) with a rechargeable 12V battery. I had a new lithium battery in it that replaced the original lead acid one, and it gave me at least a couple hours to run the printer, doing test plots, head cleans, etc. Pic in storage attached.

And even then, there was still an electrical outlet not far down the aisle (I used it to charge lamp battery while there), so in a pinch an extension cord might work if you hunt around for an outlet.

I can't help much with the printer itself. For my experience with my HPs being in storage "more than once", it wasn't a huge deal despite my worries -- they always came back to good working shape eventually, and that was 1-2 yrs storage at a time. Being unpowered for an extended period is a concern, and certainly a good negotiating point, but it doesn't necessarily kill them. It does take its toll on HP printheads tho, so it definitely carries a cost.

My view is if I can't run/test it to at least see the onboard diagnostics/service info, then the most I'd pay is like salvage/disposal parts price, very little. I mean I'm shopping for a printer not parts. If the seller wants more, they're going to have to find a way to let me see the operating condition it's in. It doesn't fly if they're asking the same price as somebody else who can demonstrate theirs running.

And the amount of good supplies included factors into my risk willingness too. If Epson inks etc are as expensive as the heroine-laced stuff HP sells, then I definitely want to know how much I'm getting. And if I have no other printer that can use those same supplies in case the printer is a dud, then they may be worth very little to me.

I'm not suggesting this seller is trying to scam, I mean there's a lot of Life(tm) happening to everyone right now... (my own were stuck in unplanned storage for 18 months!). But we want to be sure we're getting something that will work for us, within whatever amount of money and effort it's worth to us.

Hope it works out for you either way!

[mcbroomf]

Not sure where you are but check out local hardware rental stores to see if you can get a battery powered unit for a day.

[mearussi]

The storage unit should at least have a light. If you can reach it unscrew the light and install this:
https://www.amazon.com/ABORNI-Light-Polarized-Splitter-Converter/dp/B0B45JV825/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=21AZPV76V4DIH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ErqLrnKePKeOLeyGm4eLzg-eRTPRuY6JKqq3arVIZ6lFgaprHR4UCx0YDsGbFqOGARqdc02avpg2Pu-8ptkW26onYzUYv7g__Dvd3byJ1E6YBsKuTpuePxS25i_cXc75f-QnL7lSCF-pAY0IdCYPRdRRRyMjQVWBDNQE5mfaPKRavyOmxauceTgECVVjZTNLjJ0FUi8jZL-y2DD3xecIokWJXCwiPwjb2YNw9IsgDJXCBjbp7sa-3op_0BuHhhu56IGnl4rB37OksgEyDvd22CurHWYpaOTjCIUk46DTL48.pXbfYkEv_vU0UvwkFTHQ-KenD01Wsc-4n_RIdtiNotw&dib_tag=se&keywords=screw%2Bin%2Blight%2Bsocket%2Bwith%2Bpower%2Boutlet&qid=1709229572&sprefix=screw%2Bin%2Bloight%2Bsocket%2Bwith%2Bpower%2Boutlet%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

There should be enough power for the printer.

[langier]

Find a power source, use a power inverter from your car, try a socket-adapter.

You need to do a nozzle check for yourself at the very minimum otherwise it may be a boat anchor. Check the ink levels and maintenance tank. Run a cleaning cycle if there's enough ink and print a second test and a status sheet which may tell you the remaining life of some of the components, total paper and ink usage.

Last year, I drove a hundred miles to check on a printer I wanted to buy second hand. The owner had run a nozzle check but since it had been awhile since he last printed regularly, the pattern was fine EXCEPT for one of the black channels which I found when I did a nozzle check. One of the inks was missing in the pattern and most would have missed it. I was pretty sure of the issue and that it was reparable.

Working, the price was more than fair but with a bad channel and a call to my repair guru with the printer's owner listening to the cost of the repair resulted in a lowered the price and a printer that wouldn't now go to the dump.

Long story short, the printer got fixed and it's working fine today. The $$ that I saved went to the repair. The seller was bummed that the printer had issues but glad he didn't have to deal with its disposal. My printer guy got a paying job and I got a very reliable and well-built printer built like a tank that will serve me well for years.

Without a nozzle check, you don't know what you are getting and what seems like a bargain may be little more than paying someone to dispose their boat anchor.