Computer printer

[atalanta]

I bought an EpsonStylus S21 last year, and it has never been right. Every time I sit down to write letters - about three evenings a week - the first page it prints is missing half the print it should have. I have been told it needs a "head clean". For the rest of the evening , after I have done the head clean, the printing goes fine. But, the next day, I have to do the same thing again. This uses up so much ink that I have now had to replace the black cartridge twice, and the colours once. And I have never yet printed anything in colour at all on this machine. It won't print black if any colour is empty.
I reckon each page I have printed so far has cost me about ten pence, just for ink.
Does anyone know how I can get it to print properly every time without wasting so much
( expensive) ink ?
Is there a website for this exact problem, because I can't find this on any Epson help-site ?

[RATTER15]

Why did you not take it back when you first bought it if it was doing it then? That is not like Epson to be unreliable.

[atalanta]

I am looking for helpful answers

[RATTER15]

Sorry, how dreadfull of me!!!!

[alexanderd]

Surprized you are using so much ink on a head-clean I have an epson and cleaning the heads does not usually use very much ink.I would suggest going back where you bought it and ask them to sort it out for you, you dont say how long you have had it(last year) but a head clean should not need doing very often.

[MarkRae]

It's a known problem with some Epson injets:
http://www.pcadvisor....adid=389321&forumid=2

The generally agreed "solution", other than taking it back or buying another one (which will probably be fine) is to leave it permanently switched on, and print a full colour page every few days.

Probably not what you wanted to hear...

[The-HouseHusband]

I thought Ratters answer was helpful, if goods are not fit for purpose then you have the right to take them back and get a replacement or refund. It sounds as if you have got one of the few faulty printers out of thousands built and sold every month.

If you havn't got the receipt then it would be cheaper to buy another cheap end of line printer.

[Old_Geezer]

past tense

[Wak]

Atalanta, I don't know if this will apply to your printer as I believe that some Epsons have a built-in print head and some don't.
However, Do you switch the printer off correctly or do you just pull out the plug from the socket?
Switching off correctly parks the cartridges, whereas pulling the plug often just leaves the cartridges out in the open where they can dry up, but I still wouldn't have thought that they would dry out overnight.
Just a thought!

[Hymie]

I buy my compatible Epson S21 double capacity cartridges from ebay sellers at around 60p each (with free p&p) – you should be doing the same.

[scotman]

It seems to be a feature of Epson printers that they do not work unless all cartridges are available.
Assuming your printer is now out of warranty I would look at buying a replacement.

[MarkRae]

^^ I would agree. Put it down to experience, and get another one. And, if that one doesn't work, take it back straight away...

[mrs.chappie]

Take the bu88er back. You've paid good money for it, you want it to do a proper job, that's not much to ask.

[smart1]

Probably more to the point - anyone still awake?

[smart1]

Sorry - answer put in wrong section,