Problems with a Epson 3880

Hello Epson 3880 Owners,

I am experiencing the same problem with a few 3880s, error 150c. Have other members had problems with their 3880s? I am awaiting my third printer within a year and I do not think this experience is the norm.

Epson claims they do not provide a warranty on their refurbished products beyond the original purchase date, meaning this: the warranty only covers the original printer. Although, refurbished printers are covered by the one year warranty within a year's time. If one's printer pukes three weeks before the warranty period, the next printer has three weeks of warranty.

I spoke to a customer service manager and she said her hands are tied. Plus her response to my problem was a remedy, to sell me an extended warranty! Wow, what horrible customer service! All I wanted was a 90 day warranty on the refurbished printer. Has anyone else had a similar experience with Epson? I did not realize that printing my own pictures would be this risky! Maybe I am overreacting?

Furthermore, each of my printers began to malfunction around the 600 print mark! This printer is my first foray into pro printer land and I expect better product than what I have received. Moreover, how long should an entry level pro printer last? Are my expectations unrealistic?

Thanks in advance!

photohistorian wrote in post #15999296
Hello Epson 3880 Owners,

I am experiencing the same problem with a few 3880s, error 150c. Have other members had problems with their 3880s? I am awaiting my third printer within a year and I do not think this experience is the norm.

Epson claims they do not provide a warranty on their refurbished products beyond the original purchase date, meaning this: the warranty only covers the original printer. Although, refurbished printers are covered by the one year warranty within a year's time. If one's printer pukes three weeks before the warranty period, the next printer has three weeks of warranty.

I spoke to a customer service manager and she said her hands are tied. Plus her response to my problem was a remedy, to sell me an extended warranty! Wow, what horrible customer service! All I wanted was a 90 day warranty on the refurbished printer. Has anyone else had a similar experience with Epson? I did not realize that printing my own pictures would be this risky! Maybe I am overreacting?

Furthermore, each of my printers began to malfunction around the 600 print mark! This printer is my first foray into pro printer land and I expect better product than what I have received. Moreover, how long should an entry level pro printer last? Are my expectations unrealistic?

Thanks in advance!

I have a refurbished Epson 1900, no problem for the last 5 years. I also have a 4900 not refurbished and it has also not given any problems. I feel bad for you poor luck, generally Epson printers are well thought of.

just curious what it is you're printing mostly? paper types, size, etc.

bespoke wrote in post #15999511
just curious what it is you're printing mostly? paper types, size, etc.

Mostly 4x6 with some 5x7 on glossy paper. Lately, I printed more matte US Letter size and a few 4x6. Plus I printed 13x19 and US letter on gold fiber. I love Ilford's paper! Although more than have of my paper is Epson.

I print most glossy/ pearl/fiber papers. I bought a sample pack of hahnemuhle glossy and used all but the canvas. So I use matte papers say 20% of the time and pearl, glossy etc 80%.


Thanks for some reassurance Voaky999. I have a feeling my experience is unique.

Platen gap error? Have you tried manually adjusting the platen gap to see if the error goes away?

Oh ok. I was seeing if you were using really thick papers which might've somehow affected the platen gap. Not sure what to tell you. Try leaving the platen gap at wide and see if that helps.

kirkt wrote in post #15999663
Platen gap error? Have you tried manually adjusting the platen gap to see if the error goes away?

No I didn't. When I have the error, I have to reboot the printer until the error clears. It got to the point when the error doesn't clear. Plus I have a maintenance cartridge error and four color cartridge errors, which I did not mention in the original post. But I will set the platen gap to wide or wider from now on. Thanks for the info!

bespoke wrote in post #15999734
Oh ok. I was seeing if you were using really thick papers which might've somehow affected the platen gap. Not sure what to tell you. Try leaving the platen gap at wide and see if that helps.

Thanks, will do! I did adjust the platen gap thickness when I used certain paper, but I set it back to auto after I finished printing on thicker paper. Now, I will leave it on wide or wider.

I love the prints from this printer, but it needs to print more than 600 prints. I read that people have 22,000 prints on a 3800, so I thought I was good to go.

Thanks to all for the help so far and it appears there aren't other situations like mine.

An A2+ printer seems a little like overkill for 4X6 and 5x7 prints. A smaller printer would seem a better choice.

I use an A3+ R2880, which I've had for some years and its been very reliable. I print A4 for documents on normal cheap plain paper and on heavy A3+ photo papers (both Epson Premium Glossy at 255 g/m2 and Hahnemuhle Torchon at 285 g/m2) and it copes fine without any adjusting of platen gaps.

Lowner wrote in post #16001845
An A2+ printer seems a little like overkill for 4X6 and 5x7 prints. A smaller printer would seem a better choice.

I use an A3+ R2880, which I've had for some years and its been very reliable. I print A4 for documents on normal cheap plain paper and on heavy A3+ photo papers (both Epson Premium Glossy at 255 g/m2 and Hahnemuhle Torchon at 285 g/m2) and it copes fine without any adjusting of platen gaps.

I'm glad your R2880 works well, but my 3880 doesn't. Your second guessing of my choice to buy a 3880 has nothing to do with my issues or this thread.

Update, received my second printer from Epson and it has 11479 pages printed! Yikes! Also, I found several people unhappy with Epson's customer several as of late. It seems I'm not the only one having trouble with the 3880. Buyer beware!

I might have to buy an extended warranty to cover my you know what. I can't spend 1,000 clams on another printer right now.

photohistorian wrote in post #16003678
I'm glad your R2880 works well, but my 3880 doesn't. Your second guessing of my choice to buy a 3880 has nothing to do with my issues or this thread.

Update, received my second printer from Epson and it has 11479 pages printed! Yikes! Also, I found several people unhappy with Epson's customer several as of late. It seems I'm not the only one having trouble with the 3880. Buyer beware!

I might have to buy an extended warranty to cover my you know what. I can't spend 1,000 clams on another printer right now.

I know that this won't help but I think you chose a great printer as the 3880 is considered to be the best printer available in it's category. However, I wonder if all of the refurbs will be very heavily used since I'd think most people buying one (new) would be pros.

I have the R3000 (bought new), and if I printed a lot ... even 4x6's, I would have bought the 3880 instead because the ink tanks are much larger which cuts the cost of ink per print in half. For anyone printing large volumes the cost of the printer is cheap compared to the cost of ink. I don't print much but went through $500 worth of ink in the first 1-2 months of owning the thing. Printing has been absolutely perfect though, and any errors were due to dialing in my technique for soft proofing.

Bob_A wrote in post #16004427
I know that this won't help but I think you chose a great printer as the 3880 is considered to be the best printer available in it's category. However, I wonder if all of the refurbs will be very heavily used since I'd think most people buying one (new) would be pros.

I have the R3000 (bought new), and if I printed a lot ... even 4x6's, I would have bought the 3880 instead because the ink tanks are much larger which cuts the cost of ink per print in half. For anyone printing large volumes the cost of the printer is cheap compared to the cost of ink. I don't print much but went through $500 worth of ink in the first 1-2 months of owning the thing. Printing has been absolutely perfect though, and any errors were due to dialing in my technique for soft proofing.

Thanks Bob! I like my printers, but the issues need to cease! As you stated, they are several reasons to buy an entry level pro printer and you touched on some of the reasons. Right now, my clients like smaller prints, but I plan to sell larger prints in the future. My personal prints are much larger now. I need to buy my frames though!

I am keeping track of ink usage, but it's hard when one is swapping printers as much as I have. This refurb I received Wednesday has plenty of usage, but I will think positive. I hope it lasts a long time!

I purchased a 3880 about 2.5 years ago. In April it broke, took it to a Epson authorized repair center. Got great service and a bill for around $150.00. June 3 I got the same error code you have. I left home that day and will be gone for a while. I have just over 500 prints. I am not happy with the reliability of my 3880. I print photo paper from 4x6 to 13x19. I use Red River papers.

How do you know how many prints have been made with the printer?
I'm hopefully getting a refurb 3880 soon, love my 1400 but I replace cartridges like a mad woman..

ins1355 wrote in post #16066507
I purchased a 3880 about 2.5 years ago. In April it broke, took it to a Epson authorized repair center. Got great service and a bill for around $150.00. June 3 I got the same error code you have. I left home that day and will be gone for a while. I have just over 500 prints. I am not happy with the reliability of my 3880. I print photo paper from 4x6 to 13x19. I use Red River papers.

My remedy was to purchase an extended warranty. I can't spend money out of pocket every time my printer malfunctions. Especially how frequent my 3880's malfunction. I haven't used red river papers. At least not yet!


[QUOTE=Bilderknipser;1​6067742]How do you know how many prints have been made with the printer?
I'm hopefully getting a refurb 3880 soon, love my 1400 but I replace cartridges like a mad woman..[/QOUTE]

The printer keeps track of your print count, ink used for your last ten prints, and ink used overall. One has access to this information in the menu screens. The menu layout is vey convenient and simple. Good luck with your purchase! When these printers work properly, the prints are gorgeous!


I can't fix the quote. Blah

At least where I live, it is standard to give the longest of 3 months and the original warranty when you get something replaced. I.e. if you get the replacement one day before the original warranty ends, then it's still 3 months for the replacement. Else the warranty replacement could be a dud and zero time to get it corrected.