We initially bought this printer at amazon in 2003 for $150. Then, after a year or so, no matter how many new ink cartridges we inserted, the print quality was always poor. I called Epson, and to their credit, they replaced our printer (we were 14 days out of warranty at that point). Currently, our new replacement printer has 4 new ink cartridges (a $90 retail value!) and only the black works. It seems that the first run of cartridges work GREAT then when you start replacing them you have to clean the heads over and over again... until, surprise, you use up all the expensive ink and the things you print still look horrid. Also, it will tell you are out of ink and you'll take the cartridge out, shake it and be irritated when you hear lots and lots of liquid squishing around inside. It's not like the HP cartridges of days gone by where you can shake it and get that last drop of ink out. If the printer thinks it's empty, that's it, throw it out. Very wasteful :(