Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Inkjet Printer, Print & Copy & Scan, 1200x2400 dpi, 1.44" Color LCD Display, Cartridge-Free, Photo Printing, Bundle with Printer Cable

Did not know it doesn't print on both sides of paper

OMG!! I am usually never moved to write reviews but maybe someone will benefit from this. This printer, when its connected does print ok quality, but you'll never get there unless you want to log into your wifi network every time you want to print something. I am about to chuck this thing out the window! Epson website and manual are worthless, all they say is move it closer to the modem. Seriously??? Its 2023 for gods sake. I shouldn't have to move the printer next to the modem to get it to stay connected. Don't waste your hard earned bucks on this thing. If I could give it negative stars, I WOULD.

I opened the box of my new EPSON ET-2800 printer August 2023 on a day when my mind and schedule was clear, because I wanted to make sure my focus was ideal as I attempted the start-up process. Since I am a busy guy, I didn’t have all day, but needed lots of documents printed out. I was quickly frustrated when the printed instructions did not get me anywhere. Rather than returning my EPSON immediately for exchange and/or refund, I attempted to call their technicians at the number listed, to give this printer “the benefit of the doubt”. Between following instructions and seeking EPSON’s assistance, it took me 5 days before this printer finally printed any real document from my computer. The technicians I spoke to at EPSON were very patient, polite and knew their product quite well. I feel that they did everything they could for me from their remote location on the phone. I suspect these hard-working technicians get a lot of complaints from customers like myself, considering how dysfunctional EPSON’s equipment is.One major drawback about the ET-2800 that the technician clarified to me early on was that this model will not copy/scan from my computer unless if I set up the WIFI connection. Although I doubt that any hacker wants my print-job data badly enough to steel it through Wi-Fi; I never wanted my WIFI to be connected to my printer. I only print with a printer that is on the same desk as my computer, anyway. Because I was already late filing some legal documents, I suffered through the WIFI set-up as a compromise. The WIFI set-up process was very time-consuming and complex, but the EPSON technician provided me all the guidance needed to successfully complete the process. The installation of drivers was also extremely complex and time-consuming, but the technicians were also skillful at guiding me through that process eventually, as well (at least for that day).After about 5 days, my printer finally printed and scanned, but only for a month, before it stopped working and gave me a useless error message. So, I had to spend another of couple days setting up the WIFI and drivers again with their phone technicians.By the end of September, my printer was working again, and continued for the longest ‘winning streak’ during all the time since purchasing it-ALMOST 3 MONTHS! :-D Then, as if EPSON was trying to give me “a Christmas present”, the printer jammed shortly before the holiday-when I was attempting to print a document which was only 2 pages!Hoping that clearing such jam may be manageable, I found an instructional video that showed how to remove what you may call “a wishful thinking jam”, in which a talented actor opened up the largest cavity of the ET-2800 from where he picked a crinkled-up piece of paper from the cavity where it was laying in an obviously planted manor. (Not that I advise any owners of the ET-2800 to waste time trying to find the video I’m referring to, but I’ll let you be the judge as to whether EPSON staged this jam, in case if you viewed this video.)The EPSON technician I called about the jam was very strategic and patient with me, and I am convinced that she did everything she could have done with me over the phone in an effort to solve this jam. Unfortunately, the torn sheet of paper was embedded within the structure of the printer, inside a space that was too narrow to slide my skinny fingers into. Hopelessly, plyers could not even reach the edge of paper that was stuck way into the machine. My tweezers could not reach the paper.To this day, it is a mystery to me as to how the paper got pulled into such a tight space. Shortly after, I tried very hard to remember if one of my home printers ever jammed before. Hmmmmmm. I experienced millions of jams on the job over my 4 decades of office work, so I assume that something at home jammed at least once, since I have been printing pretty regularly for a quarter century, but why couldn’t I remember??? However, if a paper jam on one of my home printers could be removed without hassle; then life went on, so why would I remember? Since this EPSON “ate the paper” instead of printing, I wasn’t sure how to remove it, because I’m not a mechanic.After my last call to a technician of EPSON, I spent considerable time taking various pictures of parts of the machine and e-mailing it to EPSON per the instructions the technician told me. She indicated to me that EPSON would respond by sending me something needed by me to send my EPSON to them, and that EPSON would send me a replacement printer. I sent all this data to them 12/29/2023. I never heard from EPSON again……….No call, nor E-mail……..I heard crickets!Fortunately, the store where I bought it honored their replacement policy, and gave me a store credit 2/24/2024. Before giving up on my EPSON completely by returning it to the store, it ‘crossed my mind’ to keep the printer anyway, even though I need a printer THAT PRINTS. After all, the scanner still worked (then), and I need to scan stuff frequently. Although I felt that the quality of this scanner was acceptable, I only have space in my apartment for one device (that prints/scans), and even the scanner was giving me hints that its dependability would be limited.For some time, I have known about “Planned Obsolescence” which Corporate America does to limit the useful life of the garbage it manufactures, so it does not surprise me that EPSON built my ET-2800 to deteriorate “on time” (with years to spare). From this experience, perhaps EPSON was not satisfied with all the money they made on ink cartridges I had to buy for the past 20 years between 2 previous EPSON models.Despite my hopeless experience with the ET-2800, I give 2 stars, because the scanner still worked and I felt their technicians did everything for me (that EPSON allowed them to do). Although this was my worst experience with a home printer ever, and not worth the time I wasted to set it up (or bring it home from the store); I am too hesitant to suggest that it may be the worst printer there is. Actually, I hesitate to guess it would rank in the “bottom half”, because of negative reviews I recently heard about most of EPSON’s competitors. Considering that, I assume that my pursuit of a dependable printer/scanner will be long-suffering. Meanwhile, I assume manufactures of printers will compete to see who can built the most dysfunctional printer.

It looks like a larger display was part of the original design. The software would have been usable on that. As it is, the Epson ET-2800 menu display is nearly impossible to use without a magnifying glass (unless you’re extremely nearsighted). I’m serious.