Changing from inkjet to .......?

rmg1

Hi all

I've currently got an Epson Stylus SX115 laserjet printer that takes 4 cartridges.
I went to use it last night (it's been a while) and the ink in the cartridges had dried up so I had to replace all 4 (luckily I had a spare for each colour).
According to the printer, they were all about half full but, no matter what I did, I couldn't get them to work so they went in the bin.

As I don't use it that frequently and I don't want to waste any more cartridges, can someone recommend an alternative printer that will still print in colour?
I'll be keeping the Epson for it's scanning option so just need a printer.

I've been looking on Amazon but, to be honest, I haven't a clue what I'm looking at.
I don't need anything fancy like duplex or wireless, just a decent printer that won't dry up if I don't use it for a while.

TIA


Richard

::edit::
Just a quick edit to say I don't if it's a refurb (as long as it's a good refurb)

:edit2:
With everyone saying I've given this the wrong title, I've just updated it to the correct thing

TELLIT01

It's an inkjet printer not a laser printer.  They are very different technologies and prices.  All inkjet printers suffer the same problems to a greater or lesser degree when not used regularly.  I decided to give up on inkjet printers and just print in mono on a Brother laser printer. Ask yourself the question "Do I really need to print in colour?"

 I originally purchased inkjet printers in order to print my own photographs but online printing prices have dropped so much it's simply not viable to print my own any more.  Inkjet cartridge prices are crazy, particularly when you need multiple cartridges and don't really get proper use out of them.

[Deleted User]

If you rarely use your inkjet you will get this issue with the inks drying up.  Another possible solution is to take an ink contract out with Epson (or whoever).  Epson's is called ReadyPrint.  My contract costs me £1.29 a month and allows me 30 printed pages per month.  They send me their oem cartridges out as required, getting the info direct from my printer. I find this works very well, for me.  In your circumstances, you could just regularly print a couple of pages a week to avoid the drying out scenario.

rmg1

@TELLIT01 Apologies, wrong word used.  Unfortunately, when I do need to print, it's usually in colour so would need a colour replacement.

@desktop I don't even use 30 pages a month (more like 30 pages a year).

[Deleted User]

12 months at £1.29 is £15.48.  At that rate, you could follow my advice and pay the contract for years before your payments would add up to the cost of a new printer.

TELLIT01

desktop said:

12 months at £1.29 is £15.48.  At that rate, you could follow my advice and pay the contract for years before your payments would add up to the cost of a new printer.

Is that price per cartridge?  The OP uses 4 cartridges in their printer.  The printer I had used 6 cartridges!

[Deleted User]

No, that's the price per month, regardless of cartridges needed based upon 30 pages a month printed.  When I first signed up they sent me a full set of XL cartridges out.  Since then I've had a new black cartridge sent out automatically.

Tbh, I couldn't believe the value of this contract, when you look at the shop prices for ink!  Have a look:

https://www.epson.co.uk/readyprint

It looks like Epson only cover their Expression Home and Workforce printers so this solution wouldn't be any good for the OP's SX printer. You can get an Expression Home printer from about £45 though so if a new printer was to be bought, this could still be a good option.

SurferDan

You say all four cartridges had dried up.

Are you sure the contents haven't just settled through lack of use?
The contents of a laser cartridge are in powder form. It wont dry out but it will settle.
Put the cartridges ,one by one, in a plastic bag (to contain any powder that may escape) and give each cartridge a really vigorous shaking. Then put them back in your laser printer and try printing again.

[Deleted User]

The topic title is unfortunate as the Epson Stylus SX115 is an inkjet printer not a laserjet.

GDB2222

Unsurprisingly, others have had this problem with inkjet printers. Here is one solution.

https://www.tenforums.com/drivers-hardware/109440-how-automate-printing-test-page-once-per-week.html

Lots of similar pages on the www once you know what to search for.

getmore4less

For B&Wmono laser is the way to go.

For colour and inkjet regular print can help,  I have a different approach use Brother printers and leave them switched on.

I am happy with by brother(s) you leave them switched on and they maintain themselves with occasional clean cycles if not used.

Old one 340CW £60 bought June 2006 died early 2018(broke a paper feed feed cog) 
a full set of compatibles was between £5-£10 that would last up to 2 years depending on use

My current one was the Brother MFC-J6530DW  bargain from JL, £35 for an A3 Multi function.

Full set of compatibles(3000pg,1500pg) are around £15-£20 which even with the maintenance cycles last 1-2 years and I have a printer ready and able whenever I need, had it coming up for 4years with  <£70 outlay having  printed everything I needed and still have 2 full black to use just need a set of colour next time round.

Happy to pay a bit for the convenience of having a printer that(touch wood) just works when I need it.