Epson Stylus C86 Inkjet Printer | 
| Brand: Epson
Buy New: $289.99
New (3) Used (3) from $110.00
Rating:  118 reviews
Platform: Windows
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Modem: None
Shipping Weight (lbs): 9.3
Dimensions (in): 21.1 x 12.4 x 7.8
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: C11C574001
Model: C11C574001
UPC: 010343850736
EAN: 0010343850736
ASIN: B0002A9SKQ
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Trust An Experienced Amazon Seller! Very Hard To Find! Factory Sealed Brand New in the Box With Free Sealed Ink 4 Pack! Also works with MSN TV 2 Units! This model printer is Out Of Production! Price Includes Insurance! Ships Immediately! Thanks for looking
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| Features:
| • | Optimized resolution up to 5,760 dpi | | • | Prints up to 22 ppm monochrome, 12 ppm color | | • | Individually replaceable ink cartridges | | • | EPSON PhotoQuicker 3.5 software | | • | USB and parallel interfaces, PC and Mac compatible |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The EPSON Stylus C86 is a no-compromise solution to home and small business printing. It brings class leading resolution to documents, graphics and photos, with the added quality and efficiency of EPSON DURABrite inks and individual ink cartridges.The EPSON Stylus C86 combines excellent text, graphics and photo printing with ease of use and cost-efficiency. It offers home and business users class-leading resolution, longer-lasting EPSON DURABrite inks and versatile, cost-saving individual ink cartridges.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 113 more reviews...
 Great print quality.....but..... March 30, 2005
Lucas (Jonas Ridge, NC USA)
85 out of 86 found this review helpful
First, let me say that the Epson C86 (and C84, the earlier version) produces beautiful prints, especially considering the fact it uses pigment inks (DuraBrite) rather than the dye based inks that HP and Canon use. As a rule, dye based inks have a wider color gamut and are more vivid, particularly on glossy paper, than pigment inks, but I also have an HP deskjet 9650 (A3) Photo printer and the Epson prints are very close in quality to those from the HP, especially when I use the DuraBrite Glossy Photo paper.
Now for the bad news. First, everyone should realize when you buy an inkjet printer, you are actually buying a profit generating machine for the company that builds it. A very large percentage of the corporate profits of Epson and HP come from the sale of, you guessed it.....ink. They sell the printers at or close to cost, but make a killing on those tiny ink cartridges, and this is where the Epson will get you. Epson printers have a permanent, built-in printhead and it will sooner or later start to clog (do a Google search for Epson clogged nozzles.....you'll get over 6000 hits). When this happens, your prints will look really bad (banding and missing colors), and the "Epson solution" for this is to run cleaning cycles, which will burn through those high dollar cartridges even faster. I have had two Epson's to clogg almost completely, both within a week after the warranty had run out. Also, if the cartridge is low on ink, the printer will refuse to run a cleaning cycle until you replace the cartridge with a new one, then it will waste the ink in your new cartridge attempting to clear the nozzles. Epson cartridges have a microchip built in supposedly to monitor the ink remaining in the cartridge, but I have my suspicions that it may be responsible for the previous problems I mentioned as well as making it difficult (but not impossible) to refill the cartridges.
If you do not use your printer regularly, I would recommend that you steer clear of Epson, the clogging problem is worse if you let the printer set for long periods of time without using it. In this case I would suggest HP or Canon, my HP printers set for several months at a time and very rarely get a clogged nozzle, one cleaning cycle usually clears it up. Also, the HP printers have the printhead built into the cartridge, so every time you replace the cartridge you get a brand new printhead. However, the HP cartridges are tiny with very little ink (thanks Carly.....glad you got the ax), if you do a lot of printing you had better have some cash.
Finally, if you are having clogging problems, my solution might work for you and save some of your money from flowing into Epson's pockets. First, try to print something every day, even if it's just one small 4 x 6 photo. You want to keep the ink (all four colors) flowing in the printheads, letting the printer set will definitely cause you problems. Sooner or later, the printhead will clog and the nozzle test will show a clogged nozzle (broken lines). DO NOT run a cleaning cycle (this is exactly what Epson wants you to do.....it's money in their pocket). Instead, and there are a number of ways to do this (Google it), move the cartridge/printhead assembly to the center or left of the printer and immediately pull the plug, this will leave the area where the printhead is normally "parked" accessible. I take an eyedropper and soak the two small sponges that normally cover the printhead with Radio Shack tape head cleaner (alcohol), plug the printer back in, wait for the printhead to park itself and then cut the printer off with the switch. You want to do this as quickly as possible, don't ever leave the printhead "unparked" for any length of time. I usually let the printer set overnight, turn it on the next day and my nozzle check is perfect.....all without wasting any of that high dollar ink. Some people use Windex or distilled water, some people say not to use any of them including the alcohol.....that it will destroy the printhead, but I've had good luck with the tape head cleaner. Just remember, do this at your own risk....this will probably void your warranty if Epson finds out. If the printer is under warranty and you are unable to get the printhead nozzles restored, I would just ship it back to Epson, they'll probably send you a "refurbished" replacement. If it's out of warranty, I figure there is really nothing to lose.
The Epson C86 is basically disposable (made in Indonesia) junk. It is often cheaper to buy a new printer and use the cartridges in your old printer rather than buy replacement cartridges alone. This way you will have a backup printer when the nozzles become hopelessly clogged in your original printer. The reason I continue to use the Epson is because it produces really nice prints (when it's working) that have excellent fade resistance. I frame a lot of my artwork and photographs and don't won't them to fade after a few months. I would like to have an Epson A3 printer (2200 or the new R1800) but refuse to purchase one because of the clogging problems, it's one thing to trash an $80 printer.....quite a different matter to throw a $600 one in the dumpster.
 Good and affordable! November 24, 2004
W. Paul W. (Canyon TX, USA)
83 out of 89 found this review helpful
This is the upgrade to the C84. This isn't a huge advancement, and if you have the C84, don't bother. If however, you're looking for a new printer for home use, consider this one. It's marginally faster than it's predecessor (by 2-3 ppgs/minute), the print cost run the same (It uses the same catridges), and the resolution is the same (very high resolution).
It uses individual color cartridges rather than the tricolor cartridge of HP's, which I find helps cut down on ink cost. The printer is fairly effeicient with it's ink, and I don't have to replace cartridges often.
The input tray really doesn't hold many sheets; I find I have problems with feeding if more than 50-60 sheets are in it, but again, it's not meant as a high volume printer, so that's not a big deal.
Like the C84, it prints very good photos and graphics, and excellent text. It's meant as an affordable all around, low through medium volume use (less than 500 sheets/month) printer. It excels in this role. If you, like me, print a fair amount of text (100 pages a month give or take) and some photos, but need high quality all around, this is a great printer for you, espically at the price. For your average home user, it's an excellent choice.
Excellent buy for a home printer November 26, 2004
Gayathri Ram (Rolla, MO)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful
I recently bought this printer and I am very satisfied with the performance. The installation was easy, it was hooked and ready in 5 min.
The regualr text prints are of excellent clarity and good speed.
The ink cartridges are used very efficiently and the colors are in individual cartridges, I printed around 30 4x6 prints the first day and I hardly noticed any change in the levels of ink.
But it takes around 3 - 5 min to print a 4x6. I have not used other printers so, I cannot compare. But it is slower than what I expected the speed to be.
Also, I had to increase the brightness of the image by 20 - 30 % using the photo editing software to get a good print. My camera is Nikon 3200 and the editing software I used was ACDsee view.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the performance of the printer. I would recommend this to anybody I know for their home.
Epson Cartridges Waste Ink & Have "Smart Chips" December 18, 2004
Peter Williams
27 out of 44 found this review helpful
Wonder why you're getting a printer so cheap? You're probalby only getting reject half filled ink tanks included, and look at the cost of new cartridges and consider how frequently you may need to buy them unless you hardly ever do any printing.
People are fed up with printer manufacturers having cartridges with sponges that don't refill well (Lexmark), or smart chips that prevent refills (Epson), not to mention HP's methods including "Expired Cartridge" messages, etc. If we don't, as consumers, vote "no" by not buying these printers and sending letters to CEO's we'll just get more of the same scamming.
I was excited to read about Canon Pixma IP3000 & up models with separate ink-tanks & no smart chips. Examining all the Pixma models at a local store I noticed this extra pull down tray in the front-middle. After full investigation, it's a disabled/never will work CD/DVD printing bay. Yet the same models in Europe have a working CD/DVD print bay. The USA price does not reflect the non-functional CD/DVD printing either. So I will (doubtedly) try to get a Euro model or wait for Canon to release USA models that are fully functional. I may end up temporarly buying the Epson R200 but I feel like I should be ashamed supporting Epson and their smart-chip scam. There is a chip resetter device (avg. $10 to $15) but I don't know if it works well yet. Forget Lexmark unless you have money to burn on cartridges. And there's concern about Epson printers wasting/spraying ink all over the inside (read all R200 reviews) that soon causes problems (dries solid/hard). The Canon has ink tanks with no smart chips, look easily refillable, and their print head underneath the ink tanks holder is also removable (i.e. replacable, but I don't know what that will cost. If other printers' print heads go you pretty much resort to trashing the printer). It looks like the Pixma line is leading the way in printing and cartridge technology. Canon: Kudos for heading a little more environmetally responsible with the Pixmas obviously designed for long-term usage in mind but PLEASE get those CD/DVD printing trays functional soon!
 Prints beautifully for a year, then becomes a paperweight April 26, 2005
Chanle51 (Derry, NH)
21 out of 22 found this review helpful
I have owned two C82 printers and folks have owned two C84 printers (two of each because one of each failed during the warranty period.) Know that every 18 months or so Epson releases a new model number of the same printer, and has historically failed to address the issues of the previous version. Search the web for "clogged nozzles" and "C82 and C84" and you'll find a lot of info from users with problems (you may not find such feedback YET on the C86 because the model number is relatively new and not enough time has elapsed to allow the printheads, etc to clog up. If past experience is any indicator, it'll only be a matter of time until you experience the same issues.
As one of the previous reviewers mentioned, after a while of use, the printheads, etc clog and none of the routine diagnostics and remedies work. You are left with the option of either sending the item to a service center, or buying a new printer (if out of warranty.) Since repair costs exceed the cost of a new unit (after rebates), it is generally not worth the cost of repair. Seiko/Epson customer service won't stand behind the product after the warranty has lapsed and are very quick to point out the customer is on their own or has to foot the bill for a repair.
For those of you interested in a disposable printer (which works great for the first year or first few cartridge changes) the print quality is very good. Though the printer is VERY thirsty (it goes through a lot of ink quickly), the cost of printing per page is reported to be among the lowest going.
I suggest owners who want this short-term operational printer, I suggest you consider purchasing some extra inks (so as not to run dry unexpectedly soon.)
Unfortunately, Epson quality is no longer what it was in the 80s and 90s (it WAS the gold standard.) I may look to go back to HP to replace mine (which will be going to dump this weekend.)
Don't let the low initial purchase price fool you...this item uses the Gilette razor approach: the base item is very cheap, but the refills are where the company makes their living.
Bottom line, it's a DISPOSABLE PRINTER and is not worth the frustration.
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