{"id":9667,"date":"2020-11-24T23:01:12","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T23:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/?p=9667"},"modified":"2023-05-24T16:46:36","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T16:46:36","slug":"10-things-you-should-know-about-epson-readyprint-before-signing-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/10-things-you-should-know-about-epson-readyprint-before-signing-up\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things You Should Know About Epson\u00ae ReadyPrint\u00ae Before Signing Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

High ink prices have always been a pain point for consumers. Today many printer brands now offer monthly ink subscriptions to offset that cost.\u00a0 Epson\u00ae <\/sup>ReadyPrint\u00ae <\/sup>is one of the newest subscription plans and includes unlimited printing for a low monthly charge, which is very compelling on the surface.\u00a0 However, when you examine the conditions that come with the program, it may not be for everyone.\u00a0 Here, we explain what Epson ReadyPrint is and break down the disclaimers you should know about so you can make an informed decision before signing up.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the most frequently asked questions<\/strong>\u00a0about Epson ReadyPrint.<\/p>\n

What is Epson ReadyPrint?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Epson ReadyPrint is a subscription-based printing service that lets you print an unlimited number of pages for a low monthly cost.\u00a0 When you sign up, Epson will ship you a printer and ink. You can print whatever you want and when your ink is low, Epson automatically sends you new ink.\u00a0 By enrolling to the program, you may be locked in to using the service for a specific length of time\u00b9, and you may be charged an early termination fee if you want to end the service early2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Who may want to use Epson ReadyPrint?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Epson ReadyPrint is designed for consumers that print a lot and would rather pay a low monthly fee than pay for a conventional printer that uses ink cartridges.<\/p>\n

How does Epson ReadyPrint work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Instead of buying\u00a0a printer and ink outright and printing when needed, ReadyPrint lets you pay a monthly fee to print an unlimited number of pages with an Epson Ecotank\u00ae<\/sup> printer.\u00a0 The program is offered at <\/span>four<\/span> different price points<\/span><\/span>1<\/span><\/span> based on your printing habits, ranging from home use, office use<\/span>, and two different tiers of business use.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>\u00a0The higher the tier, the more features you get with the printer. Replacement ink gets sent to you as soon as your ink starts to run low. There may be up to a two-year commitment when you sign up and if you decide to cancel before the contract is up, you may be charged a cancellation fee2<\/sup>. If your printing needs ever change, you can always upgrade or downgrade your plan.<\/p>\n

Epson ReadyPrint uses EcoTank printers.\u00a0 If you aren\u2019t familiar with the Epson EcoTank, make sure you understand how they work before signing up for the service.\u00a0 EcoTank printers are ink tank printers that use ink bottles instead of ink cartridges to power your printer.\u00a0 Similar to filling up your car with gas, when your ink is running low, you insert the ink bottle into the tank and fill it up to continue printing.\u00a0 Printing with an ink tank printer is much more cost effective than a conventional inkjet printer because the ink bottles contain lots of ink – enough to print thousands of pages \u2013and are a great way to lower printing costs.<\/p>\n

Epson ReadyPrint is offered at four tiers1<\/sup><\/p>\n

The\u202f<\/span>Home Plan<\/span><\/b> is priced at $29.99\/month and includes the ET2850U Printer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u202f<\/span>Office Plan<\/span><\/b>\u202fis priced at $32.99 and includes the Epson ET3850U Printer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u202f<\/span>Business Plan<\/span><\/b>\u202fis priced at $69.99 \/month and includes the Epson ET-5850U Printer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u202f<\/span>Business Wide Plan<\/span><\/b>\u202fis priced at $79.99 \/month and includes the Epson ET-5850U Printer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Epson ReadyPrint Pros & Cons<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Now that you know the basics of the program, how do you know if it\u2019s right for you?\u00a0 We\u2019ve broken down the pros and cons of the service below so you can decide if it makes sense for you.<\/p>\n

Pros<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Low Starting Costs. <\/strong>When you sign up for the program, Epson ships you an Ecotank printer and the ink you need to get started.\u00a0 If you want to avoid paying for an Ecotank printer upfront, this service is one way you can do that.\u00a0 However, by signing up, you are committing to leasing that printer for two years and Epson may not<\/em> let you keep the printer after the contract ends2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Including a printer as part of the service is an interesting business model.\u00a0 A basic Ecotank costs around $300 and the pricier business-ready printers can range from $750 up to $1,000+, depending on the features.\u00a0 If you were to sign up for the cheapest service at $29.99 a month and spread that out across two years that adds up to around $720.\u00a0 By that time you could have used the money spent in monthly service fees to buy an Ecotank that you actually own instead of lease, so it\u2019s really up to the individual consumer to decide how they want to allocate their printing budget.\u00a0 If a fixed, monthly unlimited printing cost outweighs paying for the printer upfront, then this subscription may meet your needs.<\/p>\n

Unlimited printing1<\/sup>. <\/strong>With printer cartridges, you have to worry about when your ink might run out.\u00a0 With the HP\u00ae<\/sup> Instant Ink\u00ae<\/sup> subscription service, you have to worry about potential overage fees if you go over your allotted monthly page count.\u00a0 Epson\u2019s PrintReady service appears to be the only consumer targeted printing option that offers unlimited printing, which is a godsend for printer users that are tired of tracking ink levels or monthly prints. Keep in mind though, EcoTank printers have a recommended monthly print volume.\u00a0 When you are deciding on a ReadyPrint plan, choose a plan with a printer that can handle your predicted monthly print volume.\u00a0 The higher the subscription tier, the more features you get with the printer Epson provides, including a higher monthly print volume.\u00a0 You can find a comparison of the plans and printers specs on the Epson ReadyPrint site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The\u202f<\/span>Home Plan<\/span><\/b>\u2019s Epson ET-2850U EcoTank printer has a recommended page volume of 1,250 pages \/ month.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u202f<\/span>Office Plan\u2019s <\/span><\/b>Epson ET3850U EcoTank printer has a recommended page volume of 2,100 pages \/ month.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u202f<\/span>Business Plan<\/span><\/b>\u2019s Epson ET-5850U EcoTank printer has a recommended page volume of 8,300 pages \/ month.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u202f<\/span>Business Wide Plan<\/span><\/b>\u2019s Epson ET-16650U EcoTank printer has a recommended page volume of 8,300 pages \/ month.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Flexible monthly plans. <\/strong>If you decide you need a better printer at some point during your two year contract, you can upgrade or downgrade your plan2<\/sup>.\u00a0 This great for those users that may not be happy with the printer they initially signed up for and all you have to do is contact Epson to adjust their plan.<\/p>\n

Ink automatically gets shipped to you when you are running low.\u00a0 <\/strong>Epson ReadyPrint must remain connected to the internet to monitor your ink usage2<\/sup>.\u00a0 This helps the printer predict when you will run out of ink so it can ship a new set to you in advance.\u00a0 For anyone that has been burned by a cartridge unexpectedly running out, having a service that automatically sends you that next set of ink before you need it is a huge win.<\/p>\n

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Cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You don\u2019t own the printer. <\/strong>Epson ReadyPrint is a leasing subscription service.\u00a0 You are agreeing to lease the printer for a two year period, and once the lease is up you can either cancel, change your contract to monthly, or opt for a new printer and sign up for another two year period.\u00a0 Epson does not let you buy the printer and when you end the contract, you need to ship the printer back (they will provide you with a pre-paid return label).\u00a0 If the printer is not in good condition when it\u2019s shipped back to Epson, you may be responsible for additional fees2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Want to cancel your service?\u00a0 You\u2019ll be charged an early termination fee.\u00a0 <\/strong>If you decide the service isn\u2019t right for you and wish to cancel before your two year contract is up, Epson may charge you an early termination fee.\u00a0 You may need to take certain steps to effectively cancel the service that may include giving Epson advanced notice and paying any outstanding fees\u00b2.<\/p>\n

Epson is always monitoring your prints.\u00a0 <\/strong>Another trade-off is the data that Epson collects when you are signed up for the service.\u00a0 To use ReadyPrint, Epson checks your ink levels daily so it knows when it\u2019s time to send you new ink4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

You constantly have to be connected to Wi-Fi to use the service.<\/strong>The printer will still print if you are having trouble with your Wi-Fi connection but if you power the printer off, it may need to re-check the connection in order to print again4<\/sup>. Internet issues or troubleshooting printer issues may possibly affect printing.<\/p>\n

You are charged every month for the service, even if you don\u2019t use it. <\/strong>This is a given for subscription services but with a service like printing, where there may be long periods where you may not need to print, it can seem silly to pay for something you aren\u2019t using.\u00a0 Once you commit to the two year contract, you are locked in and need to pay your monthly subscription fee, even if you haven\u2019t printed anything in the last month.<\/p>\n

Epson ReadyPrint Alternatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Epson ReadyPrint vs. Epson EcoTank Printers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Epson chose to use Ecotank printers for their subscription model because they are an affordable way to print. The ink bottles that EcoTank uses are inexpensive and can print for thousands of pages, making them far more cost effective than printing with a standard Epson inkjet.\u00a0 For example, the Epson 502 black ink bottle prints up to 6,000 pages (and isn’t tied to a subscription contract).\u00a0 If ReadyPrint uses an EcoTank printer, you might be wondering\u2026why not just buy an EcoTank printer and skip the subscription service all together?\u00a0 We were wondering that too and honestly, it may be a better option for some consumers.\u00a0 The biggest barrier to entry with EcoTanks is their high sticker price.\u00a0 Printer prices range anywhere from $300 for basic home \u00a0models to $1,000+ for the heavy duty office machines, which is asking a lot if you are on budget.\u00a0 But if you can afford those upfront costs, it may make more sense to go with the Ecotank over ReadyPrint.\u00a0 With EcoTank, you can control how you want to print without worrying about the complicated conditions of a subscription and still save a lot on printing costs.<\/p>\n

Epson ReadyPrint vs. HP\u00ae<\/sup> Instant Ink\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong><\/h3>\n

HP Instant Ink was one of the first printing subscription services to hit the market and it shares a lot in common with Epson ReadyPrint.\u00a0 Just like Epson, you pay a monthly fee to have ink delivered to your door and can save a lot of money compared to buying a conventional cartridge.\u00a0 However, there are a few big differences.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. HP Instant Ink doesn\u2019t offer unlimited printing. Instead, its subscription tiers are tied to a predetermined monthly page allotment5<\/sup>.\u00a0 Any page you print is counted towards that monthly total, whether it\u2019s a single line of text or full page color photo, so you need to be mindful about what you print.<\/li>\n
  2. HP makes you buy the printer upfront. Generally this isn\u2019t as expensive as buying an Epson EcoTank since the service is available for a majority of HP\u2019s low end inkjet printers, so that barrier to entry that we talked about with the EcoTanks earlier is a non-issue.<\/li>\n
  3. HP Instant Ink uses ink cartridges instead of ink bottles, which is great for consumers that are unsure about ink tank printing. EcoTank printers are still unfamiliar to most printer users and not everyone is comfortable with them.\u00a0 With Instant Ink, you get to print with regular ink cartridges and don\u2019t have to worry about learning how to use a new kind of printer.<\/li>\n
  4. The monthly service fee is a lot cheaper than ReadyPrint. Plans start at .99 cents a month and go up from there5<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  5. HP Instant Ink has no long term contract, just a month to month commitment5<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Whether HP Instant Ink is a better option than ReadyPrint is up to the user and their printing habits but the service has been around for a few years now and the reviews remain mixed.\u00a0 Check out our in-depth HP Instant Ink article<\/a> to learn more about the service and read honest feedback from subscribers.<\/p>\n

    How else can you save on printing costs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    If you are on the fence about signing up for an ink subscription service but still want to save money, there are other ways to save.\u00a0 Epson\u2019s Ecotank printer is one option.\u00a0 Another option is printing with low cost compatible printer cartridges from LD Products.\u00a0 We offer affordable compatible cartridges for almost every printer model on the market and back every cartridge with a lifetime guarantee.\u00a0 If you are happy with your current printer and don’t want deal with paying a monthly fee to use it, you can print freely with LD-brand ink!\u00a0 We even offer compatible ink bottles for Epson Ecotank printers.<\/p>\n

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    The Final Verdict<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Epson ReadyPrint can save you money on ink if you are accepting of all the terms that come along with it.\u00a0 But for most, a subscription service commitment is a lot to ask upfront, especially for a service that may not be used regularly.\u00a0 Do your research on other low cost ink options first and then decide which one works best for your needs.<\/p>\n

    Have you tried Epson\u2019s PrintReady service yet?\u00a0 What do you think of it?\u00a0 Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!<\/p>\n

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    Thank you for reading this post! This article is written by a team of ink experts at LD Product<\/a>s<\/span> - a Long Beach, California-based company that specializes in compatible ink and toner<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 With over 20 years of printing expertise, we\u2019re committed to helping you save money on printer ink without sacrificing quality.\u00a0 If you found this content helpful, we\u2019d be grateful if you supported us by visiting LDProducts.com<\/a><\/span> for all of your ink and toner needs.\u00a0 We appreciate your support!<\/td> <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n