Originally posted in Spanish in:
http://www.ojodigital.com/foro/showthread.php?t=140164
Hello!
It's been a while since I don't do any posts here but what I promise I do, (sooner or later anyway) you will see here the reasons of my late post as well as my my review of the Inkrepublic continuous Ink system for the EPSON 2400, I hope it is useful for all you guys.
Before buying anything I watch carefully several reviews on the internet and always check on forums for user reviews and if possible contact directly the provider.
So I decided to buy an Epson Stylus 2400, that for my needs is more than ok, but the problem was the high cost of the cartridges, with each one of about 15ml capacity, that between purge cycles, cleaning heads, and proofs they go away really fast. This printer can use 9 cartridges and it depends if you use the matte or luster papers, for each change of paper you have to purge again the printer so imagine the high cost of ink involved. Even that they claim that they use individual cartridges in my last experience with a Pixma IP5000 all the cartridges were gone almost at the same time, so it made the cost of each print pretty high for original inks; therefore I looked for an alternative.
One of the ways to save in print costs are called continuous ink systems or (CIS), many will say what would be the point in having a K3 printer and use generic Inks, but I also bough a printer calibrator for being able to create my own printer profiles for the several papers that I own, even though that Epson have some profiles, they are usually for their papers and inks, and they will never have the right colors for different combinations of papers that you find on the market. Since I'm neither using Epson paper to save in costs, I had at least to buy a calibrator.
This post is about a CIS that I bough to the inkrepublic people, Even thought they promise a 15% discount the the users that do a review of the system, I paid fully, and I had such an incredible support from them that the least I could do was to promise to do a review for all your friends and posters. As you know I don't work for them and I'm doing this as a way to thanks them for the support as well as you for the information.
My story starts in October when I buy the system, it had the ink bottles, a box to save them, the cartridges with the attached pipes, gloves, inks stopper clips, the retention bars for the tubes and a very old cd with videos on how to install the system. Really the only thing that disappointed me was the cd, since it was made for very old models, but since the steps are the same for old or new models, it didn't mattered much.
You can see some pictures of the same, and I did a modification, since I didn't want to install the support bar directly on the printer, I attached some Velcro tape to be able to move the bar or install or remove more easily the system.
Thank God I did that, because the system didn't work out the first time, but it was not a problem if it, since I had never installed even the original cartridges, the printer won't print at all. Since I work in the computer business here, I had a friend who had direct contact with EPSON here, and he arranged a date for me to get the printer for service to see what was wrong. EPSON receives my printer and they "fixed" it for free, and they told me it was perfect but I didn't wait for the start cycle to finish so the needles didn't come out (whatever that means). I'm not a technician on that, but to take it to Epson I removed the CIS and put the original cartridges that I just installed. So I advice before using any system, please use it for a while with the original inks :).
For that time it came December, and I write to the people of inkrepublic, that my printer was good, but also I found out there is a "new" system for my printer with bigger cartridges, since the one I had had smaller ones and they were somehow a little bit loose.
In the pictures you can see the difference between the old and new cartridges.
I asked them how much would it be for them to send me the new system, thinking that I would had some kind of rebate, since I had bough not a long time ago the "old" one, so they INCREDIBLY tell me THEY WOULD SEND IT FOR FREE!!! AND INDEED THEY DID!!!.
Then Christmas comes as well as New Year and I still don't install the new system.
The write me to check how was it running at the end of January and I reply telling them I still have not installed it, since all the parties and a new job that was very demanding and made me go on a trip, I didn't have the time for it.
At the end of January, also my marriage starts to go down and I separate for the second and last time from my husband, therefore the least I think is about an ink system.
At the end of February, I write again the people of inkrepublic and I see there is an even "newer" system with filters called e-filters, and I ask how much would it be for them to charge me only for the filters, since I had the old system new and all I had to do was attach the filters, they claim it would catch the impurities on the ink giving the system practically eternal life. I explain I had not installed the system yet for personal problems and I would like to do a single installation with filters and all.
They answer (how about this?) That they will send the WHOLE SYSTEM AGAIN FOR FREE!!!, I insist that I just want to pay for the filters, and they ask me again for my address.
So they send a third system that never came :( and all they ask is that I made a fair review when I get the system in a web page I had told them I was a user. (ojodigital)
In middle March I write again and tell the system never arrived, so I insist again to pay only for the e-filters, and I would gladly will, which they answer again that they would send another system as soon as possible :P. 4th system how about it?
To the end of March finally the system arrives at my freight forwarder and I write to tell them it would take more or less 3 weeks to arrive here. But since my dad was in USA I ask them to ship it to my dad, and he is the one that brings me the system.
FINALLY I install the system on April 19th, a national holiday here, the installation due to my first experience was very fast, no more than 60 minutes, and when I try it... It didn't work again!!!
Printer won't print at all :(. So I get into the inkrepublic site and one of the troubleshoots of their page is to check that the ink stoppers are open, DUH! I had them closed. So I open them and that was it!. After 4 purge cycles to verify that all print heads are not blocked Y have my system perfectly working and saving a lot on ink costs :).

My final comments would be:

Bad:
Outdated installation cd (but they have on the web page an updated procedure and pictures for my printer)

Good:

Even though it might seem redundant to tell it again is clear the incredible customer support these guys have, they are very friendly, kind and fast in answering the users questions, and honestly I have never found a single company that is so king and willing to attend the final customer, Of course that my future inks would be from them, with my eyes closed.

The systems has a very good design, thinking on all the details to be properly used and function, the pipes are strong and flexible, a mix between plastic and rubber I would say which makes a HUGE difference on what I have read on other systems with cheap plastic pipes that break over time.

The chips work perfect too and I have heard that to avoid problems they are shipping 2 sets of chips for each system (not confirmed by me).

The ink box is even designed with a side cut or aperture for you to be able to slide the pipes and close the lid, without breaking or touching them.

They have improved this system to make it a perfect solution for this printer, therefore I think they don't just have a good product and stay with it, but they must listen to user’s reviews and comments since they are continually working on them to make it better.

The system works as advertised, prints perfectly.

So in all aspects I’m a VERY satisfied customer with my purchase, and if some day you guys want to modify your printer, make no doubt I totally can advice for the inkrepublic people.