Epson Picturemate 260 InkJet Photo Printer

Don't get me wrong -- this is a great little printer.  It's very easy to use and produces excellent pictures.  I was very happy with it when I first started using it.  However, it has one major flaw.  If you don't use it all the time, the print heads get clogged.  This is fixed easily enough by cleaning them (through the 'help menu' on the printer, with is super easy to use).  However, the ink cartridge has a microchip that is programmed to only allow you to clean the heads a ceratin number of times before it says the cartridge is empty (which it is not).  The purpose of this is so you can not refill the cartridge and have to buy a new one from Epson.  Once this happens, the cartridge is useless.  If you don't use the printer all the time, the heads must be unclogged EVERY time you use it, which means that you pretty much need a new print cartridge EVERY TIME you want to print something, unless you use it more than every few weeks all the time.

I went through troubleshooting on the Epson web site which directed me to a long distance number to call technical support.  The tech I spoke to was rude and condesending.  He took some basic information, but it was clear her was patronizing me, as he only took my street address (not city, state & zip) and only 1/2 my credit card number (to put on hold for the warranty replacement which I'm sure I'll NEVER see).

I did some research on my own and found that the cartrdige problem is well known.

To Epson's defence, they will issue you a pro-rated refund on any unused photo paper (paper comes with the cartridge).  However you must mail them (at your expense) the unused paper, UPC from the box and the cash register receipt from the purchase.

That is just too much of a hassle and expense for my liking.