Posted on 10th Mar 2015 @ 7:52:53 PM

With the advent of a lot of new printers being released to market in the last few months we've been behind the curve on adding them to our system as well as updating other resources so here's what we have been achieving in that area as well as other changes and news...

Epson Expression Photo XP-950 & Printer Potty

We recently became aware that early feedback about the XP-950 was inaccurate and the instructions for the Solo-XP2 Printer Potty kit needed to be reviewed to resolve some problems. So, having purchased in the printer, we've completely re-shot, re-written and rethought the instructions as well as adding a new tool to create the Solo-XP4.

As well as the new instructions, we're including a set of lockable forceps to help with retrieving and cutting the waste ink tube without having to worry about the tube retracting back into the printer.

Epson Expression Premium XP-520 / XP-510

These printers are effectively a budget version of the XP-600 series so with the XP-950 experience burning our ears we've taken apart one of these as well and created the Solo-XP3. In a similar vein to the XP4 kit this is simply a hybrid with new instructions, and a couple of useful tube guides to hold the tubing. Unlike other XP models it also does not require cutting of the waste tube.

Updated: Instructions have now been completed and are available in printed form with the kit.

Updated Kits: Solo-LX, Solo-L20

As ever we keep in mind whether things could be improved and we wanted to include locking forceps with some of our kits to help stabilise the waste tube and make the process of connecting the externsion tubing easier. Unfortunately it wasn't cost effective to provide re-usable metal forceps so we put the idea on the backburner until recently when we identified a low cost product to use instead.

While, listings haven't yet been updated (we're waiting for stock to arrive), we will be adding these to our Solo-LX and Solo-L20 kits as standard and the option to purchase them with other waste kits at a discounted rate.

PayPal Express Tweak/Clarification

Over the past month we've had feedback from two customers that indicated confusion with the PayPal Express payment option and the way it works. Having reviewed the process we've found a way to explain how the system works and the reason for potentially conflicting information during initial login and final authentication and when exactly an order has been completed.

The changes include an information pop-up on the initial "PayPal Express checkout" button click.

Ink Changes

As noted previously, Image Specialists were merged with STS-inks in the USA. This has resulted in a rationalisation of the inks available, particularly those for Epson pigment ink printers and this coupled with significant price increases across the whole range means we are slowly removing some products, replacing others and having to update pricing.

The Powerchrome K3 line is already popular with customers using gloss media in R3000, R2880 and R2400 printers so these will soon become the default offering for such models. Similarly, STS-ink blends are replacing the compatible products we hold for Durabrite and Durabrite Ultra CMYK printers.

Product Costs & Pricing

And as ever, much as we try to avoid the necessity, the changes in availability of inks, cost increases applied by primary dye and pigment material suppliers and significant currency fluctuations mean we will be reviewing and revising a large number of product prices over the next few weeks.