Nu-Kote Pelikan Brand Epson Inkjet Cartridge ripoff, no technical service

I have been using Pelikan Printer products since the mid 80s - I believe it was the printer ribbon in my daisywheel printer back in 1984. Up until now, I have been quite pleased with the results.

In some of my work locations, I was so pleased with the cost/performance, that I negotiated to buy Pelikan cartridges for the printers at my job. I was always satisfied with their performance there, also. At home, I usually go through a cartridge pair every two or three months. I usually keep a spare set on hand, so they usually sit under my computer for two months after I buy them. In Dec, after I changed out the cartridges, both cartridges gave me poor quality printing - lines, poor color, and multiple (20 or more) cleaning cycles did not improve the problem.

I finally wound up changing both the cartridges for Epson Cartridges, because there were no Pelikan cartridges available at the local retailers. These cartridges ran well - the print quality problems cleared up immediately. When they ran out this weekend, I replaced them with Pelikan cartridges, but once again, I had two bad-out-of-the-box cartridges. I bought two Epson cartridges, and the print quality problems cleared up immediately.

So, in the last six months, I have purchased four Pelikan cartridges, and have wound up discarding all four with no usable output.

I think, from now on, I will be buying Epson cartridges - they cost more, but at least I can depend on getting good output from them.

A cheaper cartridge that gives me garbage output is not a bargain...I wonder when Nu-kote took over Pelikan - the new management strategy just MIGHT coincide with the drop in quality.

And, by the way, they have a 1800 technical service number - the hours are from 0830-1800 EST, M-F - but when I called them at 0900 and 0930 on a Monday, I recieved a recorded message telling me they were closed, and to call back during their business hours.

Edward
Browns Mills, New Jersey