I am generally a mild-mannered sort of guy and tolerant of a high level of ignorance, indifference and incompetence. I expect it, in fact.
Cost cutting by quality compromise, planned obsolescence and crappy workmanship, too, I find not surprising.
So why did I go ballistic? Because second only to shipping a printer-fax-copier without a power cord, sending one without a USB cable–there is no excuse, though to the shareholders of Epson, there are reasons.
Free! The printer was FREE with my MacPro. AFTER filling out a maddeningly obfuscating rebate form and NOW to have to drive more than 30 miles to get a fricking cable so I can scan the Adobe agreement…I’m sorry, I am not a happy consumer.
The model is the CFX 7400. No USB cable. Just so you’ll know. And several levels of Epson customer so-called support knows I am not one bit happy with their CHEAPNESS.
Now the whole world knows. And I feel better.
Stumble it!
6 responses so far ↓
1 Lin B // Feb 7, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I got a “free” Epson printer with a Canon camera at Christmas — same thing: no USB cable included, horrible rebate forms. Didn’t think much about the missing cable since I have a cable on hand and haven’t even tried the printer yet. But you’re right — how cheap. This is the R280 model. Tell the world!
2 Doug Thompson // Feb 8, 2008 at 10:19 am
Fred my boy I hope you picked up a nice aged Brie to go with your whine and cheese party. You’re bitching about not getting a free USB cable along with a free printer? When, pray tell, did printers ever ship with interface cables? The original Epson MX-80 dot-matrix printer that I bought in 1982 didn’t come with a parallel cable. The wall-size Epson 9800 printer that sits at home right now didn’t come with a USB cable either.
I keep a box of cables (USB, Firewire, A/V, power, etc) under my desk for just such times.
I’m sorry my friend but this one is a really petty complaint.
3 fred // Feb 8, 2008 at 11:17 am
Guess I’m spoiled. I don’t buy so much lately , so remember back a few weeks getting the WD750 with usb, firewire 400, firewire 800, and SATA cables all included. Ah the good ole days.
4 Doug Thompson // Feb 8, 2008 at 11:35 am
Most drives do come with cables but I’m seldom found printers with cables included. The same with HDTVs. You can spill thousands upon thousands for a huge plasma HDTV and still have to buy the HDMI cables to use them to full potential.
5 eddy matzger // Feb 9, 2008 at 8:49 am
haven’t you ever tried shopping over the internet? even with shipping costs it beats the price of gas and money spent in lost time
6 AG Smith // May 18, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Absolutely ridiculous!!!!! I just BOUGHT an Epson and ASSUMED that everything required to use the printer was included. I don’t care what anyone says they SHOULD, UNQUESTIONABLY, include the USB cord with the printer or make it obvious that you have to purchase one seperately.
This is a huge inconvenience. Out of principle, I will NEVER purchase another Epson and will do my best to avoid their ink carts. as well.
Also, I will call them tomorrow, pretend to have a problem, and waste their time just to be an a#$. Perhaps the opportunity cost of their time will exceed the value of the stupid USB cord.
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