On to the Next!

Or... The Great Printer Catastrophe of 2008 Continues!

Last night I finally opened and installed the new printer. The new gorgeous Epson.

The quality stunk.

I tried everything and it just kept getting worse. I was so frustrated!

It was too late to call Epson support, and the online interactive troubleshooting didn't do shit.

At work today, it was all I could think about. I was so bummed. I just wanted a good printer. Was that too much to ask for?

I started thinking about why I had purchased the Epson. I wanted to be able to print high quality photos. And I wanted to be able to print larger photos than I could get from a regular consumer printer.

But then I began to wonder if all that was necessary. All my focus right now is on learning how to become a photographer. And isn't that where my focus should be before I'm so concerned with printing?

And then there's Photoshop. I've started dreaming about layers and actions and cloning tools. Oh my.

It crossed my mind that this gorgeous printer might not be what I'm ready for. Maybe I need one more like the Kodak printer I first purchased (that Saturday seems so long ago now). Maybe I need a printer that can give me good pictures for my own personal enjoyment.

And, if I eventually want to print a fantastic enlargement, I can send it to the lab for a few bucks. In a couple years (or however long this is supposed to take) I'll look into purchasing a more professional printer.

When I got home, I hadn't quite made a decision, but I knew where I was leaning. I called Epson support in hopes that they might be able to walk me through a solution for the Epson. A small part of me hoped that they would and the printer would start spitting out these amazing images that I never knew were possible.

Then the automated recording came on to tell me my wait time was more than 15 minutes.

It was then that I found the quarter and my superstitious soul got the better of me.

All right, heads I keep it (as long as Epson can make it work), tails I take it back.

It was tails.

Then I forgot what tails meant. Take it back or keep it?

Okay, let's do it again.

Heads I keep it, tails I take it back.

Tails again.

Well, I had to do it one more time.

Tails again!

I hung up on Epson and immediately called Teeter. What do I do? I asked her.

Do you know what the odds of three tails in a row are?

After talking it through, I decided I was going to say goodbye to the Epson.

This evening I came back home with printer #3. Third times the charm, right? Damn well better be.

Oh, and my most sincere apologies to Best Buy and Micro Center. I'm really sorry I keep bringing back open and used printers! And, Micro Center, I'm especially sorry that I lied and told you the box hadn't been opened.

I'm going to hell, aren't I?