Staples Holding Free New York Printing Events To Introduce Consumers to New Epson Printers

Staples is holding free printing events this week at New York City-area retail stores to demo Epson’s new EcoTank printers. Seventeen Staples stores will hold the events during the two-day promotion, with five Manhattan stores offering free printing 11 a.m-3 p.m. Thursday and Friday, while 12 stores in New York City suburbs will hold the events 11 a.m.-8 p.m. over the two days, Staples said. Consumers can print photographs, documents and other materials on the EcoTank printers. Staples didn’t spell out restrictions on printing in an emailed news release. Epson introduced the new line of printers this summer (see 1508040044) that range in price from $379 to $1,179. With the higher-priced printers, Epson is looking to change the model of consumer-based printing, with ink in the new devices held in long-lasting tanks that have an estimated two-year lifecycle, Epson told us. The model ensures that the printer maker doesn’t lose money if a consumer buys a sub-$100 printer and then doesn’t print a lot -- or prints only in black -- to save money on expensive cartridges, Epson said at the printer launch event. Staples didn't immediately respond to questions on plans for events in other markets.