The 5-Step Printer Buying Checklist That Would've Saved Me $3,800 (Epson, DTG, and 11x17 Lessons)

If you're about to buy an Epson printer for your business—or adding a DTG machine to the shop—take ten minutes to read this first. It's the checklist I hand to anyone in our shop before they're allowed to hit "buy."

This isn't a spec-sheet comparison. It's the operational stuff that nobody talks about enough: real pricing, printhead realities, POS compatibility, and whether the machine you're looking at actually fits the work you'll be doing.

The Short Version

Use this checklist when you're comparing prices for an Epson EcoTank ET-2800, replacing a receipt printer, or deciding between brands like Procolored and SL DTG printers. I've been running a small printing operation since 2017, and I've made enough expensive mistakes that my team now uses this list on every equipment purchase.

The list has five checks:

1. Understand what "price" actually means.
2. Identify the printhead before you order.
3. Measure your maximum media size, not your average.
4. Buy the POS printer your POS vendor will actually support.
5. Price consumables and service before you commit.

The 5-Step Checklist

Step 1: Understand what "price" actually means

The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 price on Epson's site was $249.99 when I checked (as of early 2025, at least). That sounds great. But the upfront price isn't the same as the cost of running the machine.

The ET-2800 is an EcoTank, so it comes with enough ink to get started. But "enough to get started" is not the same as "enough to run a small business." You'll need replacement ink, paper, and probably a maintenance kit eventually.

I'm not a pricing expert, so I can't tell you exactly what you should budget. What I can tell you from a buyer's perspective is this: ask for the cost per page, not just the printer price. Epson publishes yield estimates. Use them. The cheapest printer upfront is sometimes the most expensive one after a few months.

Step 2: Identify the printhead before you order

This is the step I get the most pushback on, but it's the one that saves the most money.

DTG printers sold under names like Procolored and SL are usually sold as complete packages. On paper, they look similar: same advertised speed, same type of ink, similar price. The difference is often the printhead.

I'm not a printhead engineer, so I can't tell you whether one head model is objectively better for your volume. What I can tell you from experience: ask for the exact printhead part number in writing before you order. If the vendor says "Epson type" without a model, that's a red flag. If they won't put it in writing, move on.

For a Procolored DTG printer or an SL DTG printer, the printhead is the component that will either save you or destroy you. Replacement heads cost real money, and availability changes over time. You want to know exactly what you're getting before the machine is on your floor.

Step 3: Measure your maximum media size, not your average

Here's where I made one of my dumbest mistakes. I bought a wide format inkjet printer 11x17 because I thought "wide format" meant I could print bigger jobs later. It didn't. It meant tabloid-size sheets. That's it.

An 11x17 printer is useful if you need exactly that size. But if you're dreaming about posters, banners, or roll media, you need a different machine. Figure out the largest size you'll ever realistically print, then buy for that size—not for the size you'll need "someday."

In my first year (2017), I bought a used office printer that handled 11x17 because the price was too good. The printhead was clogged, and the replacement cost more than the printer. I still kick myself for that one. If I'd checked the head and the media size before ordering, I would've saved the money and the headache.

Step 4: Buy the POS printer your POS vendor will support

The Epson POS printer category is full of reliable machines. But "reliable" doesn't mean "compatible with your POS system." When we switched POS systems in 2022, our old receipt printer became a brick. The new vendor didn't support that model, and nobody warned us before we bought it.

So before you buy an Epson POS printer, send your POS support team a message. Ask for their tested printers list. Then find an Epson model on that list—not the cheapest one on Amazon.

This gets into IT territory, which isn't my expertise, so I'd recommend talking to whoever manages your POS setup. What I can tell you from the operations side is that a $30 price difference between two printers means nothing if one takes your support team three weeks to configure.

Step 5: Price consumables and service before you commit

With DTG, the actual margin killer is consumables: ink, pretreatment, cleaning solution, and replacement parts. A Procolored DTG printer might have a lower upfront price than a comparable SL DTG machine, but if the ink is proprietary and only available through one distributor, your long-term cost could be much higher.

Honestly, I'm not sure why some DTG vendors quote their machines so far below others. My best guess is they're leaving out setup, training, and consumable costs—either way, that's a warning sign. Ask for a full consumable price sheet before you sign anything.

Include nozzle cleaning and printhead maintenance in your budget. Clogs happen. If you don't have a process for clearing a clogged head, you'll be paying for labor or tech support within the first month.

Common Mistakes I Keep Seeing in Our Shop

I've collected a few recurring mistakes from our own orders and from the people I've trained. These aren't hypotheticals.

Assuming any Epson can be converted for sublimation or DTF. Not every Epson printer is a sublimation machine. The EcoTank ET-2800 is a solid low-cost inkjet, but it's not a direct sublimation printer out of the box. If your plan is to print sublimation transfers, buy a printer with documented sublimation support. Don't assume because one model works, all of them do.

Skipping the 11x17 test. If you need a wide format inkjet printer 11x17, run a test print before you fully commit to a workflow. Some printers handle cardstock fine, but struggle with thicker media. If your product requires heavy paper, a machine that works for plain paper might not work for your actual job.

Not asking who to call when it breaks. This is a big one with DTG machines. Some vendors route you to a distributor, some route you to a forum, and some just disappear. Ask for the service process in writing. A printer with a lower price but no local tech support is often a bad deal.

What I'd Do Differently

If I were starting over, I'd take the extra week to verify every compatibility claim before ordering. I'd ask for part numbers, driver lists, and consumable price sheets in writing. And I'd remind myself that the cheapest machine is rarely the cheapest one to own.

One of my biggest regrets: not asking about the POS vendor's driver list before ordering a $420 receipt printer. If I'd spent ten minutes on that call, we wouldn't have thrown away the time, the restocking fee, and the credibility that comes with telling your accountant the printer is "fine" after it's already sitting in a box in the back.

The good news is that these mistakes are preventable. Use this checklist, ask the awkward questions, and buy the machine that fits your actual workflow—not the one that looks impressive in a product photo.