Where you live and whether you can transport your printer to a good repair shop are obviously important variables when it comes to large printer repairs. I have a van and easily transported my 7800 to the Los Angeles area for repair. It worked out very well. I highly recommend "Printer Repair Pros" in Chatsworth, CA -- http://printerrepairchatsworthca.com/ .
I just talked to the proprietor and asked how long the 7800 and 3880 printers will likely be supported by Epson. His response was that for the pro line (which these printers are a part of), Epson usually has parts available for 10 years. The 7800 parts are still "pretty much" available, and the 3880 is in very good shape.
As to the 3880, the only weak point from a repair person's perspective appears to be the mechanism that switches between matte and photo black inks. I might add that on the 3880 I'm using the PK is non-functional. I don't know if it's that valve or other cause, but since I just leave it on MK with the Eboni-6 inks, I have not found any problem with the situation. (I have the generic clear base in the PK cart, and if it is the valve, it worked fine in the power cleanings used to clear the old color inks out of the lines.)
Bottom line, I continue to believe that the 3880 is going to be an excellent platform for a large segment of avid B&W photographers, including those who like the quality and cost savings of dedicated B&W inksets. Most people will be able to transport the 3880 about as easily as a 13" paper printer, and it is likely to have parts available for a long time.
Paul
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On Wed, Jul 8, 2015 at 9:16 AM, arlenelove3@... [DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint] <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
The reason I am abandoning my 7800 is because Epson makes it impossible to repair old printers. Parts are not available. The certified person who used to come to my studio no longer makes "house calls" because he can't get parts. Epson will send a person for a charge of $100 transportation plus $175 an hour, and a possible cost of $400 for a part. - if it's available.The nearest certified repair place ( 60 miles away) is not eager for me to shlep the printer to them.If Paul Roark OK's the 3880 as good for B&W matte prints., I believe it! However, it seems that 3880 has been discontinued for the new P800, and I wonder if I will have the same problem getting parts that I have with the 7800.If anyone can use my 7800 for parts, come and get it. I also have some K3 220 ml carts and HPR and EEM roll paper.