X

Get an Epson all-in-one photo printer for $39.99

It's new, not a refurb, though you do have to wait on a rebate (in the form of a prepaid VISA card) to get the price. Even so, killer deal on a feature-packed MFP.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read

Multifunction printers are insanely handy. No more running to Kinkos every time you need to make a few copies or send a fax. And right now, OfficeMax has an insanely good deal on the Epson Workforce 500 all-in-one: it's $59.99 shipped.

Now, I know the headline says $39.99, so what gives? If you're willing to sign up for a MaxPerks account (it's free), you'll get a rebate in the form of a $20 prepaid VISA card, which is more or less the same as cash.

This fully loaded multifunction printer can be yours for just $39.99 (after an automated rebate). Epson

The Workforce 500 (which is new, not a refurb) features a 30-sheet auto document feeder, memory card slots for all the major formats, and a 2.5-inch color LCD for previewing photos before printing.

In addition to cranking out photos and documents, the Workforce can send and receive faxes and scan and copy anything that fits on its letter-size flatbed. It also comes with OCR software--a nice perk.

My favorite feature: individual ink tanks (one each for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). That cuts way down on ink waste, as you replace only those cartridges that need replacing.

The only missing ingredient is Ethernet and/or Wi-Fi connectivity. Alas, this model's USB only. (OfficeMax's product page mentions parallel as well, but that's a mistake. This isn't 1993.) See Epson's product page for full specs and details.

I haven't found many professional reviews of the Workforce 500, but the user reviews I've read have been mixed. The big complaint: The ink cartridges run out quickly.

Still, given that you're essentially getting a free multifunction printer for about the price of a set of cartridges, I think it's hard to argue with this deal. I may pick one up just so my kids can print and copy stuff.