Epson SIDM Black Ribbon Cartridge for LQ-2x70/2x80/FX-2170/2180 (C13S015086)

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

If you’ve got any of Epson’s older dot-matrix workhorses (LQ-2x70/2x80 or the FX-2170/2180 family), this is the right sort of cartridge to keep them ticking over. In that context, £21.89 ex-VAT feels pretty reasonable—dot-matrix ribbons aren’t “cheap” by default, but they’re also not the sort of consumable you buy weekly. The real value is peace of mind: the print tone tends to stay consistent and you’re less likely to run into the annoying quality drop you sometimes get with dubious compatibility options.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it if you’re on the fence about whether you still need dot-matrix. If you’ve moved to printers that don’t need ribbons, don’t carry the cost or stock. And if you’re trying to reduce running costs, the bigger question is how often your machine is actually used—because if you burn through ribbons regularly, you’ll want to look at your total print volume and whether there’s a more efficient printer/consumables setup for your workflow. For the right legacy Epson owners, though: yes, it’s a sensible, no-drama replacement.