Does it make sense to repair my old copier? A common question posed is whether it makes sense to keep putting money into the repair of an older business copier machine. On the one hand there is a common sentiment against replacing a copier machine that has been bought and paid. On the other hand you can frequently spend more on copier repair than you would to get a newer, more efficient model. Let’s look at some points to consider;
Copier Repair Costs
When considering whether to spend money on copier repair you have to ask yourself how much the initial repair is going to cost and whether the repair will be the first of many. You want to be careful to avoid a money pit. Often the parts needed to repair an older copier need to be specially ordered, they are very expensive and upon paying for the copier repair there are no assurances that you won’t need additional repairs shortly thereafter. Like the maintenance on many older electronic devices one thing can lead to another and so on. Eventually you need to decide when to pull the plug.
Copier Downtime
When considering copier repair for an aging machine you are not only looking at the costs. You will also need to take into account the loss of productivity in your work place while parts are ordered and the copier technician is working to resolve the issue. Most copier repair technicians carry parts in their car stock inventory for the newer models but almost always have to special order parts for older machines. While you are waiting for parts to arrive your company is limping along without the copier needed to complete tasks.
Compatibility Issues
In the event that you do choose to repair your older copier and in the event that having your machine down for several days as you wait for parts is acceptable, you still need to weigh the compatibility issues. Older business copier machines are generally connected to your computers to serve as scanners and printers. As you update computers, operating systems and software you will run into more and more compatibility issues as you attempt to integrate these newer devices with an older copier. Copier manufacturers don’t invest a lot of energy into making updates for older models which often results in compatibility issues when it comes to using the print and scan functionality.
When you measure the higher cost of special order parts combined with the prolonged downtime caused by the wait for these parts and you add to that, the loss of productivity and compatibility issues, it might make sense to consider whether you are really saving money at all, by paying for ongoing copier repair, on a model that has seen its best days.
In many cases you will find that a newer, more efficient model can be leased or rented on a monthly basis. Copier lease or copier rentals often include all of the service and supplies in a single payment. In many cases the lease or rental payment is less than you might spend in cobbling together repairs on an older copier. When you consider the added productivity of a newer machine along with the higher dependability it might just make sense to avoid that one last copier repair. Contact us for a consultation on all your copier needs.
