Operating a successful business is tough and gets more challenging every day. Owners make decisions every day that affect their bottom line. The decision between leasing vs buying or even renting a digital copier is further complicated by the options and questions inherent in deciding between a new or a used copier.
There are a host of decisions to be considered before you can make an informed choice. The cost of color copies, copier maintenance costs, used, remanufactured, or refurbished digital printers, consumables, available parts, and many more. You can save hundreds of dollars, even more, from a financial view by seriously considering a used digital printer.
Of course, CSBS is willing and able to answer all of your questions. As your neighbor, we want to help you succeed, and you can get the right device for your business needs just by using common sense.
Let’s look at some of the decisions you should consider in detail:
Benefits of Leasing or Buying a Used Copier
- Lower Up-front Cost
- Because they are used, a refurbished copier is obviously going to cost less than a comparable new model. Used copiers can cost as much as 50% or less than a factory new model, which gives you a lot more flexibility with your budget.
- Environmentally Friendly
- The carbon footprint of complex, highly engineered machines increases every year. If staying green is important to you, then you can help in a meaningful way by going with a used copier
- Proven to Work
- Purchasing a used copier from a reputable remanufacturer comes with the guarantee that the device works. It can be a gamble to buy a new machine with a new user interface or features that may or may not work as your team prefers. A used device, on the other, comes without those unknowns.
- Better Value
- It is entirely possible to obtain a refurbished or remanufactured machine that is every bit as capable as a brand new machine but with significant cost savings.
- Warranty or Guarantee
- In most cases, the warranty on a used or refurbished copier will be as long or longer than a new machine. Before being sold as a used device, it will have been meticulously restored, had worn parts replaced, and been conditioned as close to new as possible.
- Better Negotiation Position
- Because used copiers are sitting in a warehouse, they are not restricted to “limited time only” discounts or rebates offered by the manufacturer. This gives you the ability to negotiate a good price without feeling the pressure to buy now.
Concerns with Leasing or Buying a Used Copier
- Spare Parts May be Harder to Find
- Most major brands turn over their color copier machine product line every two to three years, and they’ll keep spare parts around to support older models for a few years after that. However, they will phase these parts out. As spare parts and consumables, like toner cartridges, become rarer, they also get more expensive.
- No Equipment Rebates
- Quarterly incentives or end-of-year specials are sometimes available for specific new copier models that customers can take advantage of. This does not apply to used or refurbished models.
- Data Security
- A modern business copier is essentially a computer, and as such, it has a hard drive. When obtaining one from your dealer, be sure to ask what methods were taken to wipe the drives clean before resale.
- Wear and Tear
- Multifunction copier age is determined by how many impressions (pages) it has printed. This usually means four to five years if the recommended monthly volume hasn’t been exceeded, with some particularly durable models lasting closer to a decade.
What is the Difference Between the Types of Used Copiers?
- Used
- In many cases, a used copier may have been leased or rented for a short term, received moderate usage, and has probably been serviced by a reputable copier company. A well-maintained copier that has received a thorough inspection can be a real bargain.
- Refurbished
- A refurbished photocopier is a used copier that has been completely serviced and revamped. All worn and damaged parts of the copier were inspected and then replaced. This is usually performed by the service team of an established distributor, like CSBS.
- Remanufactured
- A remanufactured digital print device is much the same as a refurbished one, except that the manufacturer does the inspection and re-certification, so the device is essentially like new, although with a lower price tag.
What to Look For When Buying a Used Copier
Look for a copier with light to moderate use and was well-maintained. You can often request the service history of a used piece of office equipment to be sure you aren’t buying a copier that has had excessive use or other problems.
Look for obvious signs of hard use or abuse. A well-worn touch screen is one sign that might cause you to pass on a specific used copier. Cracks and broken pieces of plastic in and around the paper trays are another sign of excessive wear and tear and evidence that the device might need a copier repair.
Most used and refurbished copiers will come with a warranty, which should give you some peace of mind that you will be getting a reliable machine that will produce the high-quality output that you and your customers demand.
A reputable local copier service will be willing to stand behind their warranty and the quality of their service.
Buying a used copier could be a great way to save your business money both upfront and in the long run. However, there are many things you need to be aware of to make the best decision. Forewarned is forearmed, and so we have covered many of the most significant benefits, risks, and concerns which businesses face when picking out a color copier machine.
It is a complex decision with many variables and making the right choice can mean significant financial savings when leasing, buying, or even renting a used copier. Your business needs copies, scans, or faxes, and you can get these for less, just by using Common Sense.
