The Ultimate Checklist for Buying a Used Copier

If you’re in the market for a used copier, it’s important to do your research and create a checklist of things to look for before you make your purchase. In this article, we’ll outline the key factors to consider when buying a used copier, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal possible. Stay tuned for more tips on choosing the right copier for your business!

Determine Why You’re Buying A Copier In The First Place

It is important to determine the purpose of why you’re buying a copier because this will help you determine what type of copier to buy. For example, if your primary goal is to cut costs, you should look for affordable copiers that will suit your needs.

If speed is not an issue for you, then you can take advantage of an inexpensive model. On the other hand, if the quality is more important than price and low maintenance cost is also part of your criteria in buying a copier, then an expensive high-end machine should be given priority.

Know Why You’re Opting To Buy A Used Copier

How did you come up with the decision for buying a used copier? Did you opt to buy one because of its cheaper price, higher efficiency, and productivity, easy-to-use features, applications, etc.? These questions are important in order for you to determine why you’re opting to buy a used copier. It’s not good if your sole reason is the discounted price. You may end up paying more than what you initially planned when other costs such as maintenance costs and replacement parts are included.

Before you venture into the market looking for used copiers, it’s important that you first determine why you’re buying them. This is important because some questions may not be answered if your purpose isn’t clear right from the beginning. Knowing your purpose helps you avoid confusion and dithering on whether to buy or not to buy. A specific strategy will also help you decide which used copier brands are good for buying.

Buy From Reputable Sellers Of Used Copiers

It’s easy to find tons of resources online about what makes a quality purchase – but most resources end there without going into the next question – where do I buy?

Reputable sellers of used copiers offer warranties and services for the products they sell. This is significant to buyers because it gives them an added assurance that their needs will be met in case there are problems with the machine such as breakdowns or defects. It also ensures you that you get your money’s worth if ever something happens to your copier while under warranty.

This is one of the most common mistakes in buying a used copier. Many end up buying from non-reputable sources, which offer only cheap prices without any service or warranties at all. Although this seems like a good deal, what these users don’t realize is that when something happens to their machines, they’re on their own with no source of help or support.

Make Sure That The Copier Is In Good Working Condition

Before buying a used copier, it’s important to check out its physical appearance and state. If the body has signs of damage such as rust or cracks, then you should think twice about purchasing one. These defects can result in costly repairs later on. It’s also important to inspect the automatic document feeder (ADF) since this part often causes problems with printing quality and loading paper especially if it runs 24/7 like most office copiers do these days. Furthermore, ensure that the device doesn’t overheat easily which could result in broken parts due to wear and tear.

These are just some of the things you need to consider when buying a used copier, but what you need to do next is to ensure that the one you’re buying meets your specific needs.

Consider Functionality

Functionality is important when buying a used copier because you want something that can print documents and do so without malfunctioning. If a copier malfunction during the middle of a job, it could significantly delay a project.

When buying a used copier, it’s important to be aware of how much toner the machine may need in order to replace what has been consumed during its working lifetime. In order to find this out, you may have to find out the number of copies the machine has been expected to produce or divide that figure by an estimate of two pages per copy on average over time.

Since some machines have been known to consume less toner than others over their lifetime, it is smart to err on the side of caution and buy a bit more toner than what you think you will need.

Consider The Age Of The Copier

The age of the copier can have an impact on its lifespan. A machine with fewer working hours needs replacing less often than one with several thousand hours already. Machine type can also be a factor since some types tend to use more parts or require more service calls for problems compared to other types. For example, color laser printers are known to be pickier about their toners and drum cartridges while most inkjet machines only print black ink so they don’t need new cartridges nearly as much. In another example, digital presses tend to be less durable than production presses and thus require a lot more service calls.

Consider The Brand Of The Copier You Want To Purchase

The brand of a used copier can have an impact on its lifespan just like age does. In general, machines from brands with a long track record tend to last longer while those from newer brands might not make it very long before needing parts replaced or other repairs. Also, some machine types from certain brands may also use parts that need replacing often, such as drum units in laser printers, whereas others from the same brand might not have this problem.

Check If There Is A Warranty Being Offered For Used Copiers

When buying used copiers, sometimes your only choice is to buy from a seller who’s selling slightly pre-owned machines. In these cases, it’s really good practice to find out if the manufacturer is offering a warranty for those machines as well because not all manufacturers offer a warranty on refurbished equipment.

If there is a warranty being offered, it will be proof of confidence on the part of the seller. A machine under warranty means that the maintenance fees are not as expensive as usual. Of course, you may incur other costs like repairs and spare parts but at least the initial price has already been covered by the manufacturer’s guarantee.

Used Copy Machines

Ask For A Print Test

Yes, ask to see a demonstration of the machine’s capabilities and how well it produces copies. If you’re buying a copier that has seen heavy use, you should take into account that any major parts may wear down quickly after purchase, and should factor this into your budget. Even if it hasn’t been used much, certain features may not function properly on some machines; ask to run through these functions during the print test too.

So, if you’re thinking about purchasing a used copier for your office or business, it’s crucial to know what you want and why. We can help answer these questions in order to make the process easier for everyone involved. Call us today!

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Office Machine Specialists has been servicing and selling office equipment since 1995. A family run business that has dedicated our efforts to providing the best equipment options and after-sales service to our clients. Our goal is to ask the right questions and guide our customers to make smart decisions about new machine leases and purchases.  We were servicing copiers long before the internet was a viable resource, and have transitioned to the digital workflow environment of color printing, scanning, account control and fleet management. With over 20 years in the industry we have extensive experience with many brands and consider OMS to be a valuable resource to any organization. Contact us for all of your copier needs here!