So you know that you need a copier. The old workhorse that you were using for years has finally stopped working and it can’t be fixed. You have a busy office and you must make a decision soon.

You’re on a tight budget and don’t want to spend any more money than you need to, but is buying a used copier the right decision? You know you will get a good price, but will you just be buying someone else’s problems?

Benefits of Buying Used Office Equipment

Lower Costs

In many cases, a used copier has received moderate usage and has probably been serviced by a reputable copier company. Most companies will simply lease their copiers for 4 or 5 years, and when the lease has expired, they lease new devices for another 4- or 5-year term. A well-maintained copier that has received a thorough inspection and has been refurbished to manufacturer’s specifications can be a real bargain.

Yes, a brand-new copier will provide you with several years of reliable service. But is the premium you will pay for a new copier really worth it? Depending on the features that your business needs, a lightly used copier may offer more capabilities (speed, paper sizes, paper capacity, etc.) than you could afford in a new copier.

Used Copier Warranty or Guarantee
Most used copiers have been inspected and re-furbished by a reputable used copier company. This means that the device will work as expected or you will get your money back. Often times the warranty on a cheap used or refurbished copier will be as long or longer than a new machine.

A Used Copier is a Better Value
A big reason that used copiers may be more appealing and more useful than an expensive new copier is economies of scale. If you have multiple locations, it might be more cost-effective to have a reliable used copier in each location than a single, expensive new copier in one location, and nothing in the other location.

Risks of Buying a Used Copier

A Used Copier May Have Had Hard Use
Unless you can get a copy of the previous service history, it may be impossible to tell exactly what kind of use a used copier had in it’s previous life. You can look at the meters of a used copier or a used MFP and see the number of prints, but did it receive periodic maintenance when it was supposed to?

It May Become Difficult to Find Parts for Used Copiers
After some period of time, usually 8-10 years, the manufacturer of a copier, MFP, or printer may decide to declare a machine’s End Of Life or EOF. Once a device is in EOF status, the manufacturer will cease to manufacture or warehouse spare parts and consumables. Parts can become difficult or impossible to find, and original consumables like toner and developer will only be available through third parties.

What to Look For When Buying a Used Copier

Look for a copier that has had light to moderate use and was well-maintained. Many times you can 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 particular 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 some sort of 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.

Taking the Next Steps in Finding a Quality Used Copier

The next time you need another coper, don’t discount the possibility of a refurbished used device. While a new copier would be really nice, a quality piece of refurbished office equipment can give you years of service at a fraction of the cost. Check out our inventory of used copiers and other used office equipment. All of our used copiers have been inspected and refurbished by a certified copier service technician so you can buy with confidence. Click here to contact a used copier expert.