Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Printer

Used….

It’s almost a derogatory term for some buyers and even sellers in the buying process. And it’s understandable why.     

Who used this before me? What kind of lifespan does this product have left? What did the company do to prepare this used product to sell? How have other customers fared with this used product?      

All these concerns are completely understood when it comes to buying a used product.   

Just like any industry that sells used products, the printing industry is no different in getting plenty of these same inquiries about used printers and all that encompass them.     

The truth is, buying a used printer comes with a good number of pros and an equal number of cons.  

At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas, we have sold both new and used machines for over 35 years and have learned a great deal about used printers and all the questions that surround them.   

In this blog, we will go over the main pros and cons of used printers while also discussing cost, the process of getting a used printer ready and who might be a fit for one.    

Since we sell Xerox machines, we will be using our industry knowledge of Xerox as a reference to help provide you with an extensive guide to buying a used printer.    

4 Pros of Buying a Used Printer   

Let’s go over the good part first. Below are some of the main pros of buying a used printer:   

1. Cheaper Option    

Most likely, the primary reason you would be interested in purchasing a used printer is because of your eagerness to save money. Why else would you buy a product that’s previously been used if it didn’t save you a little bit on your bottom line?    

To provide some context, let’s compare the average prices of two example Xerox color multifunction printer models and assess the new price vs. the used price:   

• New Xerox AltaLink C8170 (base model): $13,076   

• Used Xerox AltaLink C8170 (base model): $6,538   

• New Xerox VersaLink C7030/S (two trays and a stand): $4,335   

• Used Xerox VersaLink C7030/S (two trays and a stand): $2,167    

As you can see, the cost of new and used printers can differ quite substantially. There’s not one standard calculation that covers all new and used printers. The price comparison will vary depending on the model, the number of impressions (prints) already made on the machine and any additional accessories you may want to include on your used machine.  

Read our blog over the top six things to consider when buying a printer to learn more about what you need to examine before purchasing a printer.  

2. Quicker Installment and Delivery Time   

Another positive aspect of investing in a used printer is that most of the time, you’ll get the machine faster than a new machine.   

This may not be the case in every scenario. You would want to call your print vendor and evaluate the differences between the delivery times of new and used machines.    

Generally speaking, though, a used machine can go through the initial testing and preparation process (more on this later) and be ready to go within the same day a vendor receives the printer.     

However, that doesn’t mean you’ll get the machine the next day. But assuming the print vendor has the machine in stock, and it doesn’t have any significant manufacturing concerns, you will get the used printer significantly quicker than if you ordered a new one.     

This is especially relevant during the ongoing supply chain crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about how the supply chain crisis has affected the delivery times of machines and supplies, read these blogs: 

• How the Supply Chain Crisis Has Affected Your Printer’s Delivery Time 

• How the Supply Chain Crisis Has Affected Your Printing Supplies      

3. Alternative During the Supply Chain Crisis   

As mentioned previously, the demand for used printers has gone up during the supply chain crisis, when new machines have an approximate delivery time of 120 days after purchase.   

Because of the faster delivery time, buying a used printer can serve as an alternative for you if your old machine is completely inoperative and you want to find a permanent solution as fast as possible.  

4. Printer Service Coverage  

Like new machines, used machines also come with the option to have a service contract, which is highly recommended for used printers. Service contracts allow for supplies and maintenance to be covered under a monthly invoice. That way, if your machine has a service problem, the issue will be covered under your service contract.  

Used printers tend to have a shorter product lifespan and may be equipped with older technology, which could mean they need more service than new machines. We will go into further detail on this topic in the next section.  

4 Cons of Buying a Used Printer  

With almost any used product, there will be negatives you have to consider before making that final purchase. Here are some cons to buying a used printer:   

1. Shorter Printer Lifespan   

The obvious con to buying a used printer is that, well, it’s already been used. This means that, in most cases, its product lifespan will be shorter than that of a brand-new machine.   

What you need to keep in mind when purchasing a used printer is the number of impressions the machine has already undergone before receiving it.    

Some used printers have barely scratched the surface of their print volume and can last a similar lifespan to a new printer.   

But some used printers might have been pushed to the brink of their recommended monthly print volume by their previous users, and by the time you get the machine, it might be closer to the end of its lifecycle than the beginning.   

This is where you as the customer need to examine the printer’s meter reading before purchasing to measure the volume it has already endured and assess what your estimated print volume will be.   

You don’t want to invest in a printer that has undergone substantial use when you’re expecting a high monthly print volume. It’ll only cost you more in the long run.   

Read our blog over ways to increase the lifespan of your printer for tips to sustain your machine’s lifecycle.  

2. Lack of Options    

Another notable con to used printers is that there tend to be fewer available used options than new ones for purchase.   

If you’ve done your research and found the specific model that you want to invest in, there’s no guarantee that it will be available as used.   

Furthermore, even if the model you desire is available as used, it might not be conducive to fit your monthly print volume because of what we discussed in the previous section.   

Most of the time, there won't be a decipherable trend in the types of machines and models that a print vendor gets and prepares to sell as used. This means that both the amount and specific types of machines in stock can vary, and vendors usually can't guarantee a certain printer will be available as used.   

If you’d like to determine the availability of a particular model, it’d be best to call your print vendor and see if they either have one currently in stock or are expecting one in the future.    

3. Older Technology   

A lot of times used printers available for purchase will be older models, which means you might not get the latest technological capabilities of a newer model.   

This doesn’t mean the printer will perform more poorly than the new models. If a print vendor is selling a printer as used, you should expect the machine to perform its basic functions at an efficient level.     

But, in Xerox’s case, you might not get the latest user interface capabilities. This means that certain applications that contribute to general office productivity may not be supported on older models.   

You also want to keep in mind that the older the machine is, the greater the chance that its firmware will stop being supported. This could not only cause production problems but heighten security threats as well. To read more about firmware and Xerox’s approach to security, read these blogs:  

• Four Reasons Why You Should Update Your Firmware  

• Xerox’s Approach to Cybersecurity  

You will want to determine the age of the machine before purchase and consider whether you would be content with a printer that doesn’t contain the technological abilities of the newer models.   

4. Regular Price for Printer Accessories   

There’s also a noteworthy con to purchasing additional accessories or upgrades to a used machine.    

When you buy a new printer, the configuration options are laid out and you can choose how to upgrade your machine and add any additional accessories, such as extra trays or finishers.    

You may be able to do this with your used printer, but it means that you will be paying the regular price for the additional accessories or upgrades you want to make.   

You will also have to wait for the accessories to ship, deliver and get installed, which will prolong the delivery time of your machine.   

The up-front costs associated with buying used and refurbished office equipment are often lower than new equipment, but the total cost of ownership may be higher due to additional service costs and the possibility of downtime associated with ordering and the installation of parts as needed.   

To evaluate this cost analysis when it comes to buying a used printer, think about what accessories or upgrades you may require in a used machine and compare it to the price you would be paying for a new machine with the same upgrades.   

How Does a Used Printer Get Prepared to Sell? 

Now that we have gone through the main pros and cons of buying a used printer, let’s briefly go over our service team’s process of getting a used printer ready to sell. This might be different for other print vendors, but it’ll help you get a feel for what goes into making sure a used printer is fit to sell:   

Step 1: Get the Printer and Reboot the Software to Factory Settings  

The first step is the most crucial element in determining whether a used printer can be sold. If a machine’s software is compromised, the printer will not perform adequately and be deemed unfit to sell.  

Step 2: Upgrade Printer's Software to the Newest Version and Test 

After the printer’s software is rebooted to factory settings, the next step is to upgrade the software to the newest version and test it to make sure the network settings work properly. This will be the other defining software test that will determine whether the machine can be sold or not.  

Step 3: Clean and Repair Any Damage 

Next, the technician will physically clean the outside of the machine to ensure it looks ready to sell. If there was any damage to the machine or parts that needed to be replaced, this is the step where that would get done. 

Step 4: Final Check 

The fourth step is a final check to make sure the machine runs efficiently and is up to our aesthetic standards. Once this step is completed, the printer will be deemed ready to sell.  

Step 5: Fill Toner Levels and Supplies 

Before you receive your used machine, toner levels will be filled, and all applicable supplies will be full by the time it’s delivered.    

The process of getting a used printer ready to sell is normally not a complicated one. After the software is checked and updated, and if there are no outstanding repairs that need to be made, the machine can be up and ready to sell on the same day we receive it.     

Is a Used Printer Right for You?    

Now, to the ultimate question: Is a used printer the best choice for you?    

Determining if you should opt for a used printer is dependent on several factors. You need to consider things lie your budget, print volume, workspace, workgroup, technological desires, accessories, and buying time. 

If you value timeliness and saving money in the short term, then a used printer might be the right choice for you.  

If you want to make a long-term printing investment with the newest technological innovations, then a new printer would be a better fit. 

There is a lot to consider and whether to buy a new printer or a used printer is based largely on your situation and printing goals. We've created an in-depth guide that contains everything you need to know and consider before purchasing a printer:   

But now that you have read some of the pros and cons and got an insider’s look at the process of getting a used printer ready to sell, you can now make an informed decision by knowing what you should and should not expect in a used printer.     

If you’re interested in purchasing a printer, used or new, try our product configurator. You can search for specific models or filter for specifications like price point and speed. You can also configure your printer by adding accessories and finishing options. If you have any additional questions, reach out to us and we’ll do our best to assist you.