Should I buy a used printer?
Buying a printer can be an expensive and difficult process. It often requires research into the many needs the machine must fulfill. One question many buyers ask is whether they should buy a used printer rather than a new one. Let’s look at a few factors that you should consider when making this decision.
Obviously, in most cases, the main reason to purchase a used printer over a new one is to save money. Used printers are often priced much lower than their new counterparts, seemingly making them the better buy, but this is not always as straightforward a point as it seems. New printers come with new ink cartridges or toner cartridges, and also new drums, which is another part of the printer that needs replacing eventually. When buying a used printer, you may not know how much life is left in either the cartridges or the drum, and replacing these parts soon may eat up the savings of buying used. Assume that the cartridges and drums will need to be replaced early, and factor that into the math when deciding if it is worth the tradeoff.
Another factor to consider is how well the used printer was taken care of. If you have the chance to inspect it in person, it may be fairly obvious if there is leaked ink in the printer or if parts of it may need repaired. When buying online, however, you often have to take the seller’s word for it. Having to go through the process of disputing the sale or making returns is often not worth the money you save.
If you do decide to buy used, it is a good idea to buy from a seller who does refurbishing or remanufacturing of used printers. Often, these sellers guarantee that the printer will be in good working rder and often back it up with a satisfaction guarantee, so you have peace of mind knowing that the printer’s quality is assured.