It seems these days you can jump on eBay, Craigslist and a host of other locations and find a plethora of used copy machines for sale at ridiculous prices. One of the main questions many business owners are confront with is whether it would be more efficient to purchase new or a used copy machine. However, think about this, with the reduction in cost of new technology, the improved performance of a new machine, not to mention the difficulty finding parts and toner cartridges for older machines, a used copier will probably not be your best choice.
Repairs and maintenance will surely add it when you buy something used. Especially if it was sitting in a warehouse that was not climate controlled. Most of these machines will not be covered by a service plan or warranty, and you’re looking at some hefty costs when something goes wrong – not to mention the cost of downtime. That said, if you only plan on using it for the occasional copy here and there, a used model may work just fine. However these days copiers are much more than a unit that makes a xerox copy. Here are the average costs for used and new copiers:
- Midrange copiers – Used models go for $400 to $2,000, with many models available for around $750; new models start around $2,300 and go as high as $23,000.
- Production copiers – Expect to pay $1,700 to $17,000 used, with many models available for about $2,000; new copiers start around $15,000 to $29,000 and extend well into the $50,000 range and above.
It’s also worth noting that repair costs on a machine without a service contract or warranty start around $60 per hour for on-site service, not including the cost of parts.