How old is too old when it comes to print equipment ?

Replacing or upgrading your office print equipment is necessary to maintain an efficient office environment. Mode Technology recommend you consider the following when you are in the market to replace or add office printers.

How long do printers last?

A printer has the ability to last for years, often longer than a decade, if maintained properly and refurbished when necessary.  Each printer will have a different lifespan based on how it was maintained and used during its lifetime. A printer that is used consistently by 5 employees and is serviced every 12 months will likely last longer than one that is used non-stop by 25 employees and has had no maintenance in the last 5 years.

High-quality printers can print hundreds of thousands of pages over the course of a lifetime, so buying a printer that's just a few years old is usually a good alternative to buying a new one, in terms of the lifespan of the machine.

It is impossible to give a general recommendation regarding the life of used office printing equipment due to the variants that come into play, such as usage, maintenance and overall history of the equipment. 

Where should you buy used office equipment?

Although buying used office equipment can save you hundreds of dollars, it's important to be selective about the source. We don't recommend opening up eBay or surfing Trademe to find a used printer - you simply have no way of knowing how well it's been maintained.

Put your used equipment needs in the hands of the experts. Doing so will ensure you get a quality machine that can perform at your standards and meet your office’s printing needs.

What key features of used printing equipment should you look for ?

When you shop around for office equipment, you should look at many of the same qualities you'd examine in a new printer. Because, after all, you need the used office equipment to function at the same level as new equipment does. Verify the following:

• Is it multifunction?

• Will it meet your output needs?

• Does it have some connectivity options like wireless printing?

• Does it have convenient and time-saving capabilities, such as scanning directly to email, automatic stapling and other advanced finishing capabilities?

When buying a used printer, you'll want to pay attention to whether it has the technological abilities that you might take advantage of in a brand-new printer; technology is always changing, and while a printer manufactured in the past few years will likely have the abilities you need, it's important to verify.

 By approaching the used equipment buying process with these items in mind, you will find a used multifunction printer equipped to serve your print environment and save you money.