| Have you ever bought a second hand car? Ever been | | | | asking how old the equipment is, or how long the |
| to a garage sale and found an absolute bargain? Well | | | | equipment has been in use for (remembering from one |
| if you haven't then my writing is not for you! If you | | | | of my previous articles that manufacturers only have |
| have you would have by now learned that not | | | | to supply parts for a certain period of time by law). |
| everything in today's environment has to be brand | | | | This will allow you to determine the average monthly |
| new for it to be considered a 'bargain' or a treasure | | | | print volume of the equipment in questions. Then, finally |
| for either home or the office. | | | | ask what the manufacturer's monthly cycle |
| This rule applies to copiers and printers too! Even | | | | recommendation is for that specific re-furbished model. |
| though your chances of finding a second hand copier | | | | With these three simple, yet very effective questions, |
| or printer still working at a garage sale are quite slim | | | | you can then determine how over, or under, utilized the |
| there is hope out there for a bargain in business | | | | equipment is and whether or not you are in for a |
| printing. | | | | potential bargain or lemon. Of course your vendor will |
| So what happens to those printers & copiers that | | | | still offer service agreements and a warranty of some |
| those top 500 companies use for only three years at | | | | sort; however they can not guarantee that the |
| a time? Where do they go? What are they used for? | | | | equipment will work after a specific time (you will need |
| The answer is simple; they are either resold or used | | | | to establish this also when speaking with your |
| for parts. Just like a car is sold second hand with a | | | | consultant). |
| good 100,000 kilometres on the clock left or is sent to | | | | If you are still wondering whether or not a second |
| the wreckers for parts salvage so is a copier and | | | | hand piece of equipment is even worth considering |
| printer. The question is how to we get access to | | | | then consider this. Most copiers & printers are |
| these bargains or potential treasurers for our offices? | | | | designed to last over a five year period (in Australia |
| Next time you are looking at implementing a solution | | | | copiers are classed as an asset for five years); |
| for your office, whether it is print, fax, scan or copy, | | | | however the average upgrade period is between the |
| make sure to ask your supplier or consultant about | | | | two and a half to four year mark. That means that |
| re-furbished machines. You will find that some | | | | besides all of the calculations that we just went |
| consultants will either mention re-furbished equipment | | | | through before that you could instantly have one year |
| to you or they will avoid it at all cost. This comes from | | | | to two and a half years worth of life in the equipment. |
| many factors within their company and the rules | | | | Consider this; re-furbished equipment can sometimes |
| involved with the re-selling of second hand equipment, | | | | be above 50% less than the newest version available |
| for some it may be easy, others a headache. | | | | of its kind. |
| Once you bring up the topic make sure to qualify a | | | | So even though I can not guarantee that a printer or |
| few simple questions with your consultant about the | | | | copier will be sold at your local garage sale this |
| second hand equipment. The first, and most important, | | | | weekend, I can say that re-furbished solutions have |
| is to ask what the current meter-read is of the | | | | provided some of my greatest achievements within |
| equipment. This determines how many prints the | | | | the industry. |
| equipment has made so far. Then follow on with | | | | |
