Copier Tip #1 "The Trade In Trap"

Don’t Trade In Your Wide Format Printer Or Copier Just Yet…

Used Copiers and wide format printers are more in demand than ever.  There are many reasons for this new demand in equipment purchasing.

1.      There are more quality used machines coming off lease than ever before.

2.      Most of the manufacturers recently made higher quality systems that outlasted the lease term.

3.      Some of these copiers and wide format printers were oversold to accounts that barely put a dent in the   odometer aka “low meter readings”.  These Cherry Picked Copiers™ are sometimes considered even more valuable.

4.      Since new systems are still considered expensive, many firms have decided to purchase an off lease copier or wide format printer at a fraction of what the new price is.

If you have a wide format printer and you are deciding on a new system, you might want you find out your current system’s true value is before letting it go.  Do not let the dealer trade in your system without knowing all the facts.  If you own the machine, call an asset remarketer and find out the equipment’s value before you buy another one.

Realize that trade-in values from copier and wide format dealers do not really exist 98% of the time.  They simply bump up the selling price to lower it back down again.  Car trade-ins are more legitimate since the profit from a used car resale does get spread between you the consumer, the salesperson (sometimes) and yes the car dealership.  Imagine that, a used car deal more legitimate that a copier or wide format printer deal.

You can almost always get the exact same price on a copier or printer with or without a trade in.  You will not get the proceeds of the system you traded in. Most times, the salesperson will not see a penny either. 

The copier dealer is almost always the sole recipient of the money from your trade in.  Is this the industry’s dirty little secret?  They will most likely resell it to another client with almost pure profit (less parts and labor to fix if needed) or wholesale it out "as is" with 100% profit going to the dealership.

If you leased the equipment, find out what the buyout is.  Many times the buyout is lower than what it is worth.  Each lease and deal is individual.

Try not to upgrade earlier than near the lease's end.  If you upgrade too early, without you even realizing it, you will be paying the new lease with interest and the remaining old lease with old interest and new interest on the old principal and old interest.  Is that even legal?

Oh and make sure you read the lease fine print. 90 days prior to the end of the lease, most leasing companies want you to notify your intentions to them of buying the machine at lease end or return it at your cost.  If you do not notify properly, you fall into what they call Evergreen, which is a 1 year extension on your lease which should also be illegal.  But it’s done.

CopySmart specializes in off lease copier and wide format printing solutions.  CopySmartUSA.com helps businesses throughout the country find buyers and sellers of used copiers and wide format printers.  Asset remarketing has become more popular over the last 3-5  years since so many used quality systems became available and the cost conscious consumer has demanded it.

Next Month's Tip

Copier Tip #2 Be Aware Of "All Inclusive (CPC) Contracts"

Once your locked in, there's no going back... check all your option before deciding a "simple" CPC plan.

Don't just focus on the price of the copier or wide format printer, it's the total cost of ownership that counts.