Should I repair my copier or just replace it?
For those of you that purchase your copiers outright or take the purchase option at the end of the lease, how do you know if it’s time to repair or replace your copier and what is the right choice? Here are a few questions to ask yourself before making the investment.
- How old is the copier? As with anything, there comes a time when you just must face the fact that everything has a viable life span. Is it time to just retire the old girl and let her ride out the rest of the days as a boat anchor?
- What is the actual problem? If a general cleaning and a few feed tires are all that is needed, then maybe invest the time and money and continue to use it again.
- Does the machine suit your needs? If the machine is 5-7 years old and the technology has passed it by, maybe it’s time to look at what a new machine could offer?
- Return on investment? If I put $x.xx into the machine what can I expect to get out of it? Will it last a day, month or year? Sending good money after bad is never a economically healthy choice.
- Do you need additional features? Maybe that machine you bought 5 years ago was B&W and now you have a need for color? Has your business grown past the capabilities of the machine?
- How much longer will you be in business? If you are at the twilight of your career and are getting close to retiring, now might not be the time to invest in new technology!
Taking the time to evaluate these questions and anything else that might be pertinent to you situation will lead to a more informed decision as to whether to repair or replace your copier? Every situation is different and what makes sense for one business completely lacks reason for another.
Understanding that throwing more money at an issue is usually counter-productive, making the right choice can be daunting. If I were to offer my professional advice, it would always be to seek to opinion of a professional. Have a local authorized dealer who you trust evaluate the options and put in writing what the costs of repairs would be vs. the cost to purchase or lease a new copier.
If you’d like us to take a look at your current situation and offer some advice, feel free to give us a call at 201-258-7300.
