If your company is shopping for a copier, knowing refurbished copiers basics helps you think "green" and save money. Refurbished copiers are fully tested and restored to work like new. Buying a refurbished copier ensures that a copier does not end up in a landfill, reducing waste. Refurbished copiers cost up to 85% less than new copiers saving your company money.

When in the market for a refurbished copier, choose from a high volume, mid volume or work group copier. High volume copiers are large machines that copy quickly. These copiers are made specifically to handle demanding work loads. Mid volume copiers are smaller in size than high volume machines and print slightly slower. Work group and desktop copiers are the smallest and copy the least amount of pages per minute. Review your company's copying needs and select a refurbished copier that helps your office increase its efficiency.

1. Locate high volume refurbished copiers for fast printing.

2. Buy mid volume used copy machines if your company has outgrown a work group copier.

3. Find work group and desktop refurbished copiers for small offices.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate used copy machine providers that supply high volume copiers

High volume refurbished or used business copiers produce 56 or more copied pages per minute. These copiers are designed for large companies that require large volumes of copies in a short amount of time. Both refurbished color copiers and refurbished black and white copiers are available in high volume models.

I recommend: Purchase refurbished copy machines for high volume offices at Copiers4Less. Coast to Coast Copiers provides a wide range of refurbished copiers any work load. Find used copiers at Wahl Business Solutions.

Purchase used copy machines that out-copy smaller desktop versions

Mid volume copiers are designed for business that need to produce more copies than a desktop or work group copier, but that do not require the speed of a high volume copier. Mid volume copiers output 36 to 55 pages per minute.

I recommend: Visit Skyline Office Solutions to find a refurbished copier that meets mid volume copying needs. American Refurb carries Bother, Cannon, Xerox, Sharp and Samsung pre-owned copiers that are fully refurbished. Find both color and black-and-white used copy machines at imageWISE.

Find work group or desktop refurbished copy machines

Work group copiers are the smallest copiers on the market. A desktop copier produces less than 20 pages per minute. A work group copier outputs 20 to 35 pages per minute. These copiers are perfect for small and new businesses.

I recommend: Copier Consultants supplies Canon, Konica, Ricoh, Sharp and Toshiba desktop and work group copiers. Visit ACE Depot for used color or black and white copiers. Find a variety of desktop copiers at Copier Geeks.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some refurbished copiers come with a warranty, however some do not. Review the warranty page thoroughly before choosing a used copier.

One of the best ways to save money on costly copy machines is to purchase used copiers or refurbished copiers. Not only will you save money by purchasing gently used copy machines, you’ll reduce your company’s carbon footprint by rescuing used copiers from their demise. Before you run out and save the environment, there are a few things you should consider in order to get a refurbished copier that will work for you.

1. Make sure any refurbished copier has the output capacity, features and digital capabilities you need.
2. Don’t settle for used copy machines that don’t come with a warranty.
3. You can save even more money with your used copier by purchasing refurbished toner cartridges.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Certified pre-owned copiers

The next best thing after buying a brand new copier is purchasing certified pre-owned copiers. These used copy machines haven't just been cleaned cosmetically, they've had any worn parts replaced and have passed stringent testing.

I recommend: Copiers Refurbished offers certified pre-owned copiers that have undergone inspection and reconditioning. Copy King Office Solutions performs a 90-point inspection before certifying their refurbished copy machines.

Extended warranties and service plans on used copiers

Buying used copy machines doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice service, support or parts warranties. Insist on the extras for peace of mind.

I recommend: Arizona Copier Outlet offers 90 day warranties on used copiers that includes a drum and major parts warranty for up to three years. Direct Source Copiers offers nationwide warranties from 90 days to three years and support and service on Sharp, Canon, Ricoh, Xerox and Konica refurbished copiers. ImageWise offers a 100 percent guarantee along with support and service on their products.

All-in-one refurbished copiers

All-in-one or multi-purpose machines that include a copier, scanner, printer and fax machine are ideal for many small businesses thanks to their flexibility. With an all-in-one refurbished copier, you can increase your savings by purchasing one single piece of equipment rather than four separate items.

I recommend: HP and Dell have reconditioned all-in-one used copy machines available on their websites.

Specialty reconditioned copiers

Engineering and architectural firms can benefit from refurbished copiers and engineering plotters.

I recommend: East Bay Blue Print offers reconditioned copiers and engineering plotters along with parts and service on used machines. CADD Engineering Supply carries HP DesignJet refurbished plotters.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When buying used copiers, shop around for late model copiers that save energy and are environmentally friendly.
• •  Much like used cars, used copiers have counters that track total usage. Dealers should be able to tell you the copy count on each machine that you are considering.
• •  Don't mistake reconditioned copiers for out-of-date machines. If you need color, duplexing, collating or fully digital copiers, you can find late model copiers that have been refurbished.

Refurbished copiers can save you the expense of a new copy machine purchase, but they can also bring you unwanted problems. A refurbished copy machine may not have all the features of a new copier, it may have been overused by its previous owner and its warranty may be expired.

Making the most of refurbished copiers means you need to properly research refurbished copy machines and suppliers of refurbished copiers before you make a purchase. This includes:

1. Making sure any refurbished copiers you buy are in good working condition;

2. Figuring out which pre-owned copiers can meet all the demands of your office;

3. And determining your need for a refurbished color copier.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make sure that any refurbished copy machines you purchase are properly refurbished

You don't want to buy refurbished copy machines that are just dusted off and resold. Your used copiers should have been given a complete inspection by a certified technician. This means that any used copier you purchase should also come with a warranty of at least 30 to 90 days.

I recommend: BuyerZone.com has excellent advice about what questions you should ask used copy machine providers. For an example of the steps that used copy machine providers should take to inspect and refurbish their copiers, check out imageWISE.

Get used copiers that can keep up with your monthly usage

Whether you are buying new or used business copiers, you want to be sure that the copiers you buy can meet the demands of your office. You don't want employees to be waiting around for copies to be made, and you don't want to work the machine to the point that it breaks down.

I recommend: The copier buying guide from Copier Marketplace discusses how to figure out your monthly print volume, your ideal copier speed and whether or not you need to buy refurbished color copiers. Biz Quoter explains how to choose between business- and commercial-grade refurbished copiers.

Decide if you need used copiers that print in color

Color copiers are a great way to print stunning projects and proposals. However, color copy machines, even used copiers, are quite a bit more expensive than standard black-and-white copiers. As an alternative, you can always outsource your color copies. So before you spend the money on refurbished color copiers, decide if the convenience is worth the added expense.

I recommend: As you decide whether or not to purchase refurbished color copiers, check out the advice from B2B-Exchange.com. Coast to Coast Copiers provides examples of what you should look for in refurbished color copiers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most copiers have a counter on them that can tell you the number of copies that the machine has made over its lifetime (similar to an odometer on a car). Check this number before purchasing refurbished copiers.

Certain refurbished copiers key terms can help you choose the right money-saving copier for your business. The high price of brand-new copiers for the office steers many people in the direction of refurbished copiers. Also referred to as reconditioned or gently used, these copiers can cost 75% to 90% less than their new counterparts. Here are some valuable terms to keep in mind when you're in the market for a refurbished copier.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Refurbishing process

Before buying a refurbished copier, it's important to ask the dealer about the refurbishing process. Ideally, used copiers should be thoroughly cleaned, all worn parts should be replaced, and the entire copier should be inspected and evaluated for potential problems or performance issues.

I recommend: The lengthy checklist used to refurbish copiers at Copiers 4 Less is a good example of the process all copiers should go through when being refurbished.

Meter

All office-type copiers have built-in meters, or counters, that keep track of total lifetime usage. It's important to ask about the meter reading on the copier you're considering.

I recommend: See what constitutes a low-copy meter on a refurbished copier at Copy King.

Maintenance agreement

You may decide to purchase a maintenance or service agreement with your refurbished copier, just be sure that the agreement covers the parts most likely to wear out or break, such as the belts and drum. The up-front cost of the agreement can be worth it in the long run.

I recommend: The two types of maintenance agreements available from Affordable Copier Solutions are typical of what's available industry-wide.

Warranty

Warranties on used copiers range from no warranty (when sold 'as is') to full two-year coverage. Although the price of a refurbished copier might be more attractive with little or no warranty, there's a good chance you'll pay more in the long run without adequate coverage.

I recommend: As an example, take a look at the warranty offered by Copiers Refurbished.

Volume

Industry statistics show that overuse is the most common reason why office copiers break down and require service calls. You can reduce repair needs while keeping downtime at a minimum by ensuring your refurbished copier is designed to handle your office's monthly copy volume.

I recommend: Copier Marketplace offers a buying guide that emphasizes the importance of knowing your copy volume and purchasing a copier that meets that need.

Digital

The majority of both new and used copiers on the market today are digital. Although some dealers still offer refurbished analog machines at low prices, buyer beware. The money you save today may not be worth the frustration of trying to find service and parts for such machines in the future.

I recommend: Read the argument for going digital with your refurbished copier at Copiers Copiers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Save even more money while further demonstrating your commitment to 'going green' by purchasing refurbished toner cartridges, as well.