Smart Buyer
  • Shop On NeweggBusiness
  • Categories
    • Buying Guides
    • Components
    • DIY and How-to
    • Industry Trends
    • NetSec
    • Networking
    • Storage
    • Systems – PC & Laptop
    • Windows
  • About
  • Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Contact Us
Top Posts
PC Cooling: How to Set up Computer Case...
5 Ways to Stream from PC to TV...
How to Choose the Correct RAM Upgrade
How to Troubleshoot a PC Power Supply
Four Apps that Make Your Tablet a Second...
2019 Solid State Drive (SSD) Buying Guide
6 Reasons Your PC is Slow and How...
How-to Guide: Small Office Network Setup
Born in the USA: Computer Hardware Made in...
Computer Monitor Buying Guide 2019

Smart Buyer

  • Shop On NeweggBusiness
  • Categories
    • Buying Guides
    • Components
    • DIY and How-to
    • Industry Trends
    • NetSec
    • Networking
    • Storage
    • Systems – PC & Laptop
    • Windows
  • About
  • Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Contact Us
DIY and How-to

PC Load Letter?! Calculating When Printer Repair Isn’t Worth It

by Wallace Chu May 5, 2015
by Wallace Chu May 5, 2015 6 comments 12026 views

Printers sometimes encounter mechanical failures and need to be repaired; that’s almost a universal constant.  But it may not always be the best choice. While spending $100 to fix a one-month old, $5000 printer makes sense, older printers should sometimes be put out to pasture—Office Space-style. We run through several scenarios where printer repair is not worth the cost.

Your cost-per-page/print (CPP) is increasing

At the end of the day, one bottom line you can’t ignore is the cost to print a page. Manufacturers almost always provide CPP numbers for printers, but those numbers can fluctuate depending on the price of ink or toner. To calculate your current cost per page, do the following.

  • Determine how much you pay per cartridge.
  • Determine page yield of the cartridge, which can be found on the cartridge’s packaging.
  • Use the equation below:
    Cost of cartridge / Cartridge page yield = Cost-per-print (CPP)

If you notice your CPP rising considerably, first switch to compatible cartridges to save money. However, if costs continue to increase or a new model with an improved better CPP comes out, consider retiring the old printer.

Read: Cheap Toner:  Compatible Versus OEM Toner Cartridges

There is a high repair cost and difficulty

Once a printer’s warranty period ends, those repair and maintenance costs that were previously covered under warranty start to add up over time. Printers have many points of failure, from the loading tray to the drum or fuser.

While parts such as the load tray can be replaced at relatively low cost, complex components such as the controller boards and chips won’t be. If the cost of repairing the unit exceeds the cost of a replacement, choose the latter. In addition, replacement parts for older printers can prove to be elusive—especially if the unit has been discontinued for several years. At that point, downtime in addition to cost becomes a concern.

Manufacturer support has expired

Here’s a scenario: Your office is set to switch over to a new operating system which requires new software drivers for many devices, including the printers. Without new software drivers, the hardware won’t function properly—if at all. If you have a relatively new model, the manufacturer may provide updated drivers for the new OS so users may continue to use the machine.

Unfortunately, old legacy printers might not receive such updates if they have reached end of support. In such cases, the printer needs to be hooked up to a system running the old operating system, which can reduce network security. Aside from driver updates, manufacturer support can be in the form of knowledge base articles, repair and warranty, setup guides and documentation, and firmware upgrades. Once a manufacturer drops support for a printer, operating the unit becomes more difficult. Consider replacing the printer with a new model under manufacturer support.

The printer has outdated capabilities

Expanded feature sets in new printers can be another reason to retire a printer. Features such as wireless connectivity, duplex printing (printing on both sides of a paper), or support for memory cards can improve efficiency and usability. If an older printer lacking those features needs repair, consider whether a newer model would better serve the office, and consider the efficiency gains that come with it. From increased pages-per-minute (PPM) to reduced cost-per-page, a new printer can net lower operating costs over time.

Your office should be downsizing printer needs

To reduce paper waste, offices should store documents digitally and not print them unless absolutely required. Has your business evolved to use less paper in day-to-day functions as many have? If a malfunctioning printer is one of several in the office and print queues are not an issue, consider removing the faulty printer altogether rather than replacing or repairing it. Assess your company’s paper usage and make sure the printer infrastructure is proportional.

If the scenarios above ring true for your office, it’s time to retire that old printer. Its value won’t increase while the cost to maintain it may. Ultimately, it boils down to a cost benefit analysis. Making a printer repair should make financial sense first and foremost.

Wallace Chu

Wallace Chu

A self-professed tech hipster that loves computers and music. Uses an iPhone ironically.

More Posts - Google Plus

Summary
PC Load Letter?! When Printer Repair Isn't Worth It - HardBoiled
Article Name
PC Load Letter?! When Printer Repair Isn't Worth It - HardBoiled
Description
Sometimes printer repair just isn't worth the cost, especially for old units. We run through several scenarios on when you shouldn't repair a printer.
Author
Wallace Chu
inkjet printerlaser printerprinters
6 comments
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +PinterestEmail
Wallace Chu
Wallace Chu

A self-professed tech hipster that loves computers and music. Uses an iPhone ironically.

previous post
Microsoft Surface 3 or Surface Pro 3? Pick the Right Windows Hybrid
next post
Case Study: Solving Sneakernet with Serial to Ethernet Servers

Related Posts

Laptop Management Checklist for Remote Workers [Infographic]

December 4, 2020

How Best to Support Your Remote Workforce: COVID...

November 24, 2020

Four Ways to Implement a Hygienic Return to...

September 11, 2020

How To Maintain Clean Schools for a Safe...

September 11, 2020

Using a Laptop or Notebook in a Dual...

June 29, 2020

Could a Flexible Office be Right for Your...

October 11, 2019

Business Guide to Proper E-Waste Disposal

August 22, 2019

How to Upgrade Laptop Memory

August 15, 2019

What is Virtualization?

July 26, 2019

RAID Basics: How Your Business Can Benefit

July 19, 2019

6 comments

Avatar
Mike K August 28, 2015 - 5:08 am

When replacing a printer or copier the you need to consider your daily and monthly volume to match your usage to the equipment. Many people buy according to the price of the equipment which in many cases is a very costly mistake. The general rule of thumb is that the lower the cost the more expensive to operate and less reliable. If you are just print/copy a few pages a day it does not matter much. But when you get to a higher volume the supply costs get hefty! If you live in Southeast Florida Advanced business computers is a great source for help. Computer network repair, printer and copier maintenance repairs, leasing and supplies.

Reply
Avatar
Neeraj Singh January 7, 2016 - 1:42 am

I have usng printer abd find some tips to solve printer related issues at low cost. Before the warrenty ends up we have to repair it completely from the authorised repair centre. Also we have to keep in mind that how much we use printer in routine. So make a maintenance regularly.

Reply
Printer Not Printing? Try This Trick First - HardBoiled June 16, 2016 - 4:45 am

[…] time to call in on-site support, first consider whether your printer is worth fixing. Sometimes printer repair isn’t worth it. The Office Printer Buying Guide 2016 might help with the decision. Since leasing printers and […]

Reply
Avatar
jglik14 July 12, 2017 - 8:02 am

Very valid comment Mike! This is a great blog for general tips in the printer/copier space. If you’re looking for some troubleshooting tips, check out this blog I wrote!

Reply
When Printer Repair Isn’t Worth It - Advanced Printer Repair Service July 27, 2017 - 12:43 pm

[…] evaluated the issue and gives you an estimate on the cost to fix it, you have a decision to make. Is it worth fixing? Sometimes the cost of repairing a printer outweighs the cost of the actual printer. In this case, […]

Reply
Avatar
Murtza Abbas November 7, 2018 - 10:21 pm

Thanks for sharing this info.

Reply

What's your take? Cancel reply

Subscribe

Savings Spotlight
  • 1

    PC Cooling: How to Set up Computer Case Fans

    September 25, 2015
  • 2

    5 Ways to Stream from PC to TV or Digital Display

    May 23, 2016
  • 3

    How to Choose the Correct RAM Upgrade

    April 28, 2015
  • 4

    How to Troubleshoot a PC Power Supply

    July 11, 2018
  • 5

    Four Apps that Make Your Tablet a Second Monitor

    January 9, 2018
  • 6

    2019 Solid State Drive (SSD) Buying Guide

    December 6, 2018
  • 7

    6 Reasons Your PC is Slow and How to Fix It

    February 28, 2019
  • 8

    How-to Guide: Small Office Network Setup

    December 20, 2018
  • 9

    Born in the USA: Computer Hardware Made in America

    September 27, 2018
  • 10

    Computer Monitor Buying Guide 2019

    January 4, 2019

Newegg + Business

How is this different from Newegg.com?

Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Email