How cheap is cheap when it comes to a new printer? Of course, you can look at the cash price and compare it with other printers, but that doesn’t always show you the hidden costs or give you any indication of the total cost of ownership – what you will pay out over the entire lifespan of the printer in question. In other words, when you’re deciding on a new printer, you need to look beyond the cash price and take a range of factors into account.

When a cheap printer isn’t really cheap
If it looks like an unbelievable bargain, it might be exactly that – unbelievable. The cash price isn’t necessarily the best thing to focus on when you’re about to make a substantial outlay on a new printer. You need to consider all the other associated costs that running your printer will incur. For example, when you add the cost of ink into the equation, the figures might change dramatically. If the cost of ink for your cheap printer is just 5p per millilitre more, then a modest 2,000 square metre print volume per annum over five years will cost you £4,000 extra. Suddenly an initial saving of, say, £1,000 on the cost of the printer doesn’t seem quite so clever.

And it’s not only a question of comparing the cost of the ink. You need to consider how much ink is laid down by each printer. If a more expensive printer is more economical on ink, you might be saving as much as 20% over a cheaper, but more wasteful model. Across a five-year lease, this is a saving that could be significant.

There’s no guarantee that it’s cheaper…
If your printer is the engine that drives your business, you’ll want to consider taking out a warranty – for peace of mind, if nothing else. Look for a two-year warranty rather than a one-year warranty. They’re certainly worth having when you realise that the average eco-solvent print head costs around £2,000, plus labour, to replace. This should also make you look a little closer at how reliable the printer is. If you have to outsource work while your printer is down, this can ramp up the total cost of ownership exponentially. The saving you make by buying a cheaper printer will quickly be eroded.

The end of the story
Some manufacturers produce a constant stream of new printers and upgrades, making older machines obsolete more quickly. Once this happens, parts become scarce and more expensive until you reach a point where running the machine simply becomes unviable and you’re pushed into making an upgrade or buying a replacement. It’s not something you want to face in a hurry.

A good example of this issue is what happens when you buy a Print & Cut all-in-one solution. It may be cheaper than buying separate devices, but take the long-term view. A cutter will usually last you ten years – but if it’s part of a printer that becomes obsolete after five years, you’ll then be replacing your printer and the cutter again.

So, it’s not always as straightforward as simply picking the cheapest printer for your needs. However, as it’s something we’re often asked about, we’ve looked at all the issues. For a fast, reliable printer, with excellent ink costs and a two-year warranty, we recommend the Epson S-Series – they’re not expensive and represent great value for money over the total cost of ownership. For more information, give us a call on 01268 724570 or get in touch with us via the website.