Office Equipment

You’ve probably seen a used office printer listed online and thought, “That’s a steal.” And, in fairness, it might be. After all, why spend $30,000 on a new printer when you can get one that looks and functions just as well for half the price?

The truth, though, is that buying a used printer isn’t always as simple as getting a great deal. Like buying a used car, there are many factors that determine whether your “bargain” will actually save money in the long run or cost you more down the road.

As a print vendor, we sell both new and used printers. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the real pros and cons of buying a used printer, updated for 2025, so you can make a confident, informed decision for your business.

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Printers and copiers aren’t exactly impulse buys. If you’ve recently looked into replacing one, you’ve probably felt the sticker shock firsthand. Even entry-level office printers can cost upwards of $1,000, while advanced machines easily reach $20,000 or more. And that’s before you factor in supplies, maintenance, and add-ons.

So how do you make the right choice without overspending?

As long-time print vendors with decades of experience helping businesses make smarter print investments, we understand how important it is to get real value and not just a cheaper price tag. We also know that when it comes to business equipment, getting a “deal” doesn’t mean much if you end up paying more later in service calls, supply headaches, or downtime.

Every year, businesses in Texas and Oklahoma reach the final stretch of their budget cycle and face the same dilemma: upgrade aging technology now, or push the decision into next year and “make do” a little longer. The problem is that waiting often leads to higher long-term costs such as unexpected downtime, mounting repair bills, or missed tax advantages that could have reduced the total cost of ownership.

With 2026 quickly approaching, now is a perfect time for organizations to plan smarter. It's an opportunity to maximize their technology budgets and to leverage financial tools that reward proactive investments, especially when it comes to essential equipment like printers, copiers, and workflow technology.

Think about the last time you had a deadline and were waiting for a print job to arrive. Maybe it was a batch of event brochures, training manuals, or direct mail pieces. You had the designs ready, the order placed, and then you waited, hoping there wouldn’t be a shipping delay, a misprint, or an unexpected rush fee. For many organizations, this back-and-forth raises a bigger question: Would it be better to invest in a production printer and bring this work in-house, or should we keep outsourcing?

It’s a decision businesses wrestle with more often than you might think. At STPT, we work with organizations of all sizes, from schools and churches to enterprise print shops, who are weighing this exact choice. The truth is, both in-house production printing and outsourcing have strengths and weaknesses. The right option depends on your volume, budget, priorities, and long-term plans.

Buying a production printer isn’t like picking out a new office copier. It’s a big investment that can shape how your organization produces marketing materials, manages workloads, and even finds new revenue streams. But with so many options on the market, it’s no surprise that many organizations feel overwhelmed by the decision.

The truth is that the “best” printer isn’t the same for everyone. A small nonprofit that needs to print fundraising newsletters has completely different needs than an enterprise in-plant running thousands of transactional statements a day. Even within the same industry, one school might need vibrant posters for student events while another is producing yearbooks and booklets that require more advanced finishing.

That’s where expertise matters. At STPT, we’ve worked with a wide range of businesses, nonprofits, and institutions to help them find the right production printer.