How to check a used photocopier before you buy (Jiji and second-hand dealers)

Every copier counts the pages it has printed. That number tells you more about wear than the outside of the machine does. Drums, fuser units, rollers and other parts are made to last a certain number of pages, so a high count means expensive replacements are coming soon.

Ask the seller to show you the total count on screen, or to print a counter or configuration report. On many Canon imageRUNNER models a "Counter Check" key shows it. Kyocera, Sharp, Konica Minolta and Ricoh machines show counters in their system, status or utility menus. Be suspicious if the seller can't or won't show it.

Compare the count with what the model was built for. Ask the vendor or check the manufacturer's brochure, and weigh the price against how much life the machine has left.

Bring a few pages of your own: one with small text and one with a large solid black area. Then:

• Make copies from the glass and from the document feeder. Feed several pages at once through the automatic feeder to check it picks them up cleanly.
• Look closely at the copies. Lines or streaks running down the page often mean a worn drum or a dirty charging part. Faded patches can mean low toner or a tired drum.
• Rub the printed area with your thumb. If toner smudges off, the fuser isn't bonding it properly. A fuser is a costly part.
• Test every paper tray and double-sided copying, if the machine has it.
• Print from a laptop and scan to email or USB if you need those features. Network setup problems are common on imported machines.
• On colour machines, copy a colour photo and check that no colour is missing or streaked.
• Watch the screen for error codes and listen for grinding or squealing.

• Where did the machine come from, and how long has it been in Ghana?
• Has it been serviced? By whom, and which parts were replaced?
• Is there toner in it, and how full is it?
• What is included: stand or cabinet, finisher, fax or network card, power cable?
• Will they deliver, install and set it up on your network?
• Do they give any warranty, even 30 to 90 days, in writing?

A dealer who services what they sell is usually a safer buy than a one-off seller, even at a slightly higher price.

A cheap copier is no bargain if its toner is hard to find or expensive. Before buying, check that local shops sell toner for the exact model, see what it costs, and work out your cost per page with our cost-per-page calculator. Popular models from the main brands are easier to keep running than rare imports. Our price index lists toner prices we have seen.

• Deposits before viewing. The most common trick is asking for a deposit, or a "delivery" or "clearing" fee, before you have seen the machine. Don't pay.
• Prices far below everyone else. If a recent model is listed at a fraction of what other sellers ask, be careful. Compare against our price index.
• Copied photos. Ask for a photo or video of the machine showing the counter screen, with today's date written on paper beside it.
• Won't show it running. A seller who won't power the machine on and make copies in front of you is hiding something.
• Meeting somewhere other than a shop. Inspect at the seller's premises, in daylight, with power available.

A good used copier from a dealer who services it can cost much less than new and run for years. A worn one with a high page count can cost more in parts within months than you saved. If you need the machine for daily office work and can't afford downtime, compare it against leasing a new one.