12 questions to ask before you buy a photocopier in Ghana

Two copiers with the same name can be very different deals. One seller's price includes a document feeder, stand, toner and installation; another's is the bare machine. One seller sends a technician the same day; another disappears after the sale. The questions below make those differences visible before you pay, not after.

Ask every seller the same questions and write down the answers. It makes comparing quotes fair, and good sellers are happy to answer.

• 1. What exactly is included in this price? Document feeder, stand or cabinet, starter toner, power cable, delivery, installation and network setup are often extras.
• 2. Is the price fixed in cedis, and how long is it valid? Copier prices move with the exchange rate. Get the quote in writing with a date.
• 3. Is it new, refurbished or used? Ask the seller to write the condition on the receipt. "Brand new" at a used price is a warning sign; compare against our photocopy machine prices.

• 4. Which toner does it use, and what does it cost? Get the toner code and check what it costs locally. Toner is the biggest cost over the life of a copier.
• 5. How many pages does a toner cartridge print? Divide the price by the rated pages to get your cost per page, or use our cost-per-page calculator.
• 6. What other parts wear out, and what do they cost? Drums, fuser units and rollers need replacing after a certain number of pages. Ask roughly when, and the price.

• 7. Who services this machine, and how quickly can they come? Ask for the response time, the call-out fee and whether they service this brand regularly.
• 8. Is there a service contract, and what does it cover? Parts, labour, toner? A monthly fee? Read our guide to what a copier service contract should cover.
• 9. What does the warranty cover, for how long, and who honours it? Get it in writing. Ask whether the drum is covered, because it often isn't.

• 10. Can I see it working? Make copies from the glass and the document feeder, print from a laptop and scan to email or USB if you need those features.
• 11. For a used machine: what does the page counter show? A high count means expensive parts are due soon. Our used copier checklist shows how to check.
• 12. Is it right for my volume? Tell the seller how many pages you print a month. A small office printing a few hundred pages doesn't need an office copier at all; a desktop laser printer will do. A busy school or print shop needs a machine built for heavy use.

Put two or three quotes side by side and compare the total cost over the years you'll own the machine, not just the purchase price: price + toner and parts for your monthly pages + servicing. The cheapest machine to buy is often not the cheapest to own.

If a seller won't answer clearly or pushes you to pay a deposit before you've seen the machine, walk away. There are plenty of sellers in Ghana, and you can always ask us for three written quotes to compare.