If you’re considering investing in a UV direct-to-object printer for your business, getting a good manufacturer’s warranty is critical. Unfortunately, many people don’t pay much attention to the warranty — which can end up being a costly mistake that reduces profitability and compounds problems over time, especially when the warranty period expires.
Although it may seem a bit overwhelming, you should read the entire warranty carefully (even the fine print — make that , especially the fine print) before purchasing a UV printer. This will help to ensure that there are no nasty surprises in store for you when something goes wrong with your UV printer, only to find that the problem is not actually covered by the warranty.
We’ll provide you with a little guidance so that you can concentrate on the parts of the warranty that prove to be most important in saving you money if you encounter problems with your UV printer down the line. Here are three factors you should carefully consider to help ensure you get the right warranty when purchasing a printer.
1. Length of warranty
The warranty term is crucial when assessing your total cost of ownership (TCO). That’s because costly repairs that are no longer covered by the warranty can end up greatly reducing your return on investment (ROI). In fact, having an acceptable TCO is the key to ensuring that you generate the maximum return on your invested capital.
All major printer manufacturers offer at least a one-year warranty on new printers — but longer warranty terms have become common with some of the more aggressive brands on the market today. For example, LogoJET offers a three-year warranty. Obviously, the longer the warranty term, the better it will be for your business in the long run.
The bottom line is, when assessing the length of the warranty, you should ask yourself if it will be worth it to purchase a printer with only a one-year warranty — especially if it has a costly breakdown after the warranty expires. In most cases, it’s worth it to purchase a top-of-the-line brand so you have the peace of mind and security of knowing that you’re covered by a solid, long-term warranty.
2. What’s covered and what’s not?
Even if you have an extended warranty on your UV printer, it won’t do you any good if it doesn’t cover the actual printer parts that break down or need to be replaced. That’s why it’s vital to carefully read the warranty to find out what is covered and what is not. Many times, some of the most expensive components in the printer (such as the print heads) are not covered under the warranty — so you’ll end up having to pay for costly replacement parts and repair services. Print head coverage can offer huge savings and help you sleep better at night with an extra cushion. Once again, having an extended warranty simply makes more sense in the long run and eliminates the risks you undertake when you only have a one-year warranty on your UV printer.
3. Check the maintenance schedule
Many people don’t realize that failure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for your printer can actually void the warranty. Check to see how often maintenance and/or regular replacement of key parts is required — and take into consideration the costs of these parts as well as labor. In addition, maintenance causes downtime, which also costs you money. So, if the printer you purchase is high maintenance, it may significantly reduce your profitability over the long term.
Maintenance is considered a preventative function to keep your printer running efficiently and prevent any costly unplanned downtime from unexpected equipment failure. LogoJET recommends a simple 10-minute procedure at the end of each week to provide maximum uptime and stop problems before they occur.
The following are a few very important questions to ask yourself when preparing to purchase a UV printer. These questions will help guide you through the selection process and help you to make the best choice for overall quality as well as a warranty that fits your specific printing and production needs.
- What can I expect after the warranty expires with service?
(Image courtesy LogoJET) - Does the manufacturer provide extended warranty options, and what is the cost?
- What specific parts can I expect to replace during the warranty period?
- What are the top three parts that require replacement during and after the warranty period?
For more information and other important factors to consider when purchasing a UV printer, download the eBook, 4 Major Considerations for Buying a UV Printer.
