Put $400 into a used wide-format printer and it worked for about 3 weeks

I picked up a used HP DesignJet off Facebook Marketplace for $400 back in February. The guy said it was lightly used and just needed new ink cartridges. First two weeks were great, I was printing out full-size floor plans for a big commercial job. Then the printhead started acting up and now it's completely dead. Took it to a repair shop and they told me the part alone would cost more than I paid for the whole thing. Has anyone else tried buying used drafting printers or is it better to just rent when you need one?

2 comments

2 Comments

garcia.charles26d ago

Yep, been there. Renting is cheaper than buying someone else's problems.

the_cora26d ago

That line about "buying someone else's problems" really hits home. It seems like we're all just trading one set of headaches for another in life, whether it's renting, owning, or anything else. You fix one thing on a house and three more pop up, but with renting you deal with a landlord who takes their sweet time. At least with renting, the big stuff like a new roof or a broken furnace isn't your bill to pay. It's a trade off, but I think people forget that owning isn't always the golden ticket it's made out to be.