Shipping Back Your Leased Copier: Step By Step Instructions

Are you in the process of terminating your old copier’s lease? Were you informed that it is your responsibility to ship back your old copier, and now you’re left wondering just how to accomplish shipping a semi-fragile, 300-pound piece of equipment worth potentially tens of thousands of dollars?

Shipping back your copier to your former leasing agency can be a tedious process fraught with opportunity to make mistakes that lead to a shipping or delivery delay, which in turn can mean being saddled with another month’s bill from your financier.

After reading this three-minute blog, however, you’ll know every step and precaution you need to take to successfully ship back your old copier to your leasing agency.

HOW TO SHIP BACK YOUR OLD COPIER

Once your leasing agency has received your termination notice, they will send you ship back instructions. This will include: 

• The date that your copier must be received by (it’s important to note that this means the equipment is actually back in their inventory), 
• Rules for freight shipping 
• The amount of your lease that needs to be paid off to fully return the equipment
• The amount the equipment needs to be insured 
• Information detailing the responsibility to wipe your equipment’s data storage
• Instructions for how the equipment should be packed
• Contact information for possible shipping companies

Essentially, as long as you follow these instructions, there’s nothing to worry about. Even if your old copier is damaged on route, as long as you have insurance, you are not liable for any damages. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SHIP BACK A COPIER?

The amount it costs to ship back your old copier is heavily dependent on who you choose to use for shipping. On average, you can expect to spend up to $500 per copier shipped. 

SHIP BACK PITFALLS

While the ship back process is fairly straight forward, there is a balancing act between making sure your old copier is shipped in time to avoid another bill, and ensuring you have access to a copier without interruption. 

Although global shipping delays have gotten better as we make our way out of the pandemic, there is still the risk of a shipping delay affecting your new copier’s delivery date. If your old copier’s ship back date is scheduled, and that date comes before your new copier arrives, you’ll be left without the ability to copy, scan, and print.

When planning out your ship back schedule, ask yourself, “what’s more important — having the ability to print, copy, and scan without interruption, or not paying a monthly bill for my old equipment?”

Most often, we find that offices choose to play it safe and take on the extra month of their old copier’s lease, in order to ensure they have access to a copier. 

THE BUYBACK PROCESS

Shipping back an old copier to your financier is the second step in the entire end of lease buyback process. 

If you’d like to learn more about copier buybacks, read our blog, End of Lease Buyouts: Step By Step Instructions.