Why is My Buyout so High?

When a lease for a Multi-Function Printer (MFP) is coming to a close, there can often be talks about buyout — and often, the question arises; “Why can my buyout be so expensive?”

Before we get any further, let’s define what a buyout is; simply put, a buyout is the amount of money that must be paid in order to satisfy a lease. Essentially, when you sign the contract for a lease, you’re promising to pay a certain amount of money, over a certain amount of time, in exchange for the use of the equipment. This is the same for a car lease, or any kind of lease — the lease for your MFP is no different.

Because a buyout is essentially terminating the previously-agreed-to lease contract, you’re paying the remainder to break the lease.

WHAT DOES A BUYOUT INCLUDE?

Buyouts can include the minimum number of payments left on your lease, the remaining tax, and the agreed-to service costs for that MFP. If you’re sticking with your current dealer, and you’re planning on keeping your old MFP in addition to your upgrade, you’ll need to satisfy your buyout. If you want to return your old MFP, however, you’ll only need to worry about shipping costs.

Sometimes, this shipping cost will be covered if you're sticking with your current dealer. If you’re switching dealers, however,  you may be responsible for the shipping cost.

DEALER BUYOUTS

Dealers will often try to buyout each other’s contracts — essentially paying for your company switching over to their services. If you’re unhappy with your current contract and dealer, this may be an option for you to take in order to speed up the process of finding a dealer and service provider that is suitable for your needs.

The dealer conducting the buyout on your behalf will usually pay for all of the items mentioned above — payments, tax, service, and shipping.

IF YOUR LEASE IS ENDING EARLY, IT’S ENDING WITH A BUYOUT

The further away you are from your lease’s maturity date, the higher your buyout will be. However, if your service or dealer is unfavorable, there may be another dealer willing to buyout your current contract. Be careful, however, as not all dealers are the same, and buyouts can be extremely tricky.