Not all used copier wholesalers operate the same way. The difference between a good source and a bad one shows up in machine quality, shipping reliability, post-sale support, and whether you can actually reach someone when something goes wrong. Before you commit to a supplier, these are the questions that reveal what you’re actually buying into.
This guide is written for copier dealers, resellers, and businesses that buy used equipment in volume. Each question is followed by why it matters and how EBU answers it — so you can use this list to evaluate EBU directly, or hold any other wholesaler to the same standard.
Who Should Ask These Questions
Copier Dealers
Looking for a reliable wholesale source for resale inventory or customer placements
Resellers & Brokers
Sourcing equipment for specific customer orders or building spec inventory
Businesses Buying Direct
Purchasing multiple machines for a fleet or replacing equipment at scale
The 5 Questions to Ask Any Used Copier Wholesaler
How do you inspect and test machines before they ship?
The most important question in the list. The answer tells you everything about the quality of what you’ll receive.
Why this matters
A wholesaler who can’t describe a specific inspection and testing process either doesn’t have one or doesn’t think it’s worth describing. Both are problems.
The difference between a machine that’s been tested and one that hasn’t doesn’t show up until it’s in a customer’s office and producing error codes. By then, the cost is your time, your reputation, and a service call you shouldn’t have needed.
Ask specifically:
- Do you run test prints before shipping?
- Do you check for active error codes?
- Are drums, fusers, and developer units assessed?
- Are machines cleaned before they ship?
How EBU answers this
Every machine that comes through EBU’s facilities is inspected, cleaned, and run through print tests before it ships. We check for active error codes, assess consumable life, and note any mechanical issues. We’ve been doing this since 1982 — our reputation with long-term dealer customers depends on it.
We don’t ship machines we wouldn’t put in front of our own customers. If a machine has a known issue, we disclose it and price it accordingly rather than hoping the buyer doesn’t notice.
What are your shipping standards and how do you protect machines in transit?
Equipment damage in transit is more common than it should be. How a wholesaler ships tells you how much they care about what arrives.
Why this matters
A commercial copier weighs 100–300 lbs and has precision optics, drum units, and fuser assemblies that do not respond well to rough handling. A machine that ships poorly can arrive with glass damage, misaligned components, or transport damage that shows up on the first print job.
Ask specifically:
- Do you use air ride trucks or standard freight?
- How are machines wrapped and secured — bubble wrap, shrink wrap, corner boards?
- Can I request specific packaging for sensitive units?
- What is your transit damage rate and how do you handle claims?
- What is your typical delivery timeline?
How EBU answers this
EBU ships on air ride trucks, which dramatically reduces vibration and impact compared to standard freight. Every machine is bubble-wrapped, shrink-wrapped, and corner-boarded. Custom packaging is available on request for particularly sensitive equipment.
We guarantee next-week delivery on stocked inventory for domestic shipments. If a machine arrives with transit damage, we handle it — we don’t make customers fight an insurance claim on their own. That policy has been in place since the beginning because it’s the only way to build dealer relationships that last decades.
What is your return and satisfaction guarantee?
A wholesaler’s guarantee tells you exactly how confident they are in what they’re selling you.
Why this matters
No quality guarantee means the wholesaler has priced the risk of a bad machine into your purchase but kept all of it on your side. You absorb any problems that surface after delivery.
A strong guarantee isn’t just about getting your money back if something goes wrong — it signals that the wholesaler stands behind their inspection process because they know they’ll be on the hook if they didn’t do it right.
Ask specifically:
- Is there a money-back guarantee, and what are the conditions?
- What is the window for returns?
- Who pays for return shipping if a machine is defective?
- Are there exclusions buried in the terms?
How EBU answers this
EBU offers a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied with your shipment. We stand behind every machine we ship. If it doesn’t perform as described, we make it right.
This isn’t a marketing line — it’s a policy that has been in place since our founding. The dealers who have worked with us for 20 and 30 years are still here because when something went wrong over those decades, we fixed it without argument.
Who can I actually reach when I have a problem, and how fast?
Pre-sale responsiveness is easy. Post-sale support is where most wholesaler relationships break down.
Why this matters
When a machine arrives with a problem, you need answers fast — especially if it’s going into a customer placement the next day. A wholesaler who’s easy to reach before the sale but disappears after is one of the most common complaints in this industry.
The person who answers sales calls is not always the person who can solve logistics problems, authorize returns, or escalate an issue to ownership. Know who you can reach before you need them.
Ask specifically:
- Who is my direct contact for post-sale issues?
- Can I reach ownership if I have a significant problem?
- What is the response time commitment for issues after delivery?
- Do you have a dispatch team I can coordinate with directly?
How EBU answers this
At EBU you have access to all personnel — including ownership, the service manager, dispatch, and your sales representative — within one hour during business hours. We are a relationship business, not a transaction business.
Our best dealer relationships are with buyers who know they can pick up the phone and get a real answer from someone with the authority to solve the problem. That accessibility has been a core part of how we operate since 1982.
What programs do you offer for repeat buyers and volume accounts?
A wholesaler serious about long-term dealer relationships will have structured something for buyers who commit volume. If they haven’t, ask why.
Why this matters
If you’re a dealer who places 10, 20, or 50 units per month, you are a materially different customer than a one-time buyer. A wholesaler who treats both relationships identically either doesn’t understand their own business or isn’t interested in building a long-term partnership with you.
Incentive programs also reveal priority. A wholesaler who has invested in dealer loyalty programs has made a deliberate choice to retain their best accounts. One who hasn’t is probably more focused on transaction margin than relationship value.
Ask specifically:
- Do you offer volume pricing tiers?
- Are there first-look programs for desirable inventory?
- Do repeat customers get dedicated account management?
- Are there referral or loyalty incentives?
How EBU answers this
EBU offers incentive programs for volume accounts that are competitive with — and in many cases better than — what manufacturers offer their direct dealer networks. These include priority access to incoming inventory, volume pricing structures, and dedicated account relationships.
We’ve maintained dealer partnerships that span decades. The structure we’ve built around volume accounts reflects what it actually takes to make those relationships work for both sides over time. Contact us to discuss what makes sense for your volume and sourcing needs.
EBU answers yes to all five.
Every question above is one EBU has been able to answer clearly and specifically for over 40 years. Factory-trained technician inspection. Air ride shipping with full wrapping. No-questions-asked money-back guarantee. Direct access to ownership within 1 hour. Volume dealer incentive programs. If you are evaluating EBU against another wholesaler using this list, the answers above are not hypothetical — they reflect how we actually operate. Contact us and ask any of them directly.
Red Flags to Watch For
Beyond the answers to these five questions, there are signals that should give any buyer pause when evaluating a used copier wholesaler.
No described inspection process
If a wholesaler can’t tell you specifically how machines are tested before shipping, assume they aren’t being tested.
“As-is” with no return policy
Selling equipment with no recourse puts all risk on the buyer. A confident seller stands behind what they ship.
No answer on meter count
Every serious wholesaler knows the meter count on their inventory. Vague answers or refusal to disclose is a warning sign.
No direct post-sale contact
If your only channel after the sale is a generic support email, don’t expect fast resolution when something goes wrong.
Very new to the market
Track record matters in this business. A supplier without years of dealer relationships has no proven accountability.
Price that seems too low
Below-market pricing on commercial copiers almost always reflects undisclosed condition issues or non-existent inspection standards.
EBU at a Glance
For buyers who want a quick reference against these five criteria, here’s how EBU stacks up.
Equipment Brokers Unlimited
In business since 1982Looking for a wholesale copier source you can rely on? EBU works with dealers and resellers across the country. Call us at 800.711.2815 or email sales@ebu-llc.com to discuss your sourcing needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Equipment Brokers Unlimited
EBU has been buying and selling pre-owned commercial copiers since 1982. Every machine in our Certified Pre-Owned program is inspected by factory-trained technicians and backed by a 100% money-back guarantee for up to 30 days. We operate three warehouses nationwide, ship on air ride trucks, and provide direct access to ownership and management within 1 hour post-sale. Our international export network lets us move equipment — and pay more for it — than domestic-only buyers can.
In business since 1982 · 3 warehouses nationwide · All major brands · 100% money-back guarantee · 1-hour post-sale response
Work With a Wholesaler You Can Trust
EBU has supplied dealers and resellers with quality pre-owned copiers since 1982. Browse our inventory or contact our sales team to discuss your sourcing needs.