5 PRINTER LEASE TRAPS TO AVOID

The Trap:

Buried in paragraph 14.3 (or similar) is language that automatically renews your lease for the FULL ORIGINAL TERM unless you cancel in a specific 30-60 day window. Miss that window by one day? You're locked in for another 3-5 years.

Real Valley Example:

A Woodland Hills law firm tried to cancel their Canon lease 45 days before expiration. Too late - they were locked into another 5 years at $450/month. Total cost of missing the window: $27,000.

How to Escape:

• Mark your calendar for 100 days before lease expiration
• Send cancellation notice via certified mail with return receipt
• Get written confirmation of cancellation acceptance
• Never trust verbal promises from your rep

The Trap:

They advertise "only 1¢ per page" but that's only for your included pages. Go over by even one page and suddenly you're paying 5-10¢ per page for EVERYTHING, not just the overage. Plus, they often retroactively charge the higher rate for all previous months.

How The Math Tricks You:

Real Valley Example:

A Tarzana dental office printed 5,100 pages one month (just 100 over). Their bill jumped from $200 to $510 because the overage rate applied to all 5,100 pages, not just the extra 100.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Never sign a contract with overage fees above 2¢ per page
• Demand overage charges apply only to excess pages
• Get monthly usage reports to track patterns
• Consider buying a printer - no overage fees ever

The Trap:

Want out of your lease early? You'll owe the "present value of all remaining payments" PLUS a "remarketing fee" PLUS "collection costs." For a typical 5-year lease, that's often $10,000-$15,000.

Real Valley Example:

An Encino marketing firm wanted to cancel their Xerox lease after 2 years (3 years remaining). The termination fee: $14,500. They're still stuck in the lease because they can't afford to leave.

The Only Legal Escapes:

• Default by lessor: If they fail to maintain the equipment
• Breach of contract: If they change terms without notice
• Force majeure: Natural disasters, acts of God
• Bankruptcy: Not recommended but legally ends the lease

Better Solution:

Buy a printer outright for $1,500-$3,000. No contracts, no termination fees, you own it forever. We can show you models that match leased printer quality at 70% less total cost.

The Trap:

Two years into your 5-year lease, they offer a "free upgrade" to a newer model. Sounds great? That "upgrade" restarts your entire contract for another 5 years, often at a higher monthly rate. You just added 3 years to your prison sentence.

How They Sell It:

"Mr. Business Owner, great news! You qualify for our latest model at no additional charge. Same monthly payment, brand new equipment!"

What Actually Happens:

• Your 3 remaining years become 5 new years
• The monthly rate often increases 10-20%
• Early termination penalties reset to maximum
• All negotiated discounts disappear
• Service fees mysteriously increase

Real Valley Example:

A Chatsworth construction company accepted a "free upgrade" in year 2. Their $300/month lease became $380/month for 5 MORE years. Total extra cost: $10,800.

The Defense:

Never accept equipment changes mid-lease. If your printer works, keep it. If it doesn't work, demand repair under your service agreement. Upgrades are NEVER free.

The Trap:

You're paying for "equipment insurance" ($30-50/month) AND a "service agreement" ($100-200/month), but neither covers what you think. Insurance doesn't cover repairs. Service doesn't cover supplies. You're paying twice for incomplete coverage.

What You're Paying For:

Real Valley Example:

A Sherman Oaks real estate office paid $190/month for insurance and service. When their printer needed a $300 repair, they were told it wasn't covered. They paid $2,280/year for essentially nothing.

The Truth:

• Your business insurance already covers equipment loss
• Modern printers rarely need service if bought quality
• Local repair shops charge $150-300 per visit (not monthly)
• You're paying $2,000+/year for maybe one $300 repair