Anyone have success selling used printer / copier fuser assembly or imaging drums?

Does anyone have any experience selling used fuser assembly units or imaging drum units from printers and copiers? I just started to collect the fusers to sell and some do sell pretty good. I have not yet sold to one of the national buyers yet, but sold through ebay a few times. I have noticed some people have sold used fuser assembly units (needing to be refurbished) on ebay for upwards of $50.00 - $100 each. I didn't quite have that kind of success, but more like a lot of 3 for $20 to $25 plus shipping costs. Does anyone have anything insightful as far as selling these successfully. I currently have a huge one in my garage that is nearly 2 feet long from a large copier. I have about 20 more of these things and would like to find out any good success stories on selling. I get many of these and would like to know of any good advice. Has anyone used any of the national buyers like MetroFusers, LaserPros or RecycleCores? If so, what was your experience going through the buyers?

I've sold a couple on eBay over the years, but like you, I didn't make the "big bucks" on them, but I did alright. If you can access it, a printout from the printer stating the fuser life is very important- condition matters.

Oh, and don't forget other parts on the printer, such as Xerox solid inks, photodeveloper units, and secondary trays. They can sometimes be sold too.

I have not sold these on ebay, but most of the cartridge buyers will pay for them.

Sold a 4-in-1 to a neighbor for one of his coworkers at $40 and got a dozen cupcakes from lady who gets to use it exclusively.

Thanks for the tip. I have been only taking ink cartridges and pcb's from printers, usually with a hammer. I had no idea print fusers and other components have resale value. Now, disassembly will be a little more gentle.

Rule of thumb: If it once was white.. and now it's yellow.. scrap it.
Sold a Photo Printer not too long ago. USED but with original box.
Sold an Oki that was new in box.

Other than that.. most are scrap fodder.
Have tried to sell brand new toner of pretty much every brand, make and model.. never sold a one!

Sledge's rule is almost always true, but keep an eye on the parts of older commercial machines, like the Gestestner-type copiers. Some of those parts still have some value. Older laser printers like the LaserJet 4100, are just obsolete.

Something I have figured out is to look and see what has sold on ebay before taking the printer or copier apart. People will buy duplexers, paper drawers (cassettes), drum units, paper feeders, scanners, fusers, cartridges, boards, and other parts. I believe sometimes you can make more money selling used printers in parts than selling it as a whole unit.

Parts are easier to ship, too!

At work, I run an HP LaserJet 4200. It's over 10 years old and has over 175k on the page counter, but it will do 30ppm output. That's overkill for me, but I won't complain! I use it because I have it. After figuring the cost of a newer unit, a new basic monochrome Xerox wouldn't cost much (If any) more than my HP. But, I already have it. Other people have older printers too, and need parts.

It's not that nobody wants a LaserJet 4200, it's that nobody wants to pay $60 to ship it when a brand new laser can be had for around $100. a $20 fuser isn't a big deal, whereas a $100 purchase is.

Toner cartridges are pretty easy to sell if it's OEM and not obsolete. I sell 99% of the new cartridges I receive through eBay. You will not get retail price selling the cartridges, but I have sold hundreds of new (sealed) toner and ink cartridges for usually 50%-75% of retail. I have tried selling on Craigslist, but with a lot less success. People buying through Craigslist usually expect garage sale prices. I have sold a lot of OEM out of packages that were unused and many ink cartridges well past expiration. Everything I get is free, so I don't stress any kind of markup to make profit. On rare occasion a cartridge will not sell, usually due to being too old (machine in near extinction) or it being a compatible. I have sold thousands of (OEM) empty cartridges, which add up quickly when receiving $0.50-$22.00 each. I am starting to believe that the cartridge business may be more profitable than scrapping, but of course I am just a beginner with the scrapping. I have a very unique situation with cartridge collection, so I yield a lot with very little effort, plus 100% of what I get is free. I do help schools out however with cartridge recycling fundraising projects.

I talk to people who love their older HP workhorse machines such as the 4200 better than newer models. I have a garage full of machines like that, and people still want to buy them. I have sold several machines on eBay, but shipping them can be a nightmare. Even though a customer pays for shipping, it's packaging them that isn't fun (since I never have the original box)

I gave a family member a LaserJet 4100 to use for personal printing at her job so she's not using company money. She likes it more than the new HP MFP that they have. Those older LaserJets are some of the best "worthless" printers out there! 20PPM, large toners, and reliably built. If only HP made them like that today!

I think the problem with some people looking to sell toner is the prices. They expect $100 toner sales. That won't happen, but NIB toner is very easy to photograph for eBay, and it's already boxed up. All you do is slap a label on it and send it. Toner sales are some of the easiest sales that you can have!

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Originally Posted by vandgary

I talk to people who love their older HP workhorse machines such as the 4200 better than newer models. I have a garage full of machines like that, and people still want to buy them. I have sold several machines on eBay, but shipping them can be a nightmare. Even though a customer pays for shipping, it's packaging them that isn't fun (since I never have the original box)

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I would put it in a loosely fitting plastic bag and surround it with shipping peanuts. Shake it and add until the peanuts will no longer settle. Ship it FedEx with their insurance.