Many graphic designers and small businesses find that they are better served by a larger printer than by a third party printing company. This most often means they will need to find an A3 printer, as the A3 size paper is the most common size large printer, and is large enough for small signs, large pamphlets, and other pieces of printed material. The only problem is that A3 printers tend to cost more, because they are in less demand than the typical A4 printer that most people are familiar with, and their increased size requires specialized engineering. Luckily, there are a few key ways by which those who need to find an A3 printer can still save money.
The first is to find out what the ink consumption rate for the printer is, and how much replacement cartridges cost. During the lifetime of an average printer, the cost of replacement ink exceeds the initial cost of the printer by a full degree of magnitude. This is why ink refill systems and services have become so popular, and why many printer manufacturers subsidize the cost of their printer by selling ink cartridges. Since the A3 printer uses much more ink per page, as it is printing a much larger page, finding an A3 printer with high ink efficiency can save hundreds of dollars over the long term. Choosing a model with refillable cartridges may also net large savings, even if it increases the initial purchase price.
Another important way to save money is by purchasing used, refurbished or lower-end A3 printers. Because A3 printers are not as much in demand, and are only useful for specific applications, their technology does not advance as quickly as in A4 printers, and so new models usually do not offer great advantages over older models. Additionally, many A3 manufacturers try to increase profits by adding a number of unnecessary extras that can justify an increased price. A feature that is never used is not worth it at any price, and so by selecting a simpler or more stripped-down A3 printer, a buyer can save a lot on the initial purchase price.
