Do shredders have a good secondhand value?
Document destruction is only one of many potential uses for a paper shredder in the workplace. An effective shredder is an asset in any office because of its ability to destroy confidential documents while also facilitating a more organized environment.
While paper shredding is the most obvious use for a paper shredder, this versatile machine has many other applications. There is no type of confidential material that a shredder cannot handle. Secure and proper disposal options are available for all types of personal information, from expired credit cards to medical files. In addition to improving everyone’s peace of mind, a shredder can help any office run more smoothly by centralizing all of the trash and recycling bins. Developing routines for keeping the office tidy and clean through the use of a shredder is an excellent way to boost efficiency and output.
Shredders are machines that cut sensitive documents in specific patterns to prevent them from being pieced back together. They range from cross-cutting to diamond-cutting to confetti-cutting. Shredders, regardless of design, utilise metal blades to shred paper into irregular pieces. Blades wear out faster as they are exposed to paper dust continuously during cutting. To keep the blades sharp and the shredder running smoothly, users must regularly clean and oil them.
Paper shredders perform best when routinely and adequately maintained. The maintenance interval and methods vary by model, however, your purchase will include an instruction handbook with dos and don’ts for utilizing the shredder. Throughout this blog, we will be discussing whether secondhand shredders have good value.
Do you really need a new shredder or can you get by with a second-hand model?
Your shredder, like all other office equipment, is an investment. You want value for money and have peace of mind that the machine will operate and perform at the levels it claims to do.
Buying a secondhand shredder may seem like a fantastic way to save money without sacrificing performance compared to purchasing a brand new one. However, there are significant drawbacks to secondhand purchases, including higher costs and even security risks.
In South Africa, the protection of one’s right to personal privacy is taken very seriously. This includes the right to protection against the unauthorised collection, storage, dissemination, and use of the personal information of any individual.
The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act was enacted specifically for the purpose of safeguarding your private information in this manner. It regulates how personal information can be processed by setting minimal requirements to be legal.
Maintaining a workplace shredder is easy, and doing so will help prevent clogs and keep things going smoothly. Someone trying to sell you a used office shredder may not have given it the attention it needed. They probably overworked it, neglected to oil it regularly, and jammed it full of paper.
All of this means that by the time the used shredder arrives at your company, it will be past its prime.
In addition, you have no idea what the prior owner was shredding. You can assume that it won’t be in good condition if they crammed it full of staples, paperclips, or even other things like cardboard, especially if it was not designed to handle these materials.
Cutting heads can be damaged if these items are forced into a shredder, necessitating a costly repair or the purchase of a new machine.
In addition, if the previous owner neglected or abused the shredder, it can pose a significant risk to anyone using it. In fact, there have been reported cases of improperly maintained and aged paper shredders catching fire.
Putting yourself, your staff, and your customers in harm’s way only to save money is the last thing you should do.
A sharp and well-maintained shredder head is key to the effectiveness of your shredder. However, time isn’t the only factor to think about. Ultimately, the primary motivation for purchasing a paper shredder is the desire and legal requirements to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive documents.
However, the quality and size of your paper shreds will suffer when you use a worn-out, outdated shredder head. If this picture fits your shredder, know that crooks and other unsavory types can simply sift through your workplace trash and recover critical information.
During hectic times such as the end of the quarter, the conclusion of the fiscal year, or tax season, an employee’s shredding duties significantly increase at a time when the employee’s work load is already at its maximum capacity. If the individual you have assigned to shred your documents is being paid an hourly wage, and if the shredder they are using is not working properly, you may find yourself having to pay them extra charges in order for them to do the task.
With all of this in mind, we recommend that you rather opt to buy or hire a new shredder or consider a shredding service. Here at Digishred, we provide professional shredding services and goods at the lowest possible cost. Give us a call at 087 195 2108 today to learn more about our paper shredding services. Fill out the online form on our site today if you’d like some guidance in selecting the ideal shredder for your needs.
To find out more about our range of shredders for sale, get in touch with a consultant online. We also offer SME finance options to assist small and medium companies to operate efficiently. If you’re in need of shredder rentals or shredding services, we will gladly advise and give you a free quote.
