New vs Imported Used Printer in Pakistan — Which Is Smarter?
Walk into any computer market in Rawalpindi and you'll see two very different things sold at the same price: a brand-new, boxed HP entry-level printer, and an imported, used HP workgroup laser. People assume 'new' is the safe choice. For light home use it can be — but for anyone who prints regularly, the imported machine is almost always the better buy. Here's why, with real numbers.
What 'imported' actually means
Imported printers are units retired from offices in the US, Europe and the Gulf — typically leased machines swapped out on a schedule, not broken ones. They were built for 50,000–275,000 pages a month and most have used a fraction of that. Reputable sellers test them, replace worn parts, clean the paper path and show you the lifetime page count. That last bit is the whole game: how to buy a used printer safely is mostly about insisting on the page count and a test print.
Same money, very different machines
| New: [HP LaserJet 108a](/printers/hp-laserjet-108a) | Imported: [HP LaserJet Pro M404dn](/printers/hp-laserjet-pro-m404dn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (approx.) | PKR 33,500 | PKR 34,000 |
| Speed | 20 ppm | 38 ppm |
| Double-sided (duplex) | No — manual | Yes, automatic |
| Connectivity | USB only | Gigabit Ethernet (share with the whole office) |
| Toner cartridge | 107A family — ~1,000 pages | 59A ~3,000 / 59X ~10,000 pages |
| Monthly duty cycle | ~10,000 pages | 80,000 pages |
| Paper tray | 150 sheets | 250 + 100 sheets |
| Warranty | Manufacturer (via distributor) | Printerwaala 7-day replacement + 3-month service |
The gap on toner is what hurts most. A 1,000-page cartridge means you're buying toner every few weeks if you print daily; a 10,000-page 59X means once or twice a year. Over two years, the 'cheaper' new printer can cost more in cartridges than the printer itself. Our HP toner guide has the cartridge and yield for every model.
When new is the right call
- You print very little — a few pages a month — and want zero history on the machine.
- You need Wi-Fi and a tiny footprint for a bedroom or dorm (e.g. HP LaserJet M107w).
- You need colour ink-tank with an official warranty — the HP Smart Tank 585 has no used equivalent.
- Company policy requires new assets with a manufacturer invoice.
When imported is the right call
- You print regularly — assignments, invoices, documents, a thesis.
- You want duplex, a network port, or an ADF scanner without paying new-office-printer money (PKR 100k+).
- You care about cost per page. Workgroup and enterprise cartridges are several times cheaper per page.
- You want a machine built to run for years — these were designed for offices, not for price points.
The risk with imported printers isn't the technology, it's the seller. Buy only where the page count is shown, you can test-print before paying, and there's a warranty from a real shop. That's the reason every Printerwaala unit is delivered Cash on Delivery — inspect first, then pay.
What we check before an imported printer is listed
- Full test print for streaks, fading, ghosting and registration.
- Paper feed: multi-page and duplex runs from every tray.
- Connectivity: USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi where fitted, plus scan/copy/fax on MFPs.
- Rollers, fuser and drum inspected; consumables replaced if worn.
- Cleaned inside and out, page count recorded and shown on the listing.
Ready to compare? See used printers in Islamabad, used printers in Rawalpindi, or the full printer price list — new and imported side by side.
Printers mentioned in this guide
View all →Live prices and stock — every unit tested, warrantied, Cash on Delivery in Rawalpindi & Islamabad.
Frequently asked questions
Is an imported used printer better than a new printer in Pakistan?
For regular printing, usually yes. At the same price an imported HP workgroup laser (e.g. M402dne, M404dn) gives far higher speed, automatic duplex, a network port and cartridges that yield 3,000–10,000 pages versus ~1,000 on a new entry printer. New makes sense for very light use or when you need a manufacturer invoice.
How long do imported printers last?
Office-class HP lasers are rated for 50,000–275,000 pages a month and often arrive with a small fraction of that used. With the page count shown and a 3-month service warranty, a certified unit commonly runs for many more years.
Do imported printers come with a warranty?
From Printerwaala, yes — 7-day replacement plus a 3-month service warranty, backed by our repair workshop in Rawalpindi, with Cash on Delivery so you inspect before paying.
Is toner available for imported HP printers in Pakistan?
Yes — the common cartridges (05A, 26A, 59A, 80A, 78A, 89A, 37A and others) are widely stocked in Rawalpindi and Islamabad as genuine, compatible and refill options.
Tested, warrantied, Cash on Delivery in Rawalpindi & Islamabad.