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How to Buy a Color Laser Printer

How to · Tech

How to Buy a Color Laser Printer

Get a color laser multifunction printer for your home office during August sales without paying interest.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $550 before anything else
Across the 0% window $30.56/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $550 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

You need a reliable color laser multifunction printer that handles heavy printing, scanning, and copying without jamming every other week. A good machine should last five to seven years, meaning you are investing in a daily workhorse rather than a disposable piece of plastic you replace next autumn.

August is the sweet spot for office gear because back-to-school sales overlap with late-summer clearances. Watch for manufacturers dropping newer model numbers, which is your cue to snap up last year's version at a steep discount with the exact same core performance.

That 18-month window is a hard deadline, not free money, and any leftover balance when it ends will trigger standard interest charges on what you bought.

The steps

  1. 01

    Target the August sales window

    Retailers slash prices on home office gear in early August as back-to-school shopping heats up. Check prices across three major office supply stores to find the real floor price before buying.

  2. 02

    Buy last year's model

    Printer manufacturers release minor updates yearly that rarely justify the price jump. Grab the previous generation model on clearance because the print engine and toner costs are usually identical.

  3. 03

    Spread the cost with Citi

    You can use the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card to get 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. Spreading that $550 price tag across the intro window on purchases comes out to about $30.56 per month.

  4. 04

    Factor in toner costs

    Laser printers look cheap upfront until you have to buy a full set of replacement toner cartridges. Look at the cost per page of third-party or OEM cartridges before you pull the trigger on a specific brand.

  5. 05

    Test the footprint

    Color laser multifunction printers are heavy and take up a massive amount of desk or shelf space. Measure your workspace carefully so you are not stuck balancing a 50-pound machine on a flimsy table.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Is a color laser printer actually cheaper than inkjet for a home office?

Yes, if you print regularly because laser toner does not dry out like inkjets do. You pay more upfront, but your cost per page drops significantly over the life of the machine.

What does multifunction mean for a printer?

It means the machine prints, scans, copies, and sometimes faxes all in one unit. You get an automatic document feeder for multi-page scanning, which saves hours compared to flatbed scanning.

How do I make sure I get the full 18 months?

The 0% period starts from the date of account opening, so make sure you open the card right around when you buy the printer. Mark your calendar for a month before the window closes so you clear the balance in time.

Do I need a network card or Wi-Fi?

Most modern home office printers have Wi-Fi built in so you can print directly from phones and laptops. Avoid wired-only models unless your printer sits directly next to your router with an ethernet cable.