How to Buy a High-Volume Fax Machine

Need to send and receive a lot of faxes? Then you need a high-volume fax machine, which can transmit a great deal of information in a short time. It requires an investment, however, and should be user-friendly to accommodate several skill levels.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Dedicated phone line

Buying a High-volume Fax

1. Determine where the fax machine will be located, and check that there's a phone line dedicated for its use; if you plan on faxing a number of jobs a day, you won't want the machine sharing a line.

2. Set a budget: high--volume machines can range from $200 to $1300, or more.

3. Estimate the daily fax volume. This will give you an idea of how long you can wait for information to transmit, and how much paper you need the machine to handle at once.

4. Find a machine with automatic redial, speed dial, auto phone/fax switchover, multiple-location faxing and Caller ID compatability. Some faxes have an activity journal to track jobs as well.

5. Look for laser-print technology; it's faster than inkjet printing and gives a higher-quality product.

6. Check the modem speed on the fax machine and see that you have the technology to match the capacity.

7. Look at the warranty--is there is a way to service the machine should it break down? Get the service-line number and put it on the machine so that glitches can be seen to right away.

8. Install the fax machine and perform a test run. Report any problems to the company. Keep all packaging in case you need to return the machine.

Tips & Warnings

• For a fax machine that is being used by several people in an office situation, it is helpful to have a list of common problems and fixes posted nearby to help streamline operation.
• Fax machines vary in their paper capacity, feed capacity and fax memory; you will want to compare those numbers with your needs.
• A higher price doesn't necessarily signify a better product. That's why comparing features is a necessity.