Opinions on repairing or replacing JV3

[Scotchbrite]

We have a JV3 that is ready for 2 head replacements. Also the last time we had it service, the tech thought we probably needed to have the drive belt replaced. We should do a capping station and pumps as well.

We have a new HP that we are using for a majority of printing but we do have enough work to need a second printer. I'm curious if you all think it would be worth spending to them money to repair the JV3 or if at this point in its life (over 7yrs old) it's worth spending the money the repairs will cost.

FYI: according to the serial number and dates this machine would have been but into service January 2005. We bought in 2006 as a 1 year-old demo/floor model. One of the heads that needs to be replace is still the original. The other head is one we replaced 2yrs ago.

I just don't know how long these things are expected to last.

Thoughts?

TIA
Scott

 

[MikePro]

shoot if you have a working printer, of a different brand/model, i'd say its worth it just to simply sell it off to the highest bidder. you can even sit on it for a while and just print black out of the two heads, if the right deal doesn't come along.

I'd hate having more than one make/model simply for the need to have completely different sets of perishable ink supplies.
that being said, i can't wait for the ISA show this spring! Finally time to upgrade our printer! (if you can wait long enough, I'd sell you my fully-functional mimaki JV3 and you can keep yours around for spare parts)

 

[CS-SignSupply-TT]

This scenario begs the question: UV or Solvent or Latex? I agree with MikePro, SGIA Vegas 10/18-20 2012 -or- ISA Vegas 4/3-6 2013 These two shows will help you determine your core business and the core technology that will help you be more profitable. Technology rarely increases top line sales. Rather, it is outstanding customer service which builds sales and customer loyalty. IMHO...heh!heh!heh!

 

[tylercrum]

For what it's worth. I have an HP latex that's been down for a solid month now because a part is on back order from HP. (it's the older l25500 and it's been out of warranty for 18 months or so now) I would give anything to have an old JV3 in the corner that I could fire up and start printing...

 

[Scotchbrite]

For what it's worth. I have an HP latex that's been down for a solid month now because a part is on back order from HP. (it's the older l25500 and it's been out of warranty for 18 months or so now) I would give anything to have an old JV3 in the corner that I could fire up and start printing...

Yeah, that's part of the decision. Do we spend the money so we can have a machine around "just in case". I feel like we need to get production out of it to justify the expense. Plus we need to run the JV3 so it doesn't get "plugged" up sitting there circulating (wasting) ink.

There have already been a couple of times our vendor was out of stock on an ink color we needed for the HP 26500. I think part of that was because they hadn't gotten up to full swing on stocking their shelves for the new machine. But it's annoying when there is complete silence from the printing room in the middle of the day and you know it's because no work is getting done.

 

[Scotchbrite]

shoot if you have a working printer, of a different brand/model, i'd say its worth it just to simply sell it off to the highest bidder. you can even sit on it for a while and just print black out of the two heads, if the right deal doesn't come along.

I'd hate having more than one make/model simply for the need to have completely different sets of perishable ink supplies.
that being said, i can't wait for the ISA show this spring! Finally time to upgrade our printer! (if you can wait long enough, I'd sell you my fully-functional mimaki JV3 and you can keep yours around for spare parts)

I do think we could get a little money for ours as it sits right now. But I also know of 2 other shops in our area that have JV3's sitting in a corner collecting dust because they upgraded to JV33's.

 

[CS-SignSupply-TT]

Perhaps you could set up the JV3 to print on a handful of core media? Perhaps you could designate one printer as your SAME DAY printer and the other to be your VOLUME printer?

 

[Robert M]

Jv33?

If you decide to sell it or repair it give us a call. We repair Mimaki printers here in Denver.
Signage Specialist Inc
303-733-6671

That printer is worth up to 5000.00 on a trade in toward a new JV33

 

[TheSnowman]

I just had to make the same call a few months ago. I had a JV3 that was 7 years old, and I was coming in every day wondering if I'd be able to print or not. I'd been replacing a few dampers, and just was tired of messing with it.

I bit the bullet and just bought a new JV33. Best decision I'd ever made. I've been crazy busy with tight deadlines like never before for some reason, and I have a feeling that thing would have put me in a bad place had I kept it. I sold it and got $3,500 out of it.

 

[Scotchbrite]

Well it might be worth more than I realize to sell it.

If you decide to sell it or repair it give us a call. We repair Mimaki printers here in Denver.
Signage Specialist Inc
303-733-6671

That printer is worth up to 5000.00 on a trade in toward a new JV33

Do you make house calls? We're an hour north of Denver.