Printhead, inks and tanks, filters, software, warranty: the five checks before buying a used shopping bag printer, the test that matters most, and the refurbished GreenBox EVO in our demo room.
A used shopping bag printer costs less than a new one and, if it has been properly refurbished, prints like the first day. The risk lies in what you cannot see: a printhead at the end of its life, old inks in the circuit, filters never changed, nobody answering when it stops. Before buying, five things are worth checking, and the most important one is seeing it print your bags.
This guide is for those who want to bring shopping bag and paper bag printing in-house with a lower investment and are considering a used machine. The checks apply to any single-pass printer with water-based inks. At the end you will find the used GreenBox EVO we have in the demo room, refurbished with a new printhead, filters, inks and tanks.
Why used machines of this kind are rare
Single-pass printers for bags and boxes have been on the market for a few years and those who buy them tend to keep them. Used ones mostly come from trade-ins, when a customer moves up to a bigger machine, or from the end of a rental. That is why the machines available are few and not always there. The upside is that they have a known history: whoever sold them new knows how they worked and with which inks.
The five checks before you buy
1. The printhead. It is the component that costs the most and that wears out: bags come out well or badly depending on the head. Ask whether it is the original or has been replaced, how much it has printed and whether a new head is included in the price. A used machine with an old head can cost little today and a lot in six months.
2. Inks and tanks. Water-based inks have an expiry date and, if the machine stands idle, they dry in the nozzles and in the circuit. Check the date of the inks on board and ask whether the tanks are new or the previous owner's. A machine left for months with ink inside has more problems than one that printed every day.
3. Filters and circuit. Between tank and head the ink passes through filters. If they have not been changed, impurities reach the new head and ruin it. Ask what the refurbishment includes: new filters, flushed circuit, nozzle test at the end of the work.
4. Software, PC and updates. The printer works with a PC and printing software. Check that they are included, that the software is up to date and that you can use it with your files. Also ask for the user manual in your language and an hour of training on delivery.
5. Warranty and service. A used machine without service is a risk: ask who intervenes if it stops, how quickly, and whether spare parts are available. The machines in our used range are refurbished, tested and covered by a 6-month warranty, with service and spare parts from our Sesto San Giovanni site.
The check that matters most: seeing it print
No list replaces a test. Bring your plain bags to the demo room and have them printed on the machine you are considering: you see the quality on your materials, the time for a batch and how it behaves when the artwork changes. If the machine cannot be tried, that is a warning sign.
The used GreenBox EVO in our demo room
The used machine we propose for shopping bags is a GreenBox EVO, our single-pass printer with HP PageWide technology: 30 m/min, 1200 × 1200 dpi, 300 mm print width, media up to 70 cm and up to 12 cm thick. It prints shopping bags, paper bags, envelopes and boxes in four-colour process with water-based inks. It is the same machine you see in the video in the article on shopping bag printers.
The refurbishment covers the four points in the list above: new printhead, new filters, new inks and new tanks. The machine is tested in the demo room and covered by a 6-month warranty. It costs €32,000 excluding VAT, against €41,800 for a new one. Availability and details are on the certified used machines page: used machines are few, so if you are interested ask first whether it is still available.
Used or new: how to decide
The comparison has to be made with new. A new GreenBox EVO starts at €41,800 excluding VAT, or from €651.24 a month on lease with 71 instalments and a 10% deposit; the ThunderBox, the entry model for up to 15,000 bags a month, starts at €29,600 or from €461.17 a month. You will find the instalments for every term and the payback calculator on the prices page.
Used makes sense if you want the bigger machine with a lower outlay, or if you prefer to buy without financing. New makes sense if you want leasing and the incentives on capital goods, such as the 2026 hyper-depreciation, which requires a new asset. If you already have a machine, we value it free of charge for a trade-in.
Try it with your own bags
Come and print your bags in our demo room in Sesto San Giovanni, Milan: the used GreenBox EVO is running next to the new machines, and in half an hour you compare quality and timing on your materials. Call +39 02 4943 9417 or ask for information from the used machines page.
Sources
- Print Solution certified used machines page, October 2026.
- GreenBox EVO product sheet, Print Solution.
- Prices and lease instalments: Print Solution prices page, October 2026.
