Five Things You Should Know

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Finding the right paper shredder is really quite simple. All you have to know is five critical steps before making your investment. Businesses and consumers typically ignore these important factors and often buy the wrong shredder. This costs them money and exposes them to potential attempts at fraud.

Do you need a paper shredder? If so, you may want to pay close attention to what I'm about to tell you, it could save you a good chunk of change and legal fees. Most people who buy a shredder often try to get by with the cheapest model they can find, only to have it break down in a short period of time or discover too late that their machine is sorely inadequate.

Following these five key shredder buying steps will save you time, money, liability, and a lot of frustration:

Step 1:

First ask yourself. "What do I mostly need to shred?" This seems like a no-brainer, but it's important to take a minute to think about the stuff you typically shred. Is it mostly computer printer paper, invoices, receipts, etc.? Make a note of the items you regularly shred and move on to the next step.

Step 2:

Shredder volume. How much shredding are you doing each day? Are you shredding reams of paper or just a few sheets? This will help you find a machine that can keep up with your workload.

Step 3:

Security. Are you shredding sensitive material? If you run a business, you are responsible for shredding customer information including transaction receipts and other vulnerable documents. If a dumpster diver pulls this kind of information from your garbage bin out back, you may be liable for losses and damages.

Step 4:

Oil your shredder. Hardly anyone follows this critical step. Oiling your shredder on a regular basis will preserve the shred head and double the life of your shredder. A good rule of thumb is to oil your shredder at least once a week (depending on your shredding volume).

Step 5:

Buy a paper shredder that comes with a good warranty. Most reputable brands will warranty the heads on your shredder for at least a couple of years. And be sure to buy from a retailer that offers service and technical support after the sale.

Useful Links:
Helpful Fraud Prevention Guide
About this Author:
For more information on how to find the right shredder for you, visit the <a href="http://www.officezone.com/shredder_guide.htm" target="_blank" title="Shredder Guide">shredder guide</a> at Office Zone.
View more information and all guides by Morgan Cloward

Comments

Paper shredders are one of the best defenses against identity theft. I recently purchased one myself. I bought one of those cross-cutting shredders, which I believe will be much more effective. In this day and age everyone should have a paper shredder.

Dave Caldarelli's picture
By Dave Caldarelli 13 weeks 5 days