Our trusty old office fax machine broke and I’m debating whether to replace it or have my team take the leap and convert to internet-based faxing. What are the pros and cons of using a fax machine?
It’s true that fax machines require a phone line and periodic maintenance, which is why internet faxing has become a more attractive option over the years. Honestly, you’ve probably used internet faxing at least once, since it’s a cheap and easy alternative. Internet faxing just requires an email address, an internet connection, and a digital file (or a scanner to create one).
While I would recommend using internet fax, you should weigh the costs and benefits yourself.
Fax Machine Pros:
– Ease of Use: Once you have a fax machine, it makes faxing quick and simple. You don’t have to scan and save documents–just sign and send them.
– Installation: Setting up a fax machine often just means plugging it into a phone line, which is fairly straightforward.
– Always Ready: If your fax machine is on, you’ll receive a fax without a problem, no matter the time of day.
Fax Machine Cons:
– Analog vs. Digital: Fax machines send information along an analog transmission, meaning you’re not getting the highest quality image. You can end up with smudged, blurry, or obscured information that way.
– Busy Signals: If your line is in use, you might not receive a fax being sent to you.
– Maintenance: Fax machines are machines, and machines break.
– Cost: You can get dinged with long distance charges that build up on your calling plan without your realizing it.
Internet faxing services are nice because you have a lot of options. You can choose from pay-as-you-go services or monthly subscriptions. If you’re a small business that only does faxing irregularly, you can actually send up to three free faxes per day with FaxZero.com. If you’re a bigger operation that needs multiple lines, accounts, and bulk faxing, you can find a lot of good options with the FaxPrices.com fax guide.
Do you have a question about faxing? Send me your fax question.Do you have a question about faxing? Send me your fax question.