The sticker price is the smallest part of what an AED costs you. Over ten years, consumables, servicing and reliability decide the real bill, and on that measure the "cheap" device is often the most expensive thing on the wall.
Every AED's pads and batteries expire even if never used. What varies wildly is how often, and what the replacements cost. Compare two realistic ten year scenarios drawn from our NZ AED comparison:
| 10 year ownership | ZOLL AED Plus | Typical budget AED |
|---|---|---|
| Pad life | 5 years | 2 years |
| Battery type | Off-the-shelf type 123 lithium, 5 years | Proprietary pack, 2 to 5 years |
| Replacement actions in 10 years | 2 | 4 or 5 |
| 10 year consumables (NZD) | Pads $199 + batteries $125 | Pads $516+ and batteries $199 to $590+ |
Each replacement action is not just money: it is a chance for the device to silently sit expired on the wall because nobody noticed. Fewer cycles means fewer failure points.
Some brands require annual servicing plans or use proprietary battery packs only available from one importer. If the importer changes or exits the NZ market, your AED becomes unsupportable. Ask any supplier: what does year 7 cost, and who else can supply the parts? The ZOLL AED Plus needs no servicing plan and its batteries are standard Duracell CR123 cells.
The most expensive AED failure has no invoice: a device that does not work during a cardiac arrest. Budget devices with unknown certifications carry real risk here, as the CellAED recall demonstrated when thousands of devices across Australasia were recalled for potential failure to deliver therapy. Read our CellAED recall coverage and check any device's approvals against our approval ratings guide.
Cheap AEDs typically provide no real CPR feedback, just a beeping metronome. Since every cardiac arrest needs CPR but only about half need a shock, a device that cannot see or correct your compressions leaves the hardest part of the rescue unsupported. Clinical evidence links real-time CPR feedback to substantially better survival; see the evidence behind Real CPR Help®.
This is why we describe the ZOLL AED Plus as the lowest cost of ownership AED in New Zealand:
Do the maths before you buy. Ask for the 10 year cost of ownership in writing. We will happily provide ours, and the comparison, on 0800 55 99 55.
Get the true 10 year numbers for your site before you commit to any AED.
No obligation. No pressure. Just expert New Zealand advice on saving lives.
