Month: July 2017

While the initial price is important, it is a “present day cost” for the customer and it should reflect the value of the next 5-10 year experience with: the equipment, service, customer service, on-going support, parts availability, and future operating costs, and what that is worth to the customer. 

It is important to note that many customers don’t consider the “future costs” of their copier and what their actual costs could from if they don’t conduct their due diligence on their vendor:

• 5-10 years of 15% annual price escalations (which some vendors add)
• Frequent and lengthy downtime
  Slow service response times
• Inept service technicians
• Deceptive contracts & clauses
• Hidden fees (for toner, shipping, miscellaneous)
• Having your service contract sold to a 3^rd party vendor
• Potential dissolution of your vendor due to bankruptcy (a real possibility for a few of the biggest to vendors in the industry; won’t name any but Google can)
• Constant customer support turnover, hurting your their competence and your customer experience

 

How can you avoid these downsides and future complications?

Simple.

Conduct your due diligence and research your vendor.

• Try to avoid small dealers as their potential for supporting you in the future is uncertain.
• Avoid big names that are experiencing company-wide struggles, and while it may not seem threatening to your company now, which is why you have to think longterm. You probably want your organization to grow and prosper,  so wouldn’t it make sense to partner with a vendor with the strongest balance sheet? This way you can rest assured that no corners will be cut and that you can expect the  same level of support 10 years down the road.
• Ask for references near by or in your building. See of any of them are in the same industry as you. Ask them the above questions.

While there is no ideal game plan I can give to you to do the work for you, the point is, be smart and do your research.