We have replaced our old Konica copier with a new unit from Toshiba. In addition to a considerably faster operation, we have been able to cut our per copy cost and introduce new services such as scanning and emailing. We did look at a Konica unit but leant to the Toshiba based on a better deal.
In our own case, we do $15,000 a year in colour and black and white copying. Cutting our per copy operating costs by 20% significantly improves the return we achieve from this traffic generating service.
I am not blogging to say go with Toshiba over other brands but, rather, to highlight that there are good copier deals out there which can cut operating costs and therefore improve margin on copying and other services.
The key to finding the best deals are: prepare – know what copying demand you have in your store, shop around, don’t take the first price offered, and understand the features available and assess their value to your customers.
Hi Mark,
We are not on the same scale as you and do around $5K to $10K in combined Copier and Fax sales and currently have an old and outdated black and white copier…
In order to offer better service to our customers we need to upgrade and know that we must offer colour…
From preliminary investigation there is considerable variation in pricing and am unsure what size copier we really need…
I would be interested to hear from other agents generating similar returns to us to know what copiers they have chosen and what sort of cost structures they have been able to negotiate, and are they using the fax functions…
Cheers
Peter
I have purchased a seconhand Toshiba estudio 281c directly from Toshiba with warranty. I found that purchasing I would be better off than me handing over roughly $200 a month just on rental alone. I only pay a service fee that covers maintanince and toner.
I use a different fax machine thats behind the counter. Fax function costs more if it comes with copier.
Hi Peter,
I have bought a Fuji Xerox recently for my busines. My last copier was a Canon and it did the job well for an year but started to give some problems with the paper jams and streaking. The service was really bad as the service guys took a year to get here! The machine was out of service for a day and that meant disappointed students and lost revenue.
I started getting some quotes around and Fuji Xerox had the service and feature set I was after. The sales guy was really good selling me the machine and he said Fuji Xerox is the only SCP certified vendor in the industry which means argubly the best for service. I was also sold on the technology behind the machine- Docucentre C2201. The Copy cost was comparable to Canon’c colour and b&w costs. But the leasing cost of the device was more expensive than any of the other quotes from Ricoh, Toshiba and KM. I decided to invest in Fuji Xerox as the service and reliability was the most important to me.
I have had it for the last 6 months and the service and the quality of the machine has been exceptional! My students have now set up their own mailboxs in the machine where all their fax’s, files and documents are stored safely. The only issue I have had was at the start with a drum malfunction. Xerox techs got here in 2 hours of calling and fixed it up. Amazing service and support after that!
Hope this helps Peter..
Cheers
Angelo
Do you offer self serve facilities or do your staff do the work for the customer? If self serve, how do you manage charging for copies accurately?
Glen we offer both services. For self service, we trust the customers.
Glen, when we installed our copier we got the tech guys to install a counter to the machine, it multiplies for A3 and double sided and it was easy for them to add to the machine in the install. This way we get no arguments as we charge for all copies even those made in error by the customer.
Same here. We offer both however I have noticed that a majority of ppl don’t know how to use a copier and ask for assistance so why pay the extra $ on a coin box.
The machine has a log counter, I check after every customer then charge accordingly.
Hi Guys,
Its that time again when we need to upgrade our copier…
We are considering a Fuji Xerox Doc Centre IV2260CPSF. This offers the compelete range of options one would want… and no doubt may things I would never use…
Has anyone considered this, our purchased the same? of so how have they found it?
We have negotiated a good proce I think of $10,500 + GST. Rental & Lease options are pretty close. I have 2 qustions:
– What type of service costs should I try and an get included, and what do I need to be aware of… only charges quoted are $0.01 mono and $0.09 colour impression costs – is there anything else I should be aware of?
2. What are people currently charging for black & white and colour copies and other services that this machine could do…
Any thoughts would be appreciated…
Cheers
Peter
We have a Ricoh Aficio MP2030C, about 2 1/2 years old now. Will upgrade July 2012 when contract expires
20c a page b/w A4, 40c double sided and A3.
$1 colour A4, $2 for double sided and A3.
100 copies or more in b/w customer only pays 10c page (A4)
Most of our copies come from local businesses and clubs.
It’s not a self serve machine. If customer wants enlargements or whatever, they pay if there is a stuff-up.
We do about $8,000 a year turnover in copies.
WE USE A Toshiba e-studio 4520c
last year we put through just over $70000 in printing through it . it staples folds and spits out a book at the end of it where as before we were folding and stapleing this thing is worth every cent . definantly not a self serve machine
Thanks Steven…
Shaun, what do you charge per copy (BW & Colour)…
And also, what sort of service maintenance fees do you have…
Cheers
Peter