We have not had a fax machine in one of my newsagencies for two years.
There has been no negative impact on customer service or revenue.
Customers who ask to send a fax are offered a lower cost, and easier, email service alternative.
The fax machine is very much yesterday’s technology. It has a limited life before a new machine is needed. Plus, it relies on consumables and often uses an additional phone line.
I can’t see the value in putting a fax machine into any newsagency.
I understand in some locations there could be thought of offering a fax service as a point of difference. To that I’d suggest that you need to understand the break-even point for the capital invested. That analysis may result in the value of offering a fax service being reinforced.
Offering a fax service could pitch your business as old-school to some and that may not match the image you want for the business.
With copiers offering PDF services, it is easy to fill in forms and return them to suppliers. Ideally, however, such forms move online, eliminating paperwork and handwriting.
All of this is about eliminating processes and making our businesses more efficient.
The purpose of this blog post is to get you to think about whether offering a fax service is right for your business and to open a conversation on the topic.
I got rid of ours almost 9 years ago! Use to drive me nuts all the advertising that got sent to us through it. Does anybody still use them?
Fax was first service I axed on taking over business 4 years ago. Personally, have not owned a fax machine for 10 years.
Yeah, I figured. But for plenty they keep it and promote it. Does not make sense to me.
And how many businesses still accept cheques?
Not for me – better off looking for other points of difference to gain a higher margin / customer count.
Interesting that you post this now as we were considering weather to or not in a new location.
We found out the monthly cost to have a fax line was $68 so by not having this we save over $800 a year. Now thinking about getting rid of the existing one as it is rarely used.
Colin, I still accept cheques as a lot of my older customers live on farms etc and send cheques in to pay their accounts.
However given the choice I wouldn’t accept them at all. My bank currently charges me per cheque deposited.
The fax machine is still sitting here, I haven’t used it in quite a while (it is actually turned off!) and I was sick and tired of the advertising sent through even after you replied and asked them to stop using their instructions.
i still making $50 a week doing faxing.