Who Should I Buy From: Printer Brand or Print Vendor?

Submitted by Karla Metzler on Fri, 16 May 2025 - 08:05

A list of 15 major printer brands with their logos displayed

When it’s time to buy a new printer, one of the first questions many businesses and organizations ask is: Should we buy directly from the manufacturer, or work with a local print vendor?

It’s a great question, and not always an easy one. The right answer depends on your business’s needs, how much service you want, and what kind of long-term relationship you're looking for. As longtime partners of Xerox and experienced print vendors ourselves, we understand both sides of the equation.

In this guide, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each option, clarify what each buying route really looks like, and help you start making the best decision for your business. If you're feeling unsure, that’s okay, we’re here to help.

Buying from a Printer Brand: What Does It Mean?

Buying from a printer brand means purchasing directly from the company that manufactures the printer, like HP, Canon, Epson, or Ricoh. These companies often offer a wide range of models, service plans, and technical insights straight from the source.

Buying from a Print Vendor: What Does That Mean?

Print vendors are authorized resellers who partner with printer brands to sell and support their machines locally. Think of them as your boots-on-the-ground team. They offer the same products but often with more personal, region-specific support.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

2 Pros of Buying Directly from Printer Brands

Now that we have working definitions of printer brands and print vendors, let’s take a closer look at some of the pros of buying directly from a major printer brand:

1. More Variety of Products

Many brands directly manufacture the products they sell. Since they are usually larger companies, they naturally carry all their available products for purchase, as long as they are in stock.

As a general rule, printer brands will almost always have greater inventory levels than the companies they partner with.

2. Better Corporate Access

Printer brands also have more access to corporate direction, which comes with a couple of benefits.

One benefit is that brands often gain better insight into future product enhancements. This allows their employees to be aware of the complete roadmap of a product.

This leads to the next benefit: brands typically have better access to new information and can relay that information to consumers more quickly than local vendors can.

2 Cons of Buying Directly from Printer Brands

Now, let’s go through some of the cons of buying directly from major printer manufacturers:

1. Account Manager Turnover

Brands tend to have more employees than locally run print vendors. Because of this, there is an increase in the habitual turnover of employees within the company.

The account manager assigned to your organization will likely change over time. As a result, you will have to adjust to a new person for support if you encounter problems during your printer ownership period.  

2. Difficult to Find Help for Specific Issues

Printer brands are usually large businesses, which means finding the right resource for assistance can be difficult to obtain.

For instance, if you have a billing concern, you may have to navigate through multiple departments at a direct manufacturing company to find the right one to resolve your issue.

Vendors tend to provide quicker responses due to their smaller size and are more agile because they can address multiple questions from one direct phone number or email.

2 Pros of Buying from Print Vendors

Now that we’ve addressed some of the pros and cons of buying directly from a printer brand, let’s look at the pros and cons of buying from print vendors, starting with the pros:

1. More Accessible Relationship

With vendors, you’re mostly dealing with a small to medium-sized business that is locally managed.

This often means you’ll have a more personal relationship with the vendor you purchased from. This aids in the communication process if you have any urgent service concerns or general questions about your office equipment.

2. Consistent Managerial Infrastructure

A lot of times, vendors will remain steady at the top of the organization with a consistent leadership and management structure.

This means the same person that oversaw the purchase of your printer will likely supervise your entire printer-ownership tenure, which provides a stabilization that printer brands sometimes can’t offer.

2 Cons of Buying from Print Vendors

Now let’s move on to the main cons of buying from a vendor:

1. Smaller Printer Inventory

Because print vendors are typically smaller and locally run, inventory levels might be more limited. You could also be faced with a slightly longer lead time for delivery.

That being said, most vendors have access to new products at the time of the initial release date. However, this access can vary from manufacturer and/or vendor.

2. Employment Deficiencies Tougher to Reconcile

Another downside to being a small business is that prolonged employee absence or turnover tends to have a more significant impact on local vendors than they do on printer brands.

If somebody unexpectedly leaves or goes on hiatus, it can increase the time it takes to get issues addressed. Plus, depending on which department was affected, service times can increase, as well.

A Closer Look at Printer Cost

When considering printer costs, it’s easy to focus on the upfront price. But that’s just part of the picture.

You should evaluate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which includes:

Initial purchase or lease cost
Cost per print (usage fees)
Maintenance/service plans
Supplies (toner, paper)
Energy usage
Security and software solutions

While print vendors may have higher unit prices due to reseller markups, they often bundle valuable services. These can include support, service contracts, or managed print, which can save money in the long term. Printer brands might offer similar services, but availability and flexibility can vary.

Helpful Resource: How to Choose a Printer for Your Budget and Business Needs

Want the full picture? Download our Free Guide to Purchasing or Leasing a Printer for Your Business.

Download Now: Free Guide to Purchasing a Printer

Should You Lease or Buy?

One key difference is flexibility. Most printer brands focus on direct sales, whereas local vendors typically offer both leasing and purchasing options. Leasing can be a great option if you want access to the latest tech with a lower upfront cost and built-in service.

Printer Brand and Vendor Examples

Here’s a quick breakdown of some leading brands and vendors:

Canon → Direct brand with powerful imaging tools
- Partner example: Datamax (TX & AR)
Ricoh → Known for managed services and workflow automation
- Partner example: Patriot Group (Houston)
Xerox → Global reach and smart workplace tech
- Partner example: Connex Systems (Carrollton, TX)

Check out our brand comparisons:

Which One Is Right for You?

You'll ultimately get the same printer either way, but how it’s sold, supported, and serviced can make a big difference.

Choose a printer brand if:

You’re a national or enterprise-level business
You want direct corporate access
You don’t need a personalized service experience

Choose a local vendor if:

You value a consistent point of contact
You need quick, flexible support
You want a relationship with a partner who knows your business

If you're not sure, consider your company size, tech needs, support expectations, and whether leasing is important to you. You should never settle for buying a printer that doesn’t meet your needs or service requirements. And don’t forget, you’re not alone in this process.

Ready to Move Forward? Let’s Talk.

Deciding where to buy a printer can be the toughest part of your research. Whether you choose a well-known brand or a local vendor, your situation matters.

As a local print vendor, we're dedicated to helping customers find the right printing solutions. With over 35 years of industry experience, we understand that the research process can be overwhelming. We’re here to guide you to the perfect option, whether it’s a direct manufacturer or a trusted partner vendor, tailored to your specific needs.

Need more help? Reach out today, and our experts will guide you to the solution that fits your business best.

Download Our Buyer’s Guide – Get a deep dive into where to buy your printer, leasing vs buying, and how to calculate true ownership costs.