Typically, there are two options when it comes to choosing who to purchase a printer from.
You can either buy a machine directly from a printer brand or through a local print vendor.
“What’s the difference between buying from a local vendor as opposed to a printer brand? Don’t they sell the same products?”
This is a common question that has multiple layers to it, and we will address some of those main concerns in this blog.
Used….
It’s almost a derogatory term for some buyers and even sellers in the buying process. And it’s understandable why.
Who used this before me? What kind of lifespan does this product have left? What did the company do to prepare this used product to sell? How have other customers fared with this used product?
All these concerns are completely understood when it comes to buying a used product.
If you’re reading this, you’re most likely wondering why the printer/copier you ordered three months ago has yet to be delivered.
It’s more than likely that the delay you’re experiencing with your printer has caused you more stress than you ever thought imaginable when buying office equipment.
There’s a reason you ordered a new printer. Maybe you were long overdue for an upgrade. Maybe your work team increased. Or worst of all, maybe your old printer broke beyond repair, and you ordered a new one out of enraged necessity.
As a locally managed print provider, the number one question we’ve been getting lately is something along the lines of: “Why has this product not come in yet?”
The answer lies in the ongoing supply chain crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept through most sectors of the business world.
The printing industry is no different. It’s not just the printers and copiers themselves that now have abnormally long delivery times, but also supplies, such as toner and ink cartridges, drum units and paper that have been significantly impacted by the effects of the supply chain crisis.
When it comes to IT staff, there’s no doubt that they’re the unsung heroes of the workplace. Who else can you call when your emails not working, or when your network goes down? And who else do you turn to when it’s time to configure new settings or update important software?
The thing is, that IT personnel are usually pretty busy. If they’re not fixing one thing that's broken, then they’re probably fixing something else or working on their projects and protecting your data against intrusion, aka cybercrime, which we all know is a full-time job. And since we all love our IT staff, we want to make their jobs as simple as possible, right?
Picture this: It’s a busy day at the law firm you work at, everyone’s rushing around trying to get work done, while you’re standing at the printer, waiting for your court transcripts to finish printing.
Suddenly, the printer goes down, and a warning sign flashes on the screen. All those documents you needed to be printed are gone, as well the contracts, manuals, NDAs, and other papers that your coworkers needed to print too. The whole office essentially comes to a halt, and no one really knows what to do.
Buying copier/printer toner can be confusing. Most boxes look the same, there are so many different types, and it’s hard to keep track of when you’re running low, leaving you with an empty cartridge in the middle of a workday.
After being in the copier/printer industry for over 35 years, we’ve seen all of the different problems and mistakes that can be made when it comes to buying toner- and we’ve seen the best ways to ensure your organization will have exactly what it needs.
While it might seem like a minor inconvenience to some, constantly looking through apps just to find the same one that you use every day is a waste of valuable time that could be spent working. That’s why we’ve found one of the best solutions for organizations with multiple users assigned to print is personalized individual user accounts, made possible with Xerox ConnectKey Technology.
Navigating the copier/printer industry and looking for a reliable print vendor can be quite the hassle. You may not know if you’re getting the best deals, the best equipment, or even if you’re working with the best vendor.
We here at Strategic Technology Partners of Texas have been operating for over 35 years, and we’ve experienced firsthand the difference that a good vendor/customer relationship can have. We also know that understanding the history of your print vendor can help you avoid any confusion, especially if they’ve changed names a couple of times like us.
Alexander Pope once said, “to err is human.” This phrase is applicable in many circumstances, even when learning and operating the functions on your copier/printer.
Unlike Pope’s famous poem from the 1700s, Copiers/Printers are modern and typically easy to use, depending on the make and model of your machine. These modern machines often come with the ability to automatically ship your toner when needed, which is convenient, but we want to make sure you are using the system correctly to avoid any problems or delays in receiving your toner.