8 Great Tips for Buying or Leasing a Copier!

Here's an email I received today from "K"

I am desperate for advice. I'm am in the process of leasing a color copier (of which I knew nothing until 2 weeks ago) for a non-profit organization that I work for. I am down to choosing between the Konica-Minolta Bizhub C360, Ricoh Aficio MP C4000 or Sharp MX 3100. We are coming off of a b&w copier with no networking so are really just looking to start up with some basic color copier features with networking that all these machines offer. My main concern now is durability and quality of service. I know that latter will depend on who we lease from but ANY insight to help would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!!!
i.e. Tell me which you would choose!


First, I would rule out the Sharp, and here's my reasoning. Sharp is not a top tier manufacturer when it comes to multifunctional copiers. My experience is that they are inexpensive and built to stay that way, meaning alot of plastic and inexpensive parts seem to be used over and over.

KonicaMinolta and Ricoh are two very good choices. Durability wise...both should be able to last 5 years or longer. Feature wise they are both equal except for a few bells and whistles.

I can't tell you which to choose among these two. What I can tell you is to do a little digging with the company that is trying to sell you these units. Here's some questions I would ask.

1) How long the rep been with that company? The longer the better
2) If buying from a dealer, how long has the dealer been servicing that product line? 2 Years or less = not good
3) Ask for three to five references of service for that model from your reps, and then call those companies and ask them about billing practices, how fast they respond to a service call and if they think the service reps are competent, clean and friendly.
4) Take a trip to their web site, if their web site is out of date, so are they!
5) If you have the resource do a D & B check on them, if they are not paying their bills they are in dire straits and you will be too if you buy from them.
6) Ask for a sales contract for you to review first, read the fine print.
7) Ask for a lease contract to review first, read the fine print (especially about your option to own at the end of the lease)
8) Go see the units, ask if you can go to their location of business to get a demonstration. Seeing is believing, you can get a good look at their operation and if they conduct business in a professional manner.

Hope this helps, if you would like me to review sales contracts and leasing, I can do that also! Visit the New P4PCafe!

-=Cheers=-

Brother MFC-8380DN "Spec Review"

- Brother is now shipping a new desktop AIO, the MFC-8380DN featuring:
- Copy/print/fax/scan
- 30ppm top speed b/w only
- Auto duplex standard
- 1200x1200dpi
- 50 sheet stack bypass
- 250 sheet paper drawer
- 20 sheet document feeder
- Built-in print controller
- 64MB RAM
- Fax board standard
- 25-400% reduction and enlargement
- Scan to email, scan to file, scan to USB
- Comes with OCR software
- 10/100BaseT & USB ports

-=Cheers=-

Lexmark Celebrates 20th Anniversary

- Lexmark recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the launch of their first desktop b/w laser printer. Here is a quick history:
- Lexmark was formed in 1991, when IBM sold off its imaging division to investors
- The name Lexmark came from the fact that IBM had a facility in Lexington, Kentucky that made devices that put marks on paper.
- Current Lexmark, CEO, Paul Curlander, was the product manager for
computer printers
- The division originally focused on making typewriters (Selectric, WheelWriter, etc.)
- In 1981, IBM launched the IBM PC and a dot matrix printer
- In 1969, Gary Starkweather invented first laser printer at Xerox PARC.
- In 1971, Xerox produced first laser printer.
- In 1976, IBM installed its first laser printer, the 3800, a huge floor model, at
F. W. Woolworth’s data center in Milwaukee, WI. Many of these high speed models are still in use today
- In 1984, Hewlett Packard launched the first Laserjet, which was a Canon-made
8ppm model, 300x300dpi, which weighed 75lbs.
- 1985, first IBM laser printer was a table top model, the 3812, selling for $7000 each, and was developed in Boulder, Colorado.
- In 1988, HP launched the first DeskJet inkjet printer.
- Paul Curlander and team of 100 in Lexington, KY were tasked with making small, lightweight, desktop model, which became the IBM 4019 featuring:
- First model able to print on envelopes
- First model to print pages in order
- First test print made at 5:09pm on 4/14/1987 by Harry Cooper
- On 5/6/1987, test unit was printing pages with text and pictures
- Approved for production by Marvin Mann, the first Lexmark CEO
- Original selling price of $2600.00
- Launch date of 10/10/1989
- Sold 100,000 in first year
- Won Product of the Year by PC Magazine
- Toner cartridges are still made and sold for the 4019
- On 10/24/1994, Lexmark launched the Optra series, its first non-IBM labeled printers

- Lexmark announced it signed a 4 year, multi-million dollar managed print services contract with Kingfisher, a global home improvement retail group. The deal includes install of new b/w and color laser MFPs/printers at 330 stores.

-=Cheers=-

Buying a New or Used Copy Machine on the Internet? "Buyer Beware"

Sneakers, Software, Computers, and Clothes all good things to buy via the Internet. New or Pre-Owned and used copiers....not a good thing to buy over the Internet.

In my 28 years in the business, copy machines are service intensive machines, whether they are analog or digital, they need a qualified service engineer in order to service them correctly and keep them running. Without getting very technical and I could, but its late on Sunday and I'll need some down time later. I'll list a few reason why you should not buy used, pre-owned or off lease copy machines over the Internet.

1. There is no "car fax" for copy machines, you have no idea who serviced the unit, how qualified the service engineers were, if the machine was in a flood, dropped, re boxed or if the factory updates were ever performed. This alone should be enough to scare you away.

2. How will it be shipped? Copy Machines are very susceptible to bent frames, broken covers, trays and displays when not shipped properly. Do you want to go through the hassle of an insurance claim if the copier arrives damaged? Be wary of any copier that ships via UPS, real copiers are heavy and very susceptible to damage.

3. Who will service this new beauty or the very low volume system that only grandma used to make a few copies a week. Are there reliable service engineers in your area that are Authorized to make repairs? You could have everything go right and the copy machine is perfect, however your local service company does not know how to fix it, or they will take three days be on site or maybe the closed Authorized Dealer is 150 miles or more away!

4. Who will assist with all of advanced functionality of the unit? Are you prepared to spend hours on the Internet searching for manuals, software and drivers? Or countless hours to figure out how it making print, scan and fax connections?

5. When the machine arrives are you prepared to pay for someone to install the unit or train your staff how to use the system?

6. Meters on copy machines, if they can be turned back on cars, they can also be turned back on copy machines. Are you willing to take that risk and get a machine that has a million pages on it, when you thought the meter was 100,000 pages?

Buying anything new, used or pre-owned is a risk on the Internet, especially copiers. If you want a new, used or pre-owned call your local dealer and ask what they have to offer. Most dealers will be able to accommodate your needs with new, used or pre-owned copy machine that they have service from day one!

Return Leased Copiers

Over the years, I would say that ninety percent of my clients leased their copiers with an option to buy the copier at the end of the term. Most of these leases had a buy out option for FMV (Fair Market Value). The general idea of an FMV lease is that the customer has no intention of ever owning the equipment and they will return it at the end of the lease.

Most leasing companies have been and still are very aggressive with FMV rates (interest), however most will have clauses in the leases that you must notify them in writing before the end of the term. All of the leasing companies have a "Window" clause, meaning you only have "x" amount of time when you can notify them, some are not more than 90 days prior to the end of the term and others are not more than 180 days and not less than 90 days. Make sure you read the lease!!!

Here's a few helpful tips for you:

1. Read the lease and be familiar with the return clause, Make sure you notify with in the parameters of the lease contract.


2. Set a reminder in MS Outlook or another contact management program to remind you to submit your LOI (Letter of Intent), state whether you will return or you wish to purchase.
   Send all correspondence via certified mail of Fedex, where you will get a signature that they received your letter.


3. Make sure that the system is in good condition, good quality copiers and that the machine passes a piece of paper (some leases now have clauses that they will charge you for parts and labor if the system was not returned in good working order).


4. Most leasing companies have preferred shipping companies that will pick up, pack, return and insure the product, make sure you call the leasing company for a list of preferred shippers.


5. When calling the leasing company for a pay off figure, never ask for a buy-out, ask what the remaining stream of payments are. When asking for a buyout you are telling them that you want to buy the system.


6. Make sure all shipments are insured.


7. Take a video of the copier making copies, also the model number and serial number, hence you proof that it left your facility in good working order.


8. Whenever calling them always get the name of the person you are speaking with, log date and time of call and if you have a verbal agreement make them send you a fax, email or letter stating their position.


9. Be wary when upgrading and the new copier company states they will return it for you, while most companies will do this as a service and most are very good at it, there are some who will drop the ball and not return the system on time. If they don't return on time it's your headache not theirs. Have a separate contract with the new vendor that covers everything above.


10. Never have the system moved from your location until you have notified the leasing company or they have sent you a RAL (Return Authorization Letter).


11. I've written this for the end user, however dealers and sales people can benefit from some of this especially videoing the product before it is shipped and having a separate contract for return.