Are you looking to upgrade your existing copier or invest in new equipment? Are you confused by the number of companies that sell copiers? If you haven’t bought or leased a copier recently, it can be difficult to know what to look for. In this post, we will try to make the process a little easier for you. Finding the right copier begins with finding the right copier dealer!
Let’s cut right to the chase: all copier companies are not the same. The best copier dealers are those that help you select the equipment that works best for your business needs. They should also be your partner in increasing workplace productivity by offering high quality copiers that they are able to stand behind.
A little research is all it takes to see that some companies that sell copiers are far superior to others. Here are 12 things to look for when choosing a dealer.
A range of respected products. Companies that sell copiers from either one or multiple manufacturers that are designed to meet a variety of applications are best equipped to help you meet your productivity goals.
Understanding of your business. A good copier dealer understands you lease or buy your copiers and printers for well-thought-out, strategic reasons. They should be willing to take the time to learn your unique copying, printing and document management goals to match you with the right equipment.
Reputation. Does the company you’re dealing with have happy customers? Reviews from clients on sites like Facebook, and Google can help you determine a copier dealer’s reputation. Pay special attention to mentions of things like honesty and timely service. Be sure to check the company’s website. A reputable copier dealer continually seeks the feedback of their customers and is interested in learning what they do well and where they can improve.
Trained staff. You want a support team that is highly trained on the copiers you lease or buy. In addition to good technical skills, service technicians should be professional and able to communicate clearly with you about problems and solutions. It takes regular maintenance to keep your copier running optimally. There will be times, however, when repairs are necessary and that’s when you’ll want factory certified trained professionals working on your equipment.
Authorized dealer. Companies that sell copiers from a particular brand tend to share the manufacturer’s ideals and commitment to innovation. For example, Digital Office Equipment is a Kyocera/Copystar authorized dealer and both companies believe in certain standards such as a single office machine serving as a department or office’s hub of communication, environmental friendliness, and providing customers with affordable, cutting edge products that increase efficiency. Authorized dealers also have access to things like product training and established relationships that translate into better pricing and service for your company.
Financing options. Most businesses tend to lease a copier instead of purchasing one outright. Your copier dealer should have several leasing options available that give you the flexibility to own the latest equipment that delivers the features and functions your business needs.
Additional services. Are you looking for managed print services and/or document management? Consolidating those services with a copier dealer helps you streamline business operations while building a true tech partnership. Many smaller businesses don’t have internal staff to manage their printing. Managed print services free your employees to do the jobs they were hired to do, not maintain the copier!
Proactive maintenance. A good copier service provider can show you how to customize print management apps that can proactively let you know when service and maintenance are needed. They should also have options to automatically order supplies. No one needs to run out of toner the day a big report is due!
Response time. Any company that sells copiers should be focused on helping you get the most out of the equipment you buy or lease. That means understanding that copier issues need to be resolved as quickly as possible. One of the best ways to provide service that helps eliminate costly downtime is with software that communicates with all the printing devices on your network. Copier monitoring and reporting software helps you track critical components in your copier and notifies your copier service dealer before equipment failure occurs.
Product training. Most copiers today are multifunction machines with an impressive range of capabilities. To help you get the most out of your investment, a copier dealer should provide you with full user training; otherwise you may be missing out on terrific features and functions that can save your business time and money.
Location. One of the most important considerations when choosing a copier dealer is whether they have the infrastructure to support your business locally. A local company is also much more likely to be invested in your business’ success because when you succeed they do, too. And working with a local partner means supporting the community as a whole, a win-win situation for everyone.
Satisfaction over speed. While you want a service technician to get the job done as quickly as possible, you don’t want to be in a situation where doing so means shoddy repairs or lack of proper preventative maintenance. Instead, you want a dealer with technicians who are 100% focused on the job at hand and making sure it's done right the first time!
Choosing the Right Copier Dealer
There are plenty of companies that sell copiers, but not all those companies are the right fit for your business. We hope these tips help narrow down your options and lead you to making a hassle-free copier decision. If we were to boil it down to one piece of advice it would be this: be sure to choose a local copier dealer who partners with a manufacturer you can put your trust in.
Call us at Digital Office Equipment. 912.489.6964