Action Vidio 4 13 16

“Managed print services (MPS) are services offered by an external provider to optimize or manage a company’s document output. The main components provided are needs assessment, selective or general replacement of hardware, and the service, parts and supplies needed to operate the new and/or existing hardware (including existing third-party equipment if this is required by the customer). The provider also tracks how the printer, fax, copier, and MFP fleet is being used, the problems, and the user’s satisfaction.”

There are three primary service areas within Managed Print Services:

1. Assessment of a company’s existing print and document creation environment,including tracking printing costs across all budgets. 

2. Optimization of the print environment, including managing the number of printers peruser and printing policies.

3. Ongoing management of printer work flow, including replenishing consumables and

equipment maintenance.

Most successful VARs embrace two or more of these areas as part of an MPS offering. Much of the offering depends on what their customer demand.

What MPS Services to Offer When considering which of these services to offer, consider the specific needs of SMBs. According to market research conducted by analyst firm IDC, the overwhelming reason companies adopt MPS is to reduce printing costs.

Beyond cost savings, reasons cited for MPS adoption include:

• Changing user habits to reduce waste;

• Short-term cost savings;

• Fleet rationalization or equipment consolidation or optimization;

• Streamlining document work flows;

• Environmental sustainability; and

• Improving security.

Print processing assessment: When you consider the demands cited by companies that have adopted MPS, it’s clear that being able to assess how and where to manage printing for real savings is the first place to start.

Aberdeen Group estimates that SMBs spend typically 10 percent of their overall budget on office printing. Being able to demonstrate how centralizing and managing office printing will result in immediate savings is a compelling sales pitch.

Optimizing the print environment: One of the biggest expenses to result from office printing is waste. Not only is there waste paper and materials, there also is waste in terms of time spent running to and from the printer, the space taken up by printing hardware, etc. By optimizing the print environment SMBs can realize savings in a variety of ways:

• Reducing the number of printers needed to support the office;

• Saving staff and IT time with printer management;

• Reducing user output and materials waste;

• Improving efficiency and facilitating document work flow; and

• Improved efficiency for stocking paper and consumables.

These are just a few of the ways that MPS can optimize office printing and save operating overhead. All of these benefits have costs associated with them that can be easily calculated and incorporated into the savings formula.

Like us on facebook

Follow us on twitter

Benefits of Remanufactured Toners:

Remanufactured, refurbished, compatible, refilled... call it what you want. It all ends up meaning the same thing. There are millions of second hand toner cartridges out there that are quite a bit cheaper than buying from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM.)

Cost

Remanufactured toner is significantly less expensive than OEM toner. While your savings vary based on the type of cartridge and the vendor you choose, you can expect to save 30 to 60 percent. Usually the saving are 1/3 to 1/2 less than OEM, but can be even more. This can equate to some pretty big numbers if you are buying thousands of dollars’ worth of cartridges every month or every year.

Quality

A good quality remanufactured cartridge should provide the same print quality and life as as OEM product. Typically, remanufacturers dismantle cartridges, replace moving and wearable parts, and refill them. In some cases, the toner they use is exactly the same as what the manufacturer uses in its cartridges.

Environmental Impact

Every cartridge that you buy from a remanufacturer is one that didn’t originally end up in a landfill. The same applies to cartridges that you return or, in some cases, sell back. The environmental savings from remanufactured toners are meaningful.

Why you should by from a local vendor?

Remember, you are trying to save money with rebuilt cartridges and its all for nothing if you get stuck with cartridges that do not work, or worse yet blow up in your printer.

Try to buy locally when possible. Customer service is much easier when the person you are talking to is down the street instead of across the country. Most local dealers can replace defective cartridges much more quickly than from the web. My company also guarantees to fix any problem incurred by a cartridge that has dumped toner. Before you buy, make sure you know the companies return policy and ask what they will do if the cartridge wrecks your machine.

Click here to like us on facebook

Click here to follow us on twitter

Summer 2012: Thank You Card

Enjoy our latest Thank You card template.  This note lets your favorite clients know how much you appreciate their business. Download both the front and back files.  The pdf files are ready to print on 8.5x11 cardstock paper. Fold and mail in a 8.5x5.5 envelope.


Thank-You-Card-2012-FRONT.pdf
Thank-You-Card-2012-BACK.pdf

Signup to get future templates!

4 Things The Printer Sales Person Doesn't Tell You

I was at a (National Chain Store) 1 day and asked a sales person for some recommendations on buying a printer. The first thing he recommended was to purchase the most expensive printer they had on the floor because it would last longer and give me the best quality! After talking with him a little more and telling him I did not want to spend that kind of money, he took me to a (brand name ink jet printer) and began telling me that this printer now had laser like features. I was amazed to say the least at the questions he never asked.

·         What was I going to use this printer for?

·         What did I need this printer to do?

·         What was my print volume a month?

To be fair, not all printer sales people will do this, however you need to consider if they truly have your best interest at heart or if they are just trying to make a sale. You as the customer should consider the questions that are afore mentioned as well. I also want to arm you with 4 things the printer sales person doesn’t tell you.

1.       Cost Of Consumables:

There are a lot of inexpensive printers today. But are they a good choice for you? For example if you purchase an inexpensive (brand name) inkjet printer. You can be paying more for the ink cartridges than you paid for the printer.  In the color or black & white laser jets there are times you will give more for the cartridges than you did for the printer. You also have maintenance kits and transfer belts to consider in the color or the black & white laser printers. . This brings us to our next point Cost per Print.

2.       Cost Per Print:

Most ink jet printers you pay about .03 cents for black & white, and .09 cents for color per print. This is at 5% coverage; if you are printing at a higher coverage rate the cost is higher. Some color laser printers can be around .02 cents for black & white and .14 cents for color. Depending on volume you may be able to get by with an inkjet printer. It wouldn’t make sense to get an inkjet printer if you are printing large volumes. Some of the black & white laser printers get around .01 cents per print. Which brings us to our next point Cost of Repair?

3.       Cost Of Repair:

Unfortunately when it comes to inkjet printers, it does not make good business sense to have them repaired. Usually the parts and labor exceed the cost of the printer. There are some minor adjustments that can be made from time to time. A paper jam that is under the paper feed assembly can be removed sometimes. When it comes to more technical issues like a bad carriage assembly or PCA board, it’s time to replace the printer. On the color or black & white laser printers it makes more sense to repair, unless the cost of repair exceeds cost of the printer. Sometimes it is good to have the extended warranty or service agreement on your printers.  Which brings us to our next point Return on Investment?

4.       Return On Investment:

When buying a printer keep in mind that the initial purchase will represent little of the total cost of ownership. The real cost over the life of the printer will be in the consumables and maintenance of the printer. Where inkjet printers print in the hundreds before service or an ink cartridge is needed. The laser printers print in the thousands before service or a cartridge is needed. The laser printers are more durable and serviceable than the inkjet printer. On the other hand if your printing needs are a minimal, the inkjet printer may be the way for you to go.

These are 4 things the printer sales person doesn’t tell you. I hope this will help in the next purchase of a printer.

Action Printer Repair

George Thomas

Phone: (650)569-3990 Ext. 404

Cell: 650-518-1544

Email: george@actionprinterrepair.com

Web: http://www.actionprinterrepair.com/

What is good customer service?

What is good customer Service?

I had my van in the shop last week and I learned a few things about customer service. I learned mainly, what to do and what not to do. I understand we all have to make a living. However we need to be able to handle the work load. This shop seemed to be interested in getting all the work it could get and not performing the work. As you can imagine this is very frustrating to the customer. I begin to make a list and evaluate my business on customer service. This is what I came up with. I would welcome any suggestions and comments.

·         Don’t over promise. You need to be honest and real when it comes to getting work done on someone’s equipment that they depend on. Losing their business upfront by being honest with someone about a time frame for the repair is better than having an irate customer because you were unable to deliver on an unrealistic time schedule.

·         Communicate to the customer often through the process of the service. If something comes up and you are unable to meet the time that was set, a telephone call can save the day. It gives the customer a chance to adjust their schedule or to reschedule.

·         Appearance is very important, first impressions may be the only chance you get. I have serviced customers before and they would mention how the last technician did not look or act the part of being a professional. I understand you don’t need a suit & tie but neat & clean goes a long way in the business world.

·         Follow up is very important it shows the customer that you care. Checking to make sure their equipment is working satisfactory and the technician was courteous and professional speaks volumes to the customer about your business.

Good customer service keeps existing customers and gives you as a business a chance to get referrals for new customers.  I would welcome any comments and suggestions.

George Thomas

Email: george@actionprinterrepair.com

Website: www.actionptinterrepair.com

Is a HP Photo Smart a smart decision for business?

In my line of service, I receive several calls a week from businesses that need service on their HP Photo Smart Printer. Often the repair will exceed the cost of the printer. The client will say that they have only had the printer for a year or so and will voice their frustration.

The purpose of this posting is to educate and help in sound decision making when it comes to business. There is no doubt that, there can be some use in business for a HP Photo Smart. However if you are going to use it for the bulk of printing, copying, scanning, and faxing, you will have problems.

Some repairs of course make sense. I have listed below these repairs.

·         Paper Jams.

·         Replacing pick up rollers.

·         Replacing rollers and separation pads in the automatic document feeder.

The repairs that don’t make sense are listed below.

·         Carriage Assembly.

·         Pick up assembly.

·         Ink station.

I have listed below some suggestions to assure the HP Photo Smart will have a longer lasting effect.

·         Use a laser printer for the bulk of printing and use the HP Photo Smart for scanning and faxing.

·         If copies are needed use the copy functions for a small number of copies. Scan and print from a laser printer if a larger number is needed.

·         I color copies are needed a small amount should be sufficient. If a larger number is needed you might want to consider a color laser printer.

For more information contact:

Action Printer Repair

George Thomas

Phone: (650)569-3990 Ext. 404

Email: george@actionprinterrepair.com

Web: www.actionprinterrepair.com