Cheshire Photocopiers – Consistently Cheaper On Price!
We consistently receive phone calls from further a field checking recommendations against more local competitors. Today was another one of those days and I was happy to hear that we are favourable in cost to other suppliers. At Cheshire Photocopiers we are always keen to win new business and our customer base has slowly been increasing over the course of 2010. From our base in Knutsford, we continue to distribute photocopiers, printers and office equipment across Cheshire and the North West.
Our core customer base centres largely around Cheshire, namely Knutsford, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Northwich, Middlewich, Mobberley, Sandbach & Crewe. Through the power of the internet and through personal recommendation, our business is now stretching further across the North West, including key accounts in Chester, Tarporley, Hale, Sale, Altrincham and Handforth.
We offer both new and refurbished copiers and printers, various leasing options and network solutions: supplying leading market names such as Sharp, Konica, Brother, HP, Xerox and Samsung to mention but a few. As representatives for Sharp, we have the added advantage of excellent back-up and support from one of the largest office equipment manufacturers today.
Whilst Cheshire Photocopiers core business remains the sale of photocopiers and printers and the necessary finance, our business offering has now extended to the provision of a full range of office equipment, office furniture, office stationery, PC networking and PC Support. These additions have become available through a network of Partners who share the same high standards as Cheshire Photocopiers.
For more details on how we can help your business contact our sales team on 01565 621 457.
Cheshire & North West Customer Base Is Expanding
Despite the economic climate, Cheshire Photocopiers customer base has slowly been expanding over the course of 2010. From our base in Knutsford, we continue to distribute photocopiers, printers and office equipment across Cheshire and the North West.
Our core customer base centres largely around Cheshire, namely Knutsford, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Northwich, Middlewich, Mobberley, Sandbach & Crewe. Through word of mouth, our business is now reaching further across the North West, including key accounts in Tarporley, Chester, Hale, Altrincham, Sale and Handforth.
Cheshire Photocopiers business offering has now extended from photocopier sales, printer sales and lease arrangements to the provision of a full range of office equipment, office furniture, office stationery, PC networking and PC Support. These additions have become available through a network of Partners who share the same high standards as Cheshire Photocopiers.
For more details on how we can help your business contact our sales team on 01565 621 457.
How Photocopier Leasing Is Working for Business
It was reported back in 2009 how the recession, which had then been biting for over a year, had been affecting the photocopiers industry. As one might have expected, photocopier sales were down but what was really interesting was the pattern of business that was emerging with the changing economic conditions. Photocopiers suppliers were witnessing a noticeable shift in business away from outright purchase of towards leasing. In fact, leasing levels in 2009 reached a new high of 61.9%, having been hovering around the mid-50's for several years previously. Well, the link between photocopier leasing and the recession seems even more tangible looking at the figures for 2010 - as much of 80% of new business last year came from photocopier lease customers. Here we'll examine why it is copier rental seems to have been working so well for UK businesses during the tougher economic times and what businesses looking for new photocopiers can expect from agreements.
A Dramatic Rise in Photocopier Lease Volumes
Photocopier leasing levels have been consistently growing since the start of the recession in 2008. From an almost even split between purchases and leases in previous years, 2009 saw photocopier leasing increase to over 60%. Falcon reported at the time that both the recession as well as the way photocopier companies had begun to respond to it, had been attracting a much greater proportion of customers to lease photocopiers rather than buy them outright. Well, with the economic situation not improving in 2010, that tendency on the part of customers towards photocopier leasing was even more pronounced. Across 2010, Falcon saw an average 75% of new business coming from customers looking to lease devices, as against 25% preferring to buy outright.
Why Are So Many Businesses Leasing Photocopiers?
Leasing photocopiers rather than buying outright has a number of advantages, many of which seem even more attractive to businesses as their economic fortunes become increasingly tenuous:
- Firstly, it offers businesses the chance to avoid any up-front payment. With the latest photocopiers costing as much as £10,000 or more, leasing doesn't require the initial cash (or perhaps credit) input that outright purchase would.
- Terms can be tailored to customer requirements, shorter or longer, as is needed, businesses never pay anything for photocopiers outside of the time they've agreed to lease.
- Leasing provides businesses with the opportunity to keep up-to-date with the latest technology and switch to newer technologies at the end of a term.
- With a lease agreement, businesses are often able to choose all-inclusive packages which can cover everything but the paper - that's toner, parts, maintenance and servicing and ensuring proper integration of photocopiers into back-end systems and networks upon installation.
Obviously, as cash flow for many businesses isn't what it was, the big advantage pf photocopier leasing is avoiding what could now seem almost punishing up-front costs. But significantly, more businesses that would not have been able to consider either photocopier leasing or photocopier purchases before the recession are now finding the structure of 'new style' photocopier leasing agreements is enabling them to lease photocopiers. Many photocopiers suppliers have responded to the recession by helping to improve access for businesses which might not have been able to risk photocopier leasing beforehand. Shorter typical lease terms, mean lower total outlay and also lower future financial commitment. Planning for the future has almost become an impossibility for businesses, so this sort of arrangement which minimises their exposure and also in fact accentuates some of the benefits, such as an even greater ability to take advantage of improvements in technology as they occur, provides businesses with much greater control. As well as the more flexible structuring of agreements, suppliers of photocopiers, aware of the growing difficulties for businesses as far as securing credit is concerned are providing added assistance to prospective customers to help ensure leases are approved by lease financers.
Since the dawn of the present recession back in 2008, suppliers of photocopiers have been witnessing unprecedented levels of leasing customers. Part of this growth is undoubtedly purely-and-simply a consequence of the financial circumstances many businesses have found themselves in. Lower business levels mean much-reduced cash flow and outright purchases on the scale of photocopiers become an impossibility. The contraction of credit from lenders, in spite of the lowest interest rates in a generation, means borrowing is not an option either. But besides this almost 'default' movement away from purchase, suppliers of photocopiers themselves have been highly responsive to prospective customer requirements reducing the duration of terms and assisting customers in being approved for lease finance.
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Falcon, as one of the UK's leading photocopiers suppliers, hopes the industry will continue assist businesses in their ongoing drive for maximum efficiency and economy in the office. Jeremy Samson is a leading imaging technology writing, covering all the latest developments in the document management industry. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Samson |
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The Business Owner’s Dilemma – To Buy Or Lease a Copier
For any business owner who has blazed this same trail from being a mom & pop shop and into a real business, we graduate from printers to a copy machine, and then to a multifunction copier that was leased and not purchased.
All of us go looking with excitement for an office in a commercial building to actually be a full-fledged business once we've outgrown the home-grown business. Then comes all the additional expenses we didn't see coming. Networking, furniture, the cost of commercial phones and phone line costs rather than residential, etc. One of the biggest unplanned expenses is the need for a copy machine, or at least that is where it starts. "We don't need a copier, we'll just use the printers we've had for the past few years" many people think. What we haven't learned yet is that printer costs are more expensive than copier costs.
A copier can make copies for pennies, but a printer costs six to twenty (.06 to.20) cents per page. Once we start creating marketing pieces, printing invoices, accounting, inventory, etc, we find ourselves wishing we had bought stock in the printer cartridge industry. Then we wake up and realize we needed a copier.
After a year or three, we next learn we shouldn't have bought that small copier, because now we need a huge one, and one that staples, collates, faxes, scans, acts like a printer and 25 other bells and whistles. So we do our homework and learn all about a multifunction copier. We see it is the exact answer for all our business needs. In fact, we can let go of all the printers and those expensive cartridges. We think we've found business nirvana with this new tool that does everything, until we see the price tag. Then our heart skips a beat and we realize the price of this machine that we can't live without, costs as much capital as we have in the bank, and payroll is next week. Finally we learn we can keep all our precious capital for our business, and still have our new business toy, a fully multifunction copier, simply by leasing it.
After using our new toy for just 2 months, we found out we can sell a garage sale:
• Printers
• Printer cartridges
• Fax machines
• Fax machine toner cartridges
• Copy machine
• Copy machine cartridges
Then we don't even need an accountant to realize how much money we were spending on all those machines, buying new ones every few years, stocking up on all the cartridges, keeping it all organized, hoping nothing breaks so we don't have to make another capital investment. We realize we've started saving ourselves a ton of money, and we have one machine, networked so the whole office can use it, and it is 5-8 machines all rolled up into one. This new genius black box (or white) prints in black and white and 50-100 pages a minute. It prints in color, it scans, faxes, staples, collates and more. Our lease comes with a service contract and a service tech shows up once a month or so (depending on our copier lease), and they maintain it and it never breaks down. If it does, one phone call and they hop on over to fix it; no fear, no loss of more capital, no running down to kinko's to send a fax, nothing; all our business printing functions are handled. We wish we'd have known about this gem of a machine a long time ago. We realized once our business grew out of our home-office or garage, we should have leased this great invention. We reminisce about all the money spent on all those machines cartridges, toners, supplies, shaking our head at how stupid we were. We weren't stupid, we just didn't know.
In a few more years we realize just how smart we were to lease and not buy. Why? Because now we simply adjust our lease, and the copier company brings in a new larger multifunction copier for us and takes away the older one, all with no out of pocket cash. They even gave us credit for any unused cartridges; this is when we really pat ourselves on the back. This is the day we learned that leasing this critical piece of equipment is the best investment we've ever made, and that leasing it is the only way to have one.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Eaton
Copier Lease Or Purchase – Which Is The Better Option?
If you are setting up an office, whether in a commercial building or at home, you will probably need a copier machine. One of the important decisions you will be making is whether you will go for a copier lease, or purchase one for yourself?
Unless you will be needing multiple copies of documents everyday, generally, the better and more economical choice is a copier lease. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Maintenance and repair of your own copier machine could turn out to be costlier and more time-consuming than you think. If you have a copier lease, regular maintenance will be provided for you and if you need the machine to be fixed, all you have to do is call the vendor and they will send a repair guy to you right away.
- In the same way, when a part of your copier needs to be replaced, you may have to go to several stores before you find the exact part that you need...and then you have to install it yourself. If you have a copier lease, they will be the ones to look for a high-quality but low-cost copier part. True, you will have to pay for the part, but installation services are free.
In addition, some copier leases also give you the benefit of free minor parts and free installation. Most companies will also provide you with a temporary unit while your own copier is undergoing repairs.
- When the time comes when you want to change to a more advanced model, it will be very easy if you have a copier lease. Leasing companies are always willing to modify your lease and exchange your current machine with a newer model.
On the other hand, if your copier machine was purchased, and you want to buy a new one, you will end up with two copier machines. Unless you have sufficient storage space, you will have the burden of looking for a buyer for your old unit, or dispose of it in some other way.
In most cases, copier leases are really the more practical choice. It saves you money and is hassle-free.
You can also find more info on Copier Printers and Copier Rentals. Copiers-guide.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Copier and it's Accessories like Cartridges, Toner, Ink, and more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Faulkner
Frequently Asked Questions About Copy Machine Leasing
Anyone familiar with leasing a car can intuit the basics of copy machine leasing, but for a business decision, the basics are never enough. Read on for some frequently asked questions and answers about leasing copy machines for commercial use:
What are the perks of copy machine leasing?
For most businesses, copy machine leasing is more practical than purchasing a machine. Copier leases feature lower monthly payments and require less short-term capital than buying. Plus, leases make it easy to upgrade to newer copiers every couple of years, allowing your company to benefit from the latest technology. Some contracts even allow you to pursue upgrades during a lease.
What kind of copy machines can I lease?
Copy machine leasing is ideal for businesses that make at least 700 copiers every month. For anything less than that, a standard copier available at an office superstore should suffice. The price of a machine increases with its volume, so it's important to estimate your monthly copy volume as accurately as possible. If your office already has a copier, take a look at the counter under the copying glass. Otherwise, consult your copy shop receipts. You should increase your estimate by 15 percent to factor in growth, and even more if your copier will be serving as an office printer as well.
What are some common mistakes to avoid?
Like most major financial decisions, copier leases can cost you a lot of money if you don't do your homework. For starters, take a look at your lease contract's per-copy charges. Dealers often charge you a certain amount for every copy you make, however some contracts also come with minimum monthly quotas that you will be charged for whether or not you actually use them. If your contract includes a minimum, make sure it is a number within your office's reach.
Should my contract include consumables?
Negotiating consumables is a delicate part of any leasing agreement. Your dealer might try to entice you with an "all-inclusive" deal featuring maintenance and consumables such as toner and ink. This is risky, though, because you can save as much as 20 percent on these items when you purchase them separately. Let your dealer know that you're aware of this fact - they might just offer you a bargain.
Should my lease company be local?
Although it doesn't matter where a leasing company is based, it's important to find a service with experienced repair workers in your area. But you don't just need local technicians - you need local technicians that are experienced with your machine's specific make and model. If you were browsing Xerox copiers NY, for example, you would want to check for Xerox-skilled workers based in New York that are familiar with the models you are considering.
How important is a service agreement?
It's up to you. Certain businesses depend on their copiers, and require copy machine leasing with night and weekend support as well as guaranteed response times. Flexible businesses, however, do not need to pursue such rigorous contracts.
At www.worldtradecopiers.com you can find answers to all of your printing needs including copy machine leasing, document management, mail room solutions, IT consulting, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Etinger
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Leasing Photocopier Equipment
You can lease for any period (technically speaking) from 1 - 5 years, however it is quite normal to lease over 3 years. 5 years can be seen at bit of a stretch for most people but in my mind it is best to lease over 3 or 4 years tops. Why? The technology nowadays is evolving so quickly with the price of colour MFD's coming down to what used to be a fast mono copier price.
There are benefits and pitfalls of both - I will try and list the main reasons for both whilst adding any angles which don't fit into the pro and con scenario.
The benefits of leasing are quite easy to explain so I will list them below.
Leasing enables a company to spread the cost of equipment over a period of time that matches the usable life of the equipment. Photocopier have a normal life span of between 3-5 years (in some cases up to7) So it is quite plausible to lease over 3 or 4 years with the option of upgrading at any time.
Leasing is tax efficient - allowing the company to claim a tax refund from corporation tax against the amount that is leased for each fiscal year. Lots of different types of equipment can be leased from cars all the way through to production and engineering equipment.
Leasing enables the company to keep the capital normally spent on buying equipment in the bank - giving the company more opportunity to spend that money on other things that are not available on leasing.
Leasing also gives greater flexibility long term for that equipment by giving the company an opportunity to upgrade or downgrade if needed during the term of the contract.
Benefits of cash purchase
It is your equipment to sell at anytime should you want to.
You are not tied in to a credit agreement.
3.You may have excess cash in the bank and do not want to pay interest on the equipment.
What happens to the equipment after the lease is up
In short the title of ownership is always held by the leasing company but it can normally be sold to the company at the end of the lease for around £100 or so. You really need to make sure you inform you're accountant about this as you may become liable for the tax benefits that you got over the lease period.
For help, information and to get the BEST UK prices in the UK GUARANTEED, please contact Simon Tarling on 020 8253 4655 or visit us on http://www.dmcplc.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Tarling
Buyer Beware – Ten Questions to Ask Your Copier Rep Before You Sign on the Dotted Line
In the seven years that I was employed by two different copy manufacturing firms, I progressed from Sales Trainee to Sales Manager. In that period of time, I saw the copier industry change tremendously. For one thing, it is now called the digital imaging industry and sales representatives are hawking multifunctional digital devices that monochrome copy, color copy, monochrome print, color print, scan and fax. The new systems have the capability to install a myriad of software applications that will do everything short of bring you your morning coffee!
Most digital imaging professionals are trained to consider themselves software specialists that happen to sell hardware, as well.
The digital imaging industry attracts wonderful personnel that are ambitious, energetic and genuinely concerned about the well-being of their customers. Unfortunately, this industry also has an insanely high turnover rate due to the fact that this job isn't the easiest gig in town! The chances that you will be dealing with a complete newbie at the initial sales call are pretty high. This is why I suggest you keep these questions on file so that you can make sure you have covered all of your bases the next time you set out to buy or lease a multifunctional digital system.
Questions to Ask Your Account Executive:
1. Is your company a dealership or the actual manufacturer of the product? If a dealer, how long has the company distributed this brand? Is it the only brand you carry?
2. Why did you propose this particular brand and model?
3. What is the actual purchase price (if not listed)? What is included in the purchase price? Does it include a trade-in or buy-out on my current system? Are any optional accessories included?
4. What does the lease payment include? Does it include a trade-in or buy-out on my current system? Is service or/and maintenance included? Are any optional accessories included?
5. What are the terms of the lease? Is this a 36, 48, or 60 month term? Is this a $1.00 Buyout Lease or a Fair Market Value lease? If a FMV lease, what is the residual value at the end of term?
6. If leasing, what are my options at the end of term? Can I return the equipment at any time during my lease (unlikely)?
7. Is service and maintenance included in my lease payment? If so, how many monthly black/white copies or prints and color copies or prints are included in the price? What are the costs associated with any overages? Does a duplex copy or print count as two clicks? Does a legal size copy or print count as two clicks? Does an 11 x 17 copy or print count as two clicks? Are faxes and scans free of click charges?
8. What is included in the cost of service and maintenance? Parts? Labor? Toner? Drum? Preventative Maintenance Kits? Paper (unlikely)?
9. What kind of warranty and/or guarantee is provided by your company? Where can I access this in written form?
10. Is the system you are proposing brand new or remanufactured or used equipment?
11. What year was this model originally designed?
12. What is your average service response time? What is the average tenure of your service personnel?
13. Where do your service personnel source parts from? What happens if service is out of a part that my system requires?
14. When and where can I see a demonstration of this EXACT model?
15. Do you have three to five customers in this area that I can talk to about your company and its products?
16. Do you use a third-party for equipment leasing or does your company "carry its own paper" and act as the leasing company?
17. What is the average turnaround time between ordering the product and delivery of the product?
I know this is an exhaustive list, but, hopefully, I've brought up a few points that you had not considered and these questions will help you to make a more informed choice. Stay away from any company or representative that cannot answer these questions to your satisfaction.
In seven years as a an Account Executive and Sales Manager in the digital imaging industry, Kristen Stez learned that a well-informed customer is usually a happy one. You can find more information on how to buy a copier at http://www.squidoo.com/howtobuyacopier. Make sure you know who to call to buy a copier by checking out http://www.squidoo.com/howtobuyacopier.
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Photocopiers – The Pitfalls of Hire and Lease Agreements
If you are in the market for a copier and you are not sure whether you should purchase one or lease one, then you need to do some initial research to determine all the various options available. There are many copier manufacturers and dozens of models to choose from. Each model has different features and functions, some of which are difficult to understand unless you are a technical wizard. It is important to perform your due diligence and research the most cost effective alternatives and determine what will best fit your needs in order to find a copier to lease or purchase.
If all this research to find the right copier seems overwhelming and confusing, just wait until you get involved in the various contracts and service agreements that go along with leasing or purchasing a copier. There are so many variables to be factored into the copy usage and maintenance for leasing copiers that you will need to completely understand all the factors involved before moving forward with a decision. If you are in a business, other than a business which provides copiers, then your copier supplier will tell you to focus on your business's needs rather than spending a lot of valuable time and effort towards understanding the variables of copier lease agreements. Don't make this mistake. Look for clauses, often hidden in the text, that commit you to lengthy contracts, annual price increases and other pitfalls. And pay close attention to the service agreement.
Instead of researching all the different types of copiers on the market and the different copier lease scenarios perhaps your time would be better spent trying to find a company with experience in establishing and negotiating photocopier contract, maintenance and service agreements. Experts like these can help you find not only the right copier equipment to meet your needs but also help you determine the right leasing and service agreements to meet your budget and copier needs. But why not be creative - find one that can provide you with a photocopier or printer lease and service agreement on transparent, trade price terms, taking instead a percentage of the savings as his fee.In this way, he is motivated to get you the best deal you can get.
Some manufacturers and resellers who provide copier lease and purchase sales and services have terms and conditions built into their contracts that can be extremely expensive and contain numerous restrictions on the number of copies you can perform each month, quarter or year. There can even be restrictions that if you go over or under a specific number of copies per duration specified within the contract that you are liable for additional payments. There are even some clauses that will impact your future pricing and limitations for usage that can ultimately hamper your business. So a company specializing in matching the right contract to your specific requirements can save you time and money.
Read more at James Young's blog:
http://copiershark.blogspot.com
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Photocopier Service Contracts – The Sensible Option
Photocopiers require regular maintenance which can be expensive when paid for on a time and materials basis. When you take out a maintenance contract, part of the service is 'preventative maintenance' this is carried out to reduce breakdowns over the period of the contract. This also means, in most cases all replacement parts required to get your photocopier back up and running, labour costs, genuine branded toner and call out fees are included.
Before buying or leasing your photocopier you will get a costing for every print you make so you only pay for what you use on a cost per copy basis, so you will know up front what you are likely to be charged without having to worry about a huge bill at the end of the month.
The Assurances
Additionally, there are some assurances you get when taking out a service contract like copy quality assurance. This means that if there are any issues with the quality of your print a copier engineer will come and sort the problem out.
Many companies ensure their engineers are manufacturer trained prior to attending any call-outs, thus ensuring quick resolutions to problems. Work on your machine is also carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions giving a prolonged life to your photocopier, rather than having the dreaded 'down-time' with work pending but no way to print it.
Down time is also another factor when looking at a service contract as the less time it takes for an engineer to get out to the photocopier, the quicker you get to use the machine to print again. Many good copier companies target a response time to breakdown calls, generally around 4 hours maximum. So if your photocopier stops working in the morning they can guarantee it to be working again that afternoon.
So What About System Software Upgrades?
Another thing to think about before taking out a service contract would be the system software upgrades you are offered which will be carried out free of charge. A photocopier is just like a computer, over the term of your agreement, which in some cases could be 5 years, software will inevitably need upgrading so many companies do this so the equipment stays serviceable, which is beneficial to all involved.
Most photocopier companies know over a certain time period what parts will need replacing on a photocopier and the overall costs involved. It is in their best interests to fit genuine parts from the very start to help prolong the life of the various parts and keep the copier running smoothly and healthily. Fitting budget, non genuine parts can have a detrimental effect on the daily running of the photocopier.
The author is based in Surrey, England and works in the new media industry. He has successfully used DMCplc for various printing and copying equipment including: Canon colour photocopiers andmultifunction printers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_J_King