Avoid Hidden Costs in Copier Service Contracts

As small businesses grow, office products such as copiers, printers and fax machines are acquired when they’re realized they are needed. Companies end up with dozens of different brands or products. Each product has different methods of support for obtaining toner or services. Each also carried a different method of billing.

A copier service contract is a very important factor to consider if you are planning on obtaining a provider for your copiers and printers. Copiers, like any high use office equipment, are vulnerable to wear and tear; they may malfunction in times when they are really needed. Considering help from experts, sometimes is the best solution to solve your temporary electronic equipment problems. There are several technicians online and in the phone book that are available to repair your equipment for you. You also must understand these technicians are in high demand and could be quite expensive on a per job basis.

Prior to signing any long-term contract you need to be aware of the salesman who is offering a product or service that seems too good to be true. Carefully read any contract and ask any question you may have on any item. Unfortunately there are companies that take advantage of customers lack of understanding the full service of their contract.

One main issue that customers do not catch and service providers take advantage of is the different revenue generating traps in cost per page printing.

Check to see if you are paying for pages you do not even print. Does your contract say you will be billed “X” amount of dollars for printing 9,000 pages a month? What if you only print 7,000? You saved 2,000 pieces of paper that month, but are still being charged for 9,000.

At The MPS Group, we allow for 'Quarterly Billing' thereby allowing for something like 'roll over' pages in a particular quarter.

So, if you are allotted 9,000 pages per month, you in effect are really allotted 27,000 within that given quarter.  This allows for variables and slight fluctuation in your business that may cause slower versus busier printing months.

Before signing a copier service contract, it is important to evaluate the documentation first to understand the relationship with your equipment supplier. With The MPS Group price per page solution, our agreement is a billing program that charges the customer to pay for only the prints they make.

Here are some ways The MPS Group avoids these "gotchas" or hidden costs:

• 'Cost of living' annual increase to the maintenance agreement per device of 10% - our standard is 2.5%
• Lease auto renewals at end of term - most auto renew for a one year term when client does not give usually a 60-120 day notice of non renewal. Ours only auto renew for 30 days at a time and we only require a minimum of 30 days notice.
• We do not charge for scans - scans are free. Others do charge.
• There are no shipping charges/delivery charges for supplies. Others charge for shipping and/or delivery.

If you or a business partner currently seeking a new service provider for your copier and printer solutions, and would like more information on our products and services, please contact The MPS Group at:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

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OEM VS. OEM ALTERNATIVE TONER CARTRIDGES

Whether you are an owner/manager of a company or work group, chances are you try to budget in the direction of lower cost printing. With the “state of the economy” as it is, businesses large and small alike are making efforts to save money without affecting the quality commitment to their customers.

One of the easiest ways to cut back drastically is to switch from OEM Toner Cartridges to OEM Alternatives. By doing so, chances are your partners and customers will never see the difference.

An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Toner Cartridge is a cartridge that is made by the particular brand of printer you are using. For example, if you own a Lexmark T654n Mono Laser Printer, Lexmark is the original manufacturer.

An OEM Alternative is just that. It’s an alternative to the original manufacturer’s branded equipment. The OEM Alternative is made by a third party with new compatible parts and similar quality.  OEMAlternative Toner Cartridges should not be confused with the re-manufactured OEM toner cartridges.  Re-manufactured cartridges are the name brand toners that have been used, and then recycled. They have been taken apart by the manufacturer, had any worn out pieces replaced, been refilled with the toner components, and then put back together.  

Many manufacturers of printers recommend only using OEM  toner cartridges with their printers to achieve the best results. However, they are also trying to get you to buy their product. OEM toner cartridges are generally the most expensive, and usually there is not a big difference in quality between an OEM cartridge and a quality alternative.

Also, If any parts dealer, repair service, or original manufacturer tells you that using an OEM Alternative Cartridge will void your warranty, it is not true and they are violating the law.

The Sherman & Clayton Anti-Trust and Magnuson-Moss Warranty Acts, ensure that the manufacturer of printers cannot void the warranty because of the use of re-manufactured or compatible cartridges. Penalties for violating the Sherman Act Anti-Trust law can be severe.

The warranty will not be voided if you decide to an OEM Alternative Toner Cartridge, but it does not necessarily have to cover the damage that is a direct result for using anything other than an OEM product or part.  For this reason it is important to trust the company supplying your toner cartridges and they are using only high quality products.

Benefits of OEM Alternative Toner Cartridges:

• OEM Alternative Cartridges have a lower cost than their original manufacturer counterparts. 
• Can be reliable if they are high quality 
• Cost Less to make than new OEM cartridges 
• Are not made with recycled, but with brand new parts

The MPS Group offers a 100% guarantee on all OEM Alternatives.  Unlike other companies, The MPS Group product warranty on OEM Alternatives covers the cartridge itself as well as any damage to the machine that is tied to the product directly. So in the rare circumstance one of our cartridges is the cause of your machine's problems, you will not be liable for the repairs.

If you or a business partner currently use Original Equipment Manufacturer Toner Cartridges, and would like more information on our products and services, please contact Daniel Cantu or James Thomas at The MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

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