If you’re in the market for a new copier (or MFP if you prefer!), you have a lot of decisions to make.
- What PPM is right for you? Do you need to store documents in the cloud?
- Is a managed print service a good fit for your business?
Do you buy a new copier directly from the manufacturer or from an independent copier dealer?
The truth is, no matter which you choose, there’s a good chance you’ll get what you want. It’s likely you’ll walk away with a solid MFP from a perfectly pleasant sales rep either way, but there are certain advantages to partnering with an independent copier dealer you may not be aware of! Here are our top five advantages to buying a copier from a dealer.
Locally Minded
One of the biggest benefits of working with a manufacturer directly that manufacturers, typically, have a national if not global reach. Depending on the size of your organization, this could be a great asset! However, if you’re part of a small to medium sized organization, a massive global entity may not be the most attentive to your needs. A local dealer, on the other hand, is a local business, just like you, and offers the same line of products as the manufacturer. Their sales and support staff are also often based locally, which makes it easy to maintain your ongoing relationship.
Pricing
This one may actually surprise you: It’s actually not always cheaper to buy or lease your copier direct from the manufacturer. It’s hard to say for sure what your invoices may actually say from any retailer, but what is indisputable is the many levels of hierarchy in a major manufacturer —and every single one of them needs to be cut in. Dealers tend to be smaller and leaner, with fewer layers of bureaucracy. The result is frequently a lower price point with your local dealer.
Other Manufacturers
A copier manufacturer is going to offer their own equipment for sale. If you’re a fan of their models, this is a benefit and not at all an issue! Even still, dealers often offer more than one manufacturer, and can readily compare your favorite with another that may better meet your budget and feature needs. You never know, you may be surprised!
Add On Services
Maybe you don’t want just a copier, you also want additional services and solutions. Sometimes the manufacturer can help you find what you’re looking for, but your selection is limited by the manufacturer’s own brands and partnerships. As with the copiers themselves, a dealer is much more flexible not only with the software it can deliver, but also the implementation.
Personal Touch
Forgive my lack of cynicism, but the world is full of nice people. It would be unfair (as a copier dealer) to even begin to suggest that the people in the sales department at a major manufacturer are not good people. We often work right alongside these folks! But a local copier dealer is a vested part of your community in a way that a global manufacturer isn’t and can’t be. And, with a smaller footprint, each salesperson has fewer clients and more time to devote to each one.
Your local copier dealer can help you with all sorts of challenges! Contact A&A to discover more ways your copier can work for you!