Tagged With "Top Image Systems"
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Re: Top Ten Copier & MFP Quotes for November 2016
What’s happened to our membership? I didn’t opt out! Sue at Copy-Fax
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Is it just me, or does West McDonald look like Wolverine? I watched the Seat-Based Billing video that was posted from the Top 100 Summit. Definitely some interesting points going back and forth. Print Audit has done a great job of persistently marketing seat-based pilling to the copier industry.
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Czech funny you should mention that "wolverine" look, it was actually one of the "challenges" at the event. Whom ever had the most completed challenges won a MS Surface tablet. I did not win.
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
I disagree that you have to own the network in order to offer seat-based billing. Before I go into why, can we (imaging industry) please stop referring to Managed Services as MNS? No one in the IT world uses this term; it's industry jargon that makes you stand out as a copier dealer 1st and an IT Services provider 2nd. Managed IT Services, Managed Services...fine. MNS needs to die. Now, here is why I disagree that you have to own the network as a client's Managed Services provider in order...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Tx, awesome post! The conclusion for managed IT was at our own round table and not the general audience. One of the dealers in my group is heavily involved with managed IT, and thought it would be great offer. Yes, it was stated that MNS is only used by copier dealers and should be referenced to what you described. TY for the awesome reply!!
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
I will also add since you mentioned wanting to do this on copiers/MFPs: our industry also needs to get the idea that MPS only has to do with printers & A4 MFPs out of their heads. Output is output, & our clients don't see any difference so why should we? Properly deploy what systems meet the client's needs (or just get rid of them if that is best) & be of service in whatever way you can. Hell, our customers want all of this stuff to go away (just wait til the Millenials are in...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Is it just me, it seems that the general rule of thumb for the copier industry to end users is "the take or leave approach". Meaning, come hell or high water we're not going to change the way we bill, the way we support, or the financial solutions that we offer. While I was at the Top 100 conference, a rep from Wells Fargo spoke about the billing options that they now have in their leases. One of the options was for seat billing for managed IT services. My thought is that if it's available...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
No, Art. You're spot on. I haven't had many jobs outside the industry, but the majority of the old guard is so proud of the way they've always done it & receives so much validation from other dealers with the same mentality (via BTA, CDA, SDG, et al) that they often refuse to admit the need to change until it's practically too late. There are ideas & concepts that I brought up 3-5 years ago that were considered to be "interesting but not really necessary" that we're suddenly latching...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Great minds think alike!
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Re: Top 100 Summit Highlights
So refreshing to see our industry being open, social and online like this!!
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Originally Posted by txeagle24: I disagree that you have to own the network in order to offer seat-based billing. Before I go into why, can we (imaging industry) please stop referring to Managed Services as MNS? No one in the IT world uses this term; it's industry jargon that makes you stand out as a copier dealer 1st and an IT Services provider 2nd. Managed IT Services, Managed Services...fine. MNS needs to die. Now, here is why I disagree that you have to own the network as a client's...
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Re: 10 Ways to Close Net New Business #4 of #10
Just a short update in reference to the account I was speaking about. The IG came back with many additional questions today, asking if the cost per page could be lowered, the annual cost of the maintenance agreement, and the price of the system. I stated NO on all accounts. We had started with a 25ppm color A3 device and then moved to an A4 color device. They were not even happy with that price. In addition when they received all of the no's they asked about pre-owned or used. I then stated,...
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Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
Jay, We typically go after about any machine other than a Xerox. If someone wants us to service their machine and its not a complete piece of junk we will take it on and will get parts and supplies from dealers etc. until we can upgrade to one of our lines; Savin, Canon, or Samsung. We expect our reps to go out and take service agreements and we pay them the first months billing. Most don't like to mess with 30.00 agreements but they add up and eventually you find a big one. We had a rep who...
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
Canada charges a 270% tariff because the US has a massive over supply of milk production. If US dairy product was to enter Canada without tariffs it would destroy our perfectly working dairy industry. Why should the USA be allowed to destroy our milk industry so as to partially solve a problem created within the USA? Besides, how do you think Canada maintains its "free" single payer health care system. It is by charging high taxes on all consumer purchases. I do not think that anybody thinks...
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
The Trump Administration today announced plans for a new round of $200 Billion worth of tariffs against China. https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/10...ffs-trump/index.html Copy machines were on the original list but but were taken off leaving parts and consumables subject to a 10% tariff. It seems most suppliers have not taken actions to increase their prices. On the new list which could go in effect sometime after Aug 30th are: 8443.39.20 Electrostatic photocopying apparatus, operating by...
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
President Trump announced today, effective Sept 24 2018, a 10% tariff on a broad list of $200 B worth of Chinese goods. https://ustr.gov/about-us/poli...inalizes-tariffs-200 On this final list are all forms of copy devices. No mention of printers. No mention of toner. Unless China makes serious trade concessions to the USA, without retaliatory tariffs of its own on USA made goods sold in China, the 10% tariff will rise to 25% on Jan 01 2019. These devices are on the final tariff list,...
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
SSG Thanx for keeping this thread up to date! Kudos The economy is doing so well here in the US that I don't think many will care. I will use this to my advantage to get clients to move now. Now, I hope they do care! Art
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
Yup, it's a pretty BIG Hammer! I heard a radio report that the US trade debt rose significantly in July. I'm thinking what you stated is that "many of the manufacturers have stuffed thier warehouses". That's probably why we haven't seen anything to date with increases.
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Re: Assume My Copier Lease....What?
Originally Posted by Kiwispike: Tried this recently but haven't found anyone to take it up, issue I have had is often the remaining lease is above the market rates at the time. But its a fantastic concept. I agree when the market rate is above what you can buy it for, however, but you just never know. Recently we had the Sandy disaster here in NJ. Many companies moved in for one or two years to help with the rebuilding process. They would be viable candidates to assume a lease that may have...
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Re: "You've just WON Presidents Club, What Are You Going to D0 Now?"
"I Love Cold Calling!" Don't worry - I haven't lost my mind. (Yet.) Cold calling isn't fun. You know it and I know it. So why did I say that? Because I can remember countless times when I heard someone say, "Cold calling is fun!" In fact, I even did it once. It's true. Early on in my sales career, when I was going from job to job, failing by cold calling, and not understanding why it wasn't working - after all, my managers all said it would work - I began deluding myself into believing that...
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Re: In Search of the Office Imaging Industry’s Top Sales People
I just do not understand why this is necessary. Unless of course you and Art are on some sort of a reward, working for or with the US Inland Revenue people ? We all know who we are, that are any good at selling !!! I do not see any real benefit other than those with Narcissistic tendencies.
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Re: In Search of the Office Imaging Industry’s Top Sales People
At least with this award not everyone will get a trophy~
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Re: In Search of the Office Imaging Industry’s Top Sales People
What about the direct side Art?
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Re: In Search of the Office Imaging Industry’s Top Sales People
Larry: Both Direct and Dealers are good!
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Re: Copier Scams Part Deux "Dude Where's my Copier"?
Grant: Thanx for the comment, here in the US there is the trade agreement also but it varies from dealer to dealer. If the customer opts to return the system then the dealer has the option to buy the equipment.
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Re: The Transition of the Copier Industry "Part III"
Hey Jeff No, we did not use the eQuill/eWriter. I thought we should have put this to good use for our sales team. The usage of the eQuill in the field would have enable many conversations about how we use it, how we set the system up, and what was our back end process. It was an opportunity to break out of that commodity role. Thanx for the reply and questions!
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Re: Ricoh MP 305SP & MP 305SPF "Coming to America"
It won't be for the low volume customer who doesn't need a full A3 system like the MP 3054. I haven't compared this with the 2501 yet, it has it's own limitations.
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Re: Ricoh MP 305SP & MP 305SPF "Coming to America"
perfect system for AEC market, that needs low volume 3-6K per month with the need to print & scan occasional 11x17, and also has a space issue.
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Re: 5 Questions for HP about the Acquisition of Samsung Printer Business Unit
I had the time at lunch today to listen to a recorded webex meeting from Photizo that offered up speculation on why HP bought Samsung. Here's my takeaways: Patents, more than 6,500 of them 1,500 world class engineers The eventual replacement of all canon marking engines with Samsung Thus, as there was much hype about the purchase of Samsung, I don't think was for the laser based engines, but more for the patents, the engineers, and the laser engines for HP printers. In addition, HP will now...
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Re: Why I Spent 30 Minutes Researching a Headset and What That Means to Copier Sales Reps
Larry, good stuff. Just the other day I was at an appointment for an envelope press. It was an existing account, and before we could meet, they wanted me to send the pricing on three different models. I was somewhat reluctant, however, since it was an existing account, I caved. After a few follow ups, we had the meeting, which I thought was going to more about telling then what the system could do and can't do. After 20 minutes or so, the DM stated that she had done quite a bit of research...
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Re: Ricoh Adds New Color Envelope Printer
Art, When you get the chance take a look at the iQueue software that comes with this system. It is a very complete package which includes the ability to automatically recognize Spot colors, and allows you to manipulate them. This software will output to just about any device you can load a print driver for. I tested it on a Fiery driven device with excellent results.
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Re: Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2015
I really like number 4, and I believe #7 is going to happen sooner than we expected. I hold out hope as well.
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Re: Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2015
Not liking the Kyocera part of #4 at all. On the other hand really liking # 10 Add: Color equipment will become more prevalent with costs of color equipment continuing to drop and coming more in line with monochrome.
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Re: Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2015
5) - Canon bought a very large stake in one last year (Therefore). Locally hosted or cloud based.
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Re: My Top New Years Work Resolutions for 2015
Hey Art, Was wondering if you set resolutions to get x amount of $$$ in your pipeline for the year?
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Re: My Top New Years Work Resolutions for 2015
Nope, no resolutions for x amount of dollars. It's my belief that if you do the prospecting you'll have the pipeline of dollars.
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Just got off the phone with my DBM and OF COURSE Ricoh has one machine in the county system so I can't keep them out if the board wants to consolidate under one vendor. I'm thinking my days as a sole source RFG dealer are over. I could add Sharp, they call me every now and then but EVERYONE around here sells Sharp. Looked at Kyocera once but they wanted $65k buy in. Suggestions?
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Re: Ten plus Tips for Cold Calling in the Field
I have two points I will add that may help him out. First, don't assume anything when it comes to customers and their money. We had a rep who we were working with one day and he drove by a building. I asked him why he wasn't stopping and he said look at that place, there's no way that guy has any money to buy a copier. Turns out this guy was a fairly big developer and that building was his new office. They had not started construction on the project yet. They went in and the office had a...
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Re: Ten plus Tips for Cold Calling in the Field
I also meant to add that as a newbie its important to know as many people as possible. I have reps who know many different people all the way down to the security guards at big facilities. I, like Art, probably don't prospect enough. I'm lucky to get 25 calls a week compared to my reps who probably do 30-40 a day, but still have about a 600,000 book of revenues each year. Even in a management role I can't get it out of my system to go out and sell. It's taken me close to 10 years but now I...
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Re: Ten plus Tips for Cold Calling in the Field
All great stuff. I'd like to add in a few more points. 1) Never use a cold call to sell, only to gather information. Receptionists and office managers are loaded with information because they are the primary users. Ask if they are having any problems with their copiers and you might be surprised with what you hear. 2) The 4 most important questions you need to answer in every cold call: What do they have? How long have they had it? Who is the decision maker? Who was their previous vendor? 3)...
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Re: Who's Afraid of the Epson WorkForce C20590 100ppm MFP?
@printguy @Art Post We have not sold a single one yet. Most people seem to have no interest in ink. I like the product. It is a Kyocera finisher. The problem with the finisher is that it slows the machine down to half speed. So ultimately someone is getting a 50ppm system, not a 100ppm if you have the finisher. Space is an issue if you have the finisher. I talk about the product to everyone but most people revert back to a toner system. I don't think this is going to be a game changer as...
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Re: A Funny Thing Happened while Phone Cold Calling Today
I love it when people say that. I have pointed it out to people and actually sold them a system after they realized how stupid they sounded saying they didn't accept calls/drop in's from Sales People. I have politely told business owners down to receptionists that I hope their sales reps are not treated the way I was when I walked into their office when they are in the field trying to earn a potential clients business.
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This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago, The First Week in January 2009
Ten years ago this week and what was on our minds? It was the Great Recession. I remember it all too well. Many of my accounts were in the AEC market, remember losing almost 30% of that business because of bankruptcies, companies closing and companies just buying their device once they came to the end of the lease. Hope I never have to go through that again! Enjoy the threads from ten year ago this week! Weekend Copier Notes from 1/4/09 Neal · 1/5/097:19 AM According to survey of printshops...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 5 Years Ago, The First Week in January 2014
Some great threads here, especially the blog series I wrote for "31 Ways to close more copiers sales". Enjoy these threads from 5 years ago this week! Pacific Office Automation Helps Local Children by Matching Donations in the Fox 12 Holiday Toy Drive Art Post · 1/2/1410:14 PM Pacific Office Automation Pacific Office Automation ( http://www.pacificoffice.com ) is a leader in managed printing solutions and document management software. Since 1976, Pacific has grown to become the industry’s...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago, The Third Week in January 2009
There's a pretty decent thread below about relationship selling. It's ten years old and yes I found it some place on the web. Speaks about common ground with the client along with trust. Take the three minutes to read this thread. Relationship Selling – The Buy and Buy Enjoy the threads from ten years ago this week! Weekend Copier Notes from 1/18/09 Neal · 1/19/098:46 AM bundled with Kodak MarketMover, which is a package to assist printshop owners in marketing and selling digital output. The...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 5 Years Ago, The Third Week in January 2014
Enjoy the threads from 5 years a go this week! Topic Five Vendors Earn Winter 2014 BLI “Picks” in the A3 Color Category Art Post · 1/23/145:35 PM buyers. Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U .S.A., Inc. Konica Minolta bizhub C 364e Outstanding 31- to 40-ppm A3 Color MFP Konica Minolta bizhub C 454e Outstanding 41- to 50-ppm A3 Color MFP KYOCERA Document Solutions America, Inc. KYOCERA TASKalfa 5551ci (Also sold under the Copystar brand) Outstanding 51- to 60-ppm A3 Color MFP Ricoh Americas...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago, The Last Week in January 2009
It's been a hectic week for me. Had to spend a couple days in PA for meetings, coupled with the end of the month. January was nothing but a bummer. That's what happens when you cram everything in for the end of the year. One item I was happy with was my commission check. Back to rebuilding the pipeline. Enjoy these threads from ten years ago this week. Weekend Copier Notes from 1/25/09 Neal · 1/26/096:56 AM server, which is a relabeled Konica Minolta PRO C 6501. This certification is based...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 15 Years Ago, The Last Week in January 2004
In the next day or so I'll be blogging about the new Ricoh IMC MFP series. There's a lot of new stuff and I'm chomping at the bit to get my hands on one. Enjoy these threads from 15 years ago this week! Peerless Systems Announces Everest Family of MFP Controllers; New Controllers Based on Sierra Techno Boston Mike · 1/28/046:58 AM document products rely on a core set of imaging software and supporting electronics, collectively known as an imaging controller. Peerless' broad line of scalable...