Tagged With "Business with Buyer"
Reply
Re: Marco Acquires New Jersey Copier/Printer Company
Welcome to my market Marco! You are know the third MEGA dealer competing in my market place.
Reply
Re: Marco Acquires New Jersey Copier/Printer Company
Art- the # of your competitors didn’t change , their fingers and toes are now a whole lot farther away from their head. I picture you as Yankee Doodle Dandy and they are the Red Coats. Perhaps they will be as successful as .....Danka or IKON or RBS/AOE or GlobalXRX or ....
Reply
Re: Marco Acquires New Jersey Copier/Printer Company
wondering if the MarcoClover tie-up makes service companies reconsider where they buy toner and printer parts from.. i am hearing a mix of response
Reply
Re: Will outside Sales Rep's go away?
Interesting thoughts, Thank you p4p. I have sold Canon for 20+ years. Many years ago they listed the imageClass line (MFP's under 2,500 dollars) and the entire scanning line and Wide Format line. As such I stopped selling those products as I have always been compensated on hardware gross profit and there was none. Todays buyer is much different and has already done homework before I even get to speak with them. The mfr uniqueness has been commoditized and they all provide the #1 buying...
Reply
Re: Will outside Sales Rep's go away?
In 10 years there WILL be outside sales reps, and many of them will be the committed, true professionals of today. The E-Commence platform have changed our business and how we do it. For example gone are the days when you could duck into a 15 story office building and cold call. But electronic format can still be your attention getter and facilitate your efforts in creating interest. I can buy anything on line and cut out the sales person. Try doing your own investing and getting the right...
Reply
Re: Will outside Sales Rep's go away?
I’m a little late to this party but had the thread open since it was posted. As a 35 year old i straddle the “millennial” and old school gap (in my opinion haha). There is value of ordering things online that can be commonly used or even basic electronics. But if it’s anything above basic, I still believe talking to someone even if on the phone, pays dividends. We recently bought a new vehicle for my wife and explored for weeks online our options, the new vehicles options, what the price...
Comment
Re: Ask Me Anything
Sounds like I missed a good knowledge drop last week Art! Had a pretty good excuse, but love the topics discussed! I'm always learning and part of this ongoing learning is something from your blogs/emails that I throw in my knowledge bucket. Keep it up and I appreciate what you do!
Comment
Re: Ask Me Anything
@TML Yup anytime there;s a new family member it over rides anything that has to do with business. Hope to have you on the next call. Just remember to RSVP on the calendar and I will send you the link
Comment
Re: The Cannata Report 30th Anniversary Awards & Charity Event
Thanks buddy.. Talk soon. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you..
Comment
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,...
Comment
Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
Interesting perspective. We constantly have the talks about competitive machines we took on service, especially brands we don't carry. I tend to consider is taking a Konica on service and then a year or two later upgrading it to our equipment net new business from the sales side. Obviously we had net new business on the service side but not net new for "x" with the equipment sale. I'd be interested to hear how others see this. I hear a lot of people say it doesn't matter but if I bring a...
Comment
Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
I've always learned the two terms separately: Net New Business: Placing an MFP into a new account that had no existing MFP Competitive Knockout: Displacing a competitor's MFP with your own Base Upgrade: Upgrading one of your current MFP's Base Net New: Adding a new MFP into one of your current accounts The terms would be based based on the department. So for your car dealer example, you would be an existing account for their service department but net new business for their sales department.
Comment
Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
I was wondering if the subject of those customers who were acquired through service was going to come up, & Jason's comment is certainly "food for thought"... In his example, he brought on the service customer (with the obvious intention of upgrading them at the first opportunity) & the dealer gets a contract & machine sale that they otherwise wouldn't have. Sounds like net new to me. In my experience, though, most of these service to machine sale conversions are from customers...
Comment
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...
Comment
Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
We do almost the exact same thing... anything but Canon, Toshiba, & Xerox. If I could get Reps to bring in 4 figure maintenance agreements, life would be spectacular!
Comment
Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
We were staying away from Toshiba for a long time until we had a friend who could sell us parts, supplies, and give us manuals etc. those 4 figure contracts certainly do help. Seems few and far between but I'll take them when I can get them.
Comment
Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
Originally Posted by Czech: I've always learned the two terms separately: Net New Business: Placing an MFP into a new account that had no existing MFP Competitive Knockout: Displacing a competitor's MFP with your own Base Upgrade: Upgrading one of your current MFP's Base Net New: Adding a new MFP into one of your current accounts The terms would be based based on the department. So for your car dealer example, you would be an existing account for their service department but net new business...
Comment
Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
In my opinion, Net New is any revenue stream you did not previously have. Take over service of a competitor's equipment = Net New. Replace that machine purchased from a competitor with one of your own = Net New. Take over management of their print fleet or IT infrastructure = Net New. Replace those printers or computers, Net New. Time comes to renew those contracts at a lower or identical service payment= Upgrade. But, if their monthly payment increases, the difference between the old...
Reply
Re: Sharp bond risk jumps as losses over 4½ years top $10 billion
Surely eventually the ship is sunk. I still see SAMSUNG as a buyer at some point even though the Japanese govt won't have it.....for now.
Reply
Re: Toshiba Introduces World's First Copier Delivering Erasable and Black & White Prints
Imagine a CMYK copier, except remove the CMY toner and developer and insert a new Erasable Blue (EB) toner and developer. Modify the copier so that when the Erasable blue toner passes back through the heat of the fuser, it de-colorizes the blue to white. A new rules based print driver can automatically makes software apps like emails auto print in blue plus provide a new counter to show how much paper, CO2 and money you saved. The previous generation product appealed to too small a section...
Reply
Re: Toshiba Introduces World's First Copier Delivering Erasable and Black & White Prints
A good YouTube video showing the erasable copier in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwRBOqI9sq0
Reply
Re: office360 equipment leads
I haven't tried them yet. Still using Buyer Zone but they do email me about once a week wanting me to try it out. What are the details when you say "couple thousand minimum purchase"...They want you to prepay that amount?? We are using EDA Data now as well.
Reply
Re: office360 equipment leads
Thanks Monte. At first I was shocked at the 1,000 a month commitment but I don't know why as we were doing around 1,000 a month with buyer zone until the leads became junk.
Reply
Re: Toshiba Introduces Powerful Desktop Multifunction Printer Trio
Anyone have info on these new models?
Comment
Re: The A4 Challenge or Opportunity
Most are missing this great opportunity to shift dollars. The satellite channels are starting to tell end-users to shift print spend to IT Security, and other more pressing issues. It won't be long before the buyer starts circumventing the sales engine of yesterday. Thanks for posting Art
Reply
Re: Savin Dealer LOW price
Well, when the buyer is looking for someone to service his two Savins in a couple of years because the original dealer went bankrupt, maybe he'll understand the phrase, "you get what you pay for"
Reply
Re: Premium Membership "What's In It For Me"
Just a note for everyone and thanx to all of our new preium members. I have forged an alliance with another web developer that will be funneling leads our way. Right now I'm picking up the slack to get these leads. Some come from my site and some from another, however they are quality and not someone looking to beat you up on price. Remember the P4Pcafe Value. "We connect the serious multifunctional copier buyer with best of breed multifunctional experts in your area. We have thousands of...
Reply
Re: Possibly moving to Ricoh....
I'm going to say something here from my experience of being a copier buyer BEFORE I started working in the copier industry. Yes, it's true, I was a client of the very dealership that I came to work for. You're not going to like what I have to say because you're sales reps and you trained to think a certain way. Please, for once, listen with an open mind to someone with experience being on the other side of the proposal. Ponder it, don't spin it. Most buyers don't care one bit what brand of...
Reply
Re: Top 9 Blunders that B2B Sales Reps Make
What they do: They give in to last minute demands from the prospect, usually for extra discounts, “or else the deal is off.” Why they do it: They’re deathly afraid of losing the deal at the end of the sale cycle, so they crumple when the prospect pushes. What happens: The customer rightfully concludes that 1) the rep didn’t offer the best deal from the start and 2) the rep lacks a backbone. The customer thus no longer trusts the rep and will constantly push for more and more and more and...
Reply
Re: Competitive Copier Vendors
I think the local dealers biggest advantage against the National vendors is flexibility. Dealers naturally have much shorter chains of command due to having far less employees. Therefore, dealers can make quicker decisions. The National Vendors are always going to have the advantage of price and a lesser concern for profitability. If you cant beat them on price, thow in some change-ups on them. 1.Free Pro Services 2 Free HDD Decommissioning 3.Copy Blocks 4. Throw a "bonus" Office Chair,...
Reply
Re: Q. How does your company handle networking charges?
My rule is, if they need more training, or something wrong or inconvenient with the way I set up the print scan, I'll make it right, no charge. If they add a workstation and want it configured,if they changed their router/switch, decide (after 60 days or so) they need a different configuration, or some O/S related problem, that is chargeable. A case in point, a customer called me saying his can scan to folder icon has disappeared from his desktop. I suggested that the cleanup wizard has...
Reply
Re: Up against Minolta with a Rioh MP-C6501/Savin C9065 & MPC5501/Savin C9155
This will be a tough battle to prove without a sample file. I would educate the customer and understand the stock they are using and the application that created the file. What driver are they using? I would have them make sure each person is using the same stock. If the customer does not provide a stock for you...then make sure you use Hammermil, 98 semi-gloss to make the color pop. I would if possible invite the customer to the showroom and show them how easy it would be to produce the...
Reply
Re: Selling is dead. The Customer Community killed it.
Well written blog, however I as agree with many of the points in the blog. For example: 1. Selling is not dead; it has changed and will continue to change. As the author finally arrives at near the end “old selling” is dead. As buyers change, great sales people have to change with them. Selling is alive and well, it has just changed. 2. Buyer communities did not kill selling. If anything, they can help it. If your company is doing a good job and made a name for itself then the buyer...
Reply
Re: Japan's Sharp Corp plans to sell its copiers and air conditioners businesses
Somewhere near last.... However, I just picked up this press release from Rueters also: Sharp seeking over $1.2 bln for plant and other assets -Yomiuri * Sharp also in talks to sell some Tokyo offices -Yomiuri * Sharp will struggle to find buyer for solar business-source By Reiji Murai and Tim Kelly TOKYO, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Cash-strapped Sharp Corp is in talks to sell its key solar panel plant in Japan as part of an asset sale seeking more than $1.2 billion, local media said on Thursday,...
Reply
Re: I have a buyer in South America
Just read this post and wanted to add my comments. I ship a lot of product outside the USA and there are 2 important points that will protect you: 1. Ship all products using INCO Terms EXW your location. This means the buyer is responsible for all shipping, duty & taxes once the product leaves your possession. 2. Maintain a wire account with a minimum amount of money in it. Have the buyer wire the money to this account and as soon as the funds hit your account transfer the money to your...
Reply
Re: Sharp Announces New High Performance Workgroup Document Systems With Second Generatio
I am surprised Sharp is not beating their drum more about this as I think it is an industry first. I have been involved in several mobile print installs lately and they sometimes involve allowing non employees to use a companies wireless LAN. Usually you also need a PC turned on all of the time with a wireless app like Breezy installed and running on a local PC. This could be potentially problematic from a security point of view. Sharp's new approach by making the MFP the wireless access...
Reply
Re: Section 179 Deduction IRS Tax Code
As we all know in this business most of us recommend our clients to pay for the use of the technology under a Fair Market Value lease. There are many benefits to this lease structure and is by far the most dominate purchase option in the industry. Use of Section 179 provides a business the ability to fully expense/depreciate the cost of an asset in a given calendar year. In most cases we don't what the customer to own the equipment but if you customer is looking to capture their 179...
Reply
Re: Sales Tips
Ask Why? People have all sorts of reasons for not buying or giving an objection, and you shouldn't take "no" personally. The more you can put your ego aside and gracefully accept the refusal, the more you learn from the experience. So, assume for the time being that you've been turned down and your business with this person is done. Make it clear that you've accepted the reply. If you're no longer trying to sell him, you and the buyer will be in a more neutral territory, and you'll have...
Reply
Re: Sales Tips
13 Ways to Respond to the "Call Me After the Holidays" Objection Written by Aja Frost | @ ajavuu Calling prospects in the last few weeks of Q4 means you’ll hear a season-specific objection: “Can you call me back in the new year?” There are three potential reasons you’ll hear this line. First, your prospect might be interested in learning more but has a legitimate reason to postpone your conversation. Maybe he’s already used up his budget, his team or department is still finalizing next...
Reply
Re: Ricoh 2035 vs Mita 4035
Ok... Here's my 2 cents worth. If this is a price buyer, you stand a big chance of losing the deal on price and cost of service and supplies. We are able to sell this system (the 4035) over $2k lower than the 2035 and with 5 more pages per minute. We can even be right there in price on the 5035 to be honest. If the customer needs PostScript, you may be in a disadvantage as well, depending on the intelligence of your Kyocera dealer because the KM PostScript emulation is a standard driver with...
Reply
Re: Panasonic Dumps Dealers, Keeps all but a handful!!!!
FWIW, we haven't been a pandealer for many years now, and can still order parts, anything we want.. . . from MSC. What is MSC? I just got off the phone with Scott, my (former) sales rep. Apparently Panasonic cut 15,000 jobs nationwide (last day is end of February), and dumped all but the top handful of dealers. Those employees who lost their jobs can re-apply, but the "new" positions will be far fewer. Here's what I know so far: -If you have an existing Parts account, you'll keep it. Whew.
Comment
Re: Assume My Copier Lease....What?
Thanks for all of your questions and comments! To answer the first question by @AOSGROUP, we've had some success in our local area of Toronto, Canada. The transactions were completed manually before launching the marketplace. The current version of the marketplace was only launched this past January, so you guys are the early adopters. Transactions can take the form of either a lease assumption (where one credit-approved client assumes the lease of another as-is), or a split-buyout (where...
Reply
Re: Net New Business "How Do We Do It"?
As a chamber member I was able to get mailing labels for all the main contacts and plan on sending an introductory letter, with a follow-up call. Still looking for a templete of a letter that I could get some ideas from.
Reply
Re: Net New Business "How Do We Do It"?
Getting involved in the community with non profits is a great way to meet new people.
Reply
Re: Net New Business "How Do We Do It"?
40% of my business last year came from Schools or Government. I found a few niche pain points that almost any District or Department would experience and used that as my lead in with the appropriate person. For example, for schools, it was Common Core State Standards. Learning the implications and compliance issues got me lots of appointments and 4 new Districts. We utilize UCC Filing Data as another prospecting tool which works really well for having a leg-up when you walk in the front door...
Reply
Re: Net New Business "How Do We Do It"?
I personally don't think there is a secret to it - just follow up and be the better rep. My competitors are huge companies; everyone knows who they are. However, their reps are lazy and don't visit their customers. Prospects are amazed when you have been following up with them within the past 3 years or so; meanwhile their current vendor has been through 3 reps already. It really is out of sight, out of mind in this industry.
Reply
Re: Net New Business "How Do We Do It"?
You yourself Art dropped this pearl of wisdom a few days ago "A few days ago, I was going through my "Who's viewed your profile" on Linkedin. I try to connect with all of my second level contacts" I was on a recent sales seminar and believe that the point of Linkedin is to get and communicate with as many second level contacts as possible. LinkedIn is definitely the new sales tool of the last few years. I have been quilty of not using it effectively but now I put at least 30 minutes per week...
Reply
Re: Net New Business "How Do We Do It"?
social media is great. You may like these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbIG8vd0TbY http://pages2.marketo.com/dg2-social-marketing-ppc.html?source=PPC&comment=PPC_GS_US&ag=SMM%20-%20General&camp=Social%20Media%20Marketing&_kk=41362422627&kw=%2Bsocial%20%2Bmedia%20%2Bmarketing&gclid=CjkKEQjwh7ucBRD9yY_fyZe398gBEiQAAoy4JPyUNQr4Dk5yVdA065dd6XPrIbEqKanmUOpwFJZQsNrw_wcB