Tagged With "Cedar Falls"
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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
You can call it whatever you want tariff/ tax but if your cost of goods increases by up to 10% this fall solely due to actions by the Trump Administration we will see if you feel the same by Jan 2019. You seem a bit naive in thinking that a tariff is not a tax. I am sure Ricoh will not share you opinion on selling less new equipment in favor of used gear.
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
Trump is doing the right thing. As far as Ricoh is concerned, I couldn't care less of their opinion. It's all about putting food on the table for our families.
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Re: A Halloween Tale of an A3 Copier’s Death
What is even more scary is how your commission cheques will fall in $ value if you only sell A4 copiers. The copier/printer market is not getting any larger and if a commission sales rep focuses on selling lower $ value A4 boxes, they are going to have to make a lot more sales calls and sell a lot more boxes to earn the same money.
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Re: Best Black & White MFP for 10k/month yeild. Suggestions?
Art, I like your general guidance to the initial poster, and I won't grade your writing since this isn't an English class. In regard to this brief post conversation, I think honesty is the best policy with customers and with ourselves. Yes Tim, they probably are in the top ten. However, the customer was asking which is the best. By rankings in the market place, the top seven do not include Toshiba. They fall within the bottom 7% of market share for shipments and the bottom 8.6% for market...
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Re: Copier Scams Part Deux "Dude Where's my Copier"?
I will never understand why Business Equipment Leases do not fall under the Truth In Lending laws that apply to everything else.
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Re: Copier Scams Part Deux "Dude Where's my Copier"?
That's a great question, it should, it would drive more paperwork, however the leasing industry would be better off in the long run. Originally Posted by Old Glory: I will never understand why Business Equipment Leases do not fall under the Truth In Lending laws that apply to everything else.
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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: Do You Remeber Minnella's Pocket Guide to Copiers?
I have BLI Books going back as far as 1997, I have a used copier guide called the Copier Blue Book dated Summer 1995. and an Info-Market North American Copier Guide from Fall-Winter 1990-91.
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Re: Inbound Marketing For Sales Reps (and Sales Vets)
Interesting and an awesome amount of work for the standard copier dealer. Additionally, it is and always has been my belief that CONTENT maintains sustainability - so in your Step 5, most organizations fall short. Don't you think?
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Re: Inbound Marketing For Sales Reps (and Sales Vets)
Originally Posted by gwalters2009: Interesting and an awesome amount of work for the standard copier dealer. Additionally, it is and always has been my belief that CONTENT maintains sustainability - so in your Step 5, most organizations fall short. Don't you think? Greg, It is a lot of work! That's why many dealers hire us to do it for them. However, sales reps play a huge part by: 1. Sharing relevant blog articles their dealerships post 2. Actively participating in LinkedIn 3. Following...
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Re: HP should Buy Xerox
I am deeply concerned about the race to the bottom with A4 product. A4 product certainly gets better everyday and some salespeople say it is just as good as A3...maybe true... except for your commissions. If you like Kraft dinner or Ramen noodles, downgrade your customers from A3 to A4. Let us not forget one of the largest A4 players out there is Lexmark. Lexmark is a 100% Chinese owned company called NineStar based in Guangdong, China. If you cheer MAGA, you cannot cheer Lexmark. God knows...
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Re: HP should Buy Xerox
Appreciate the comments. However, your arguments regarding A4 vs. A3 pertain to what’s good for you. Industries which are going through disruption or when an industry’s particular product or its services become less valuable to those once dependent on them. The disease of Product-Centric thinking will infect those with a stubbornness to modify. It is not up to those who sell a product or service to determine its value. Its value is determined by those who buy the product or service.
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Re: HP should Buy Xerox
There is little to no margin in A4. Folks who want those products are just going to buy on-line. Let them. Best bet is focus on areas where you can still make money. Let other people chase the race to the bottom stuff.
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Re: Four Bad Leasing Clauses I Ran Across This Week
Step Leases. A previous sales rep signed a 60 months term when a new sales rep comes in and upgrades the customer to a newer copier at a lower cost including a big free copy block at 36 months. The sales rep tells the customer your costs will never increase as long as you renew every 36 months and you will keep getting newer technology. Sounds too good to be true but many buyers fall for it as they see the now benefit and not the later obligation. Of course, the Balance of Payments is rolled...
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Imaging Channel, 2019 the year of DaaS - My suggestions to help you Implement.
Well, it happened some pioneers in the print industry are delivering an as a Service model. The Participates of the Imaging Channel must respond and deliver print equipment, its supplies, it’s parts, and its labor to repair in this as a Service model. A fixed cost for a product which eats consumables. Some in the industry are beside themselves and will more than likely lose control in how they proceed unless of course, they move forward timely based on knowledge over desperation caused by...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 15 Years Ago, The First Week in January 2004
Some of these devices sure do bring back some memories. interesting news with Ikon, and I remember the DiALTA Color CF5001 very well! Enjoy these threads from 15 years ago this week! Konica Minolta Unveils DiALTA Color CF5001 1/6/049:19 AM Konica Minolta Unveils DiALTA Color CF5001 Konica Minolta Business Solutions U .S.A. Inc. has introduced a 50-page-per-minute (ppm) color printer /copier/scanner, the Minolta DiALTA Color CF5001, designed specifically for environments with high volume...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago, The Last Week in October 2008
We're in to the last 8 weeks of the year. Prospecting that was done in July & August will now start to pay dividends and carry you through the end of the year. If you're just prospecting now for November and December then you're toast! Enjoy the threads from ten years ago this week! Weekend Copier Notes from 10/26/08 Neal · 10/27/087:45 AM WEEKEND MFP INDUSTRY NOTES 10-26-08 The following is a quick review of copier/MFP industry news from industry publications. Kodak ’s print controller...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago, The First Week in August 2008
A little of news this week is that the US Dollar is growing stronger vs the Japanese Yen. When this has happened in the past Japanese copier manufacturers have decreased pricing here in the States. When you couple this with the Chinese tariffs that may go into effect this week, it could mean that our industry may not see price increases. Japanese manufacturers might just bite the bullet on the increases in order to keep boxes moving out of the plants. BTW, the dude in the picture, had just a...
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I Clicked and Didn’t See You
It’s a digital world, where are you? Today more and more of yesterday’s customers are finding new providers who deliver a digital better experience. I still hear many in sales talking about the need and value of building relationships. The problem is they are using 1990 construction methods. Today not only buyers but assumed happy customers are clicking their mouses in search of knowledge or, in search of something different, and unfortunately, many current providers are not showing up in...
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Behind Every Great Sales Professional You'll Find A Coach... Who's Your Coach?
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan had Phil Jackson. Tom Brady has Bill Belichick. What's the common denominator? Coaching benefits professional athletes, so why don't more in sales leadership, sales management and in sales have coaches? Tom Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback credits much of his passing success to Tom Martinez his former quarterback coach. He worked with Brady to refine his release and improve his throwing technique. Atul Gawande a surgeon and writer for the New Yorker...
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Master Service Providers Face New Competition
Most MSP technology resellers who are increasingly delivering IT Security Services, understand they will outsource the heavy lifting associated with IT Security, compliance, and education. I think the time has come that there will be a new competition which will challenge Master Service Providers, especially those with limited resources. Two thousand nineteen will be the year of new options and game-changing competitors. Some will re-invent themselves becoming the new competitor, and some...
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Seven Great Reason Why I Love Working @ Stratix Systems
It's a late night for me just like many other nights. While I was walking our dog, a little light snow began to fall here in Highlands, NJ. At this time of year, along with not much traffic I can hear the rumble of the waves that are peppering the beach. Sometimes it's times it's nights like these that I get to remember about how good things are and how fortunate I've been through out the years. A little more than ten years ago the copier company that I worked for was bought by Stratix...
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The Print Equipment and Services Industry must separate their deliverable.
Recently I had an opportunity to speak at ITEX, An Industry event for technology resellers. During that talk, I discussed the three types of deliverables or more importantly the three types of end-user customers within the print equipment and its services industry. This industry is strangling their full profit potential as they continue to deliver these different types of customers with the same processes. Here are the three equipment customer types: 1. High-Volume segments 6,7, and 8...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago (Second Week of February 2010)
Some additional tidbits from the show I was at for the last three days. I learned along time ago that in order to be successful at these types of events that you need to engage with people when they walk by your booth. You need to greet everyone that walks by and then ask them a question. The question I asked the most is where they were from, after getting a response I would then ask if they have a plotter or ask if they've ever seen a white board before. The questions sparked conversations...
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What Do You Do When You Need Competitive Copier Specs?
Years ago and I'm talking before the dawn of the internet. There were only a few ways you could get information on other manufacturers copiers. BI (before internet) 1) Call your competitor and ask to speak to a sales person and fib about who you are, your company, and give a BS call back number. We did this many times in order to get answers to those speed, feed and feature questions. In many cases we got snagged and had to hang up. 2) Another way was to get your significant other to do your...
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Stop Thinking About Saving-Focus On Creating
It's Not About Returning To A New Normal It's About Creating The New Normal Getting back to a new normal is not a plan! For the normal is not defined, it will instead be created. Entrepreneurial sprit will bring life to new beginnings, and it will be entrepreneurial sprit, which will defeat those things which the circumstances of the virus deemed less warranted. The year 2020 will consume the pages of digital history books. The closing of the globe was by far the most impactful thing anyone...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago (Third Week of February 2010)
Still chatting about today. It was an awesome day for me. For something that I didn't think I would perform well in, let's just say I nailed it. Yes, there's still plenty of fight in this old dog when it comes to selling! Enjoy these threads from Ten Years Ago This Week! Océ and Konica Minolta revise production print alliance Guest · 2/17/1010:21 PM marketing manager for production printing at Konica Minolta Australia, told ProPrint the two companies will continue to sell OEM products under...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago (Last Week of February 2010)
Recently we had a contest for all of the salespeople at Stratix. It was not a demo contest but more about telling the awesome Stratix story to our clients. There were judges and then group winners for each branch. The group winners would then have the face off. Years ago we had this contest and I failed miserably, I was so bad that I wanted to be shot. I have a hard time memorizing anything that has to be word for word, not sure what my issue is but I have an issue. This will make a good...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 5 Years Ago (Last Week of February 2015)
There's a cool thread I did years ago about the history of the fax. We sold tons of faxes in the eighties and had a lot of fun doing it. It was not uncommon to sell multiple units along with boxes and boxes of thermal paper. There's also a cool thread about some fun that we had with selling fax machines. Enjoy these threads from ten years ago this week! Konica Minolta Rewarded for Sustainable Investment Standards With Globally Renowned Distinctions Art Post · 2/24/1510:41 PM improve our...
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The Pandemic Gets The Blame
The times we are all navigating through are brutally devastating. The death toll across the globe is tragic, and the human suffering through this pandemic will remain long past its eradication. I am writing this article for the millions of business leaders who are being tested like never before. It is my effort to help them pass the test and prepare for the next one. "Through candid conversations, new realities can blossom." Well, I guess Amazon is finally off the hook as the pandemic is now...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 15 Years Ago for the Second Week of May 2005
It's Saturday morning here in NJ. We've hit a snag in our spring weather today, although the sun is shinning the temp is only 41 degrees. Saturday's can be a fantastic day to prospect, whether it's a few phone calls, emails or inmails (Linkedin). Our job is to inspire clients clients that we all need to be moving forward and continue our determination to succeed. Enjoy these threads from 15 years ago this week RICOH INTRODUCES SOPHISTICATED DEVICE Guest · 5/10/059:49 AM ability to monitor up...
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COVID19 "Remote Working" Day Two of Sales
Today is the day! Spent most of the morning prepping for two on-line meetings from about 8AM-10AM. I wanted to make sure I had shot at getting at least one of these in before the end of the month. Both are with two existing accounts. My first meeting was 11AM, my second was set for 2PM. I also spent about and hour getting connected to Microsoft Teams which is also one of our requirements while working remotely. More to come on this. Just about 10:AM I received an email from my 2PM and he had...
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ManagingThe Imaging Channel's Crisis
In this article, I will share what I envision coming, and some things dealers can immediately do to soften the impact of that vision. As the Industry's Customers investigate and explore their current circumstances so, must the dealers who sell and service them. Any mis-alignment will prove way too costly now and in the future. Over the last couple of weeks, the industry has been dished a new reality. The work from home business model is now mainstream, and many, including me, believe there's...
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COVID19 "Remote Working" Day Seven of Sales
Seems every morning is identical to the last one. What keeps flashing through my mine is Bill Murray and Groundhog Day. Still no end in site for the lock down in the tri-state area. The infection rates continue to increase each and every day. Enough about the bad stuff. Let's focus on the good stuff. Today was CRM day and what I called soft prospecting today. The first course of action was to weed out the crap (all the small stuff) and maintain a better focus on those larger accounts. I...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 15 Years Ago (First Week of April 2005)
It's late, need to be ready for another day. You know what they say another day, another dollar! Xerox Launches Industry’s First Color................ Guest · 4/4/057:46 PM Xerox CopyCentre® C118 black-and-white copier and Xerox WorkCentre® M118/M118i black-and-white basic multifunction systems. These compact MFPs are designed for small to midsize workgroups that require copy, print, scan and fax functions. · The EFI™ Fiery X12e controller for the Xerox DocuColor 12 color copier/printer. The...
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COVID19 "Remote Working" Day Nine of Sales
Sorry everyone, I'm going to make this short and sweet tonight. On a positive note today I receive and email from one of my clients that they like the first of 2 proposals that they reviewed and is looking at a May 1st timeline to move forward. Now I won't count my chickens yet, but that's the best news I've had all week. We scheduled a follow up in two weeks to see if we're still at square one with this virus. Oh ya, and this is a $60K opp. I had a chat with Greg Walters this AM and he told...
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This Week in the Copier Industry 15 Years Ago for the First Week of May 2005
Back in 2005 I was just 2 years into having a real web site for the copier industry. I started back in 2000 with an message forum with MSN communities. It was really cool because there was no on-line forum where sales people and principals could chat, share ideas, share war stories, share information, share competitive info and the list goes on and on. Twenty years later there is still no site like the Print4Pay Hotel. Did I do something right? We're still the only site that allows members...
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Re: 3D MFP Printer/Copier/Scanner "Ready for Prime Time"?
BTW are you going to the BTA East Event in Baltimore in the Fall?
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Re: Sharp Watch....It's Like Playing Battleship
Here's a quote from the CEO of Sharp: "I believe it is my responsibility to compile a new business plan as soon as possible," Sharp Chief Executive Officer Kozo Takahashi told reporters at a briefing in Tokyo on Tuesday. Sharp will present a new business plan around May, he said. In 3 short months we'll know what's in and what's out with Sharp. I fully expect Sharp USA to fall on the sword and tell everyone that "we'll still be here no matter what"!! To me the answer is simple, you can't get...
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Re: Top Ten MFP & Imaging Industry Predictions for 2016
Nice! I would like to contribute a few of my own predictions as well: Xerox will sell its MFP division to focus entirely on production equipment and business services. Toshiba Tec will not sell nor merge with Sharp. Toshiba is too much of a powerhouse in North America alone. Konica Minolta will continue opening up direct branches due to the rapid growth of their brand. These branches will quickly fall apart when they realize that the dealer model is more profitable. Samsung will start...
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Are Your Salespeople Good Losers? Ask Cam Newton...
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser" Vince Lombardi Well... "Here is looking at you kid! I admit I have Bronco Nation running through my blood, albeit Boise State Orange. Was I happy the Broncos won, of course. Peyton Manning, whether winning or losing is a class act. Peyton Manning and Cam Newton two phenomenal athletes at polar opposite spectrums of their careers. By now who hasn't watched the video clip of Cam walking out on the media, I laughed to myself as I watched.
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Healthcare's Next Step with Secure Cloud Demands
Cloud computing has remained one of the most important trends to ever have surfaced in corporate IT, as it quickly overhauled the ways in which organizations provision, use, maintain and optimize their technological assets. Although cloud markets were first very heavy on software, the industry has evolved rapidly to offer infrastructure, platform and other options necessary to have a fully functional and optimally enabled IT department. Still, security has been a touchy subject for cloud...
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This Week in the Copier/Office Equipment Industry 10 Years Ago The First Week of March 2006
Top 100 Summit (Print Audit Badge) Park City It was Wednesday, under the sign of Pisces. The US president was George W. Bush (Republican). In that special week of March people in US were listening to Check On It by Beyonce. In UK Nasty Girl by The Notorious BIG featuring Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge & Avery Storm was in the top 5 hits. Lie with Me, directed by Clment Virgo, was one of the most viewed movies released in 2006 while The 5th Horseman by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro was one of...
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Data Analytics Raises Health Care IT Security Concerns
Health care providers have been somewhat under the gun when it comes to the integrity, security and privacy of patient data for more than a decade now, while breaches have increased in prevalence and damage. The onus has been decisively placed on individual medical firms to begin making more progressive changes to their IT security and general data management strategies, but the entirety of the sector is increasingly expected to invest more time and resources into these endeavors.
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Can the Ricoh SP C831dn print A2 Color Envelopes?
The first time I heard the size A2 envelope, I really didn't have a clue what the dimensions were. While visiting my Guru of Envelope Printing, I saw that he had purchased an SP831DN printer from a print shop that was going out of business. I asked, "how is the printer working for you", my Guru stated, "ah, not so well, whenever I feed A2 envelopes the system will jam". I asked where, and my Guru stated that the envelopes feed a short distance from the by-pass tray and then...
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Polek & Polek Delivers Excellent Customer Support and Imaging Supplies by Sled
A couple of years ago I wrote a blog this titled, "Polek & Polek Delivers Toner Supplies to Dealers by Sled". With an impending snow storm forecasted for the North East. I thought the snippet below would be appropriate! " I think about back to our early days of being in business when we still operated out of my fathers house. There was a long, steep driveway to get to the house. When heavy snowstorms were forecast, it was impossible to get a car up and...
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As Mobility Spreads, Healthcare IT Security Must Be Enhanced
The healthcare industry has become a bit more mobile-centric in the past few years, driven by the need for agile, always-on operations that fit the preferences of both employees and clientele. When watching trends in the IT manufacturing sector, it has become clear that personal computers are likely to continue falling in shipments and investments, replaced by the adoption of and rising expenditures related to smartphones, tablets and portable computers. What's more, the mobility arena has...
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This Week in the Copier/Office Equipment Industry 10 Years Ago 1st Week of December 2005
What a difference 10 years makes, especially with wide format systems. Ten years ago, Ricoh wide format was hot! So hot, that it was not uncommon to make two to three thousand dollars on a single unit sale. Alas, all of that has...