Tagged With "Channel Chiefs List"
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Re: Those Magnificent Men and Their Copy Machines
Hey Art, Really admire your efforts in our industry and with your blog. Its been a long time resource to keep me updated in our industry. I will be celebrating 14 years at Martin Group, and was happy to see us represented in the list above. We are as enthusiastic as ever in supporting our communities, and below is a quick write up we refreshed to be current. Martin Group in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: Is a regional power house in the office equipment community. With 35 years in the industry, and...
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Re: How I turned $15 into a 24K Opportunity
Hey Art! I started using Aweber email software about 5 months ago. I send out a monthly newsletter with a customized template. People read it! Best part is that you always stay top of mind with your prospects. I actually exported my contact list from my CRM software and imported that into Aweber. Currently have about 100 prospects and customers in my email list. It's great! Much cheaper than a mailer.
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Re: Samsung Copier Million Page Test "A Tree Massacre"
Art, I think Samsung needed to do this test to shut the mouths of the critics. Now anyone who wonders or asks if the Samsungs are reliable will get a link to this test. My Service guys tell me that the Samsungs have been working well! And the new MX series with the Android (OS) Tablet has been very cool. That wish list item that you asked Ricoh for has already been delivered by Samsung! I have just worked with a 3rd party tech company to get the first non-Samsung Android App ported to the...
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Re: Samsung Copier Million Page Test "A Tree Massacre"
Seems my Blog about the million page test was not that well received with Samsung. They complained to ENX Magazine who then pulled the blog off their site. Whatever happened to FREE Press? They were not happy that I pointed out that they used "x" amount of tree's for a 1980's type test! Since Samsung spends money with ENX, ENX pulled the blogs and is not posting any of my latest stuff. You know what, as far as I'm concerned we here this finance stuff about Sharp, Toshiba and none of the...
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
this is the old list that was published on April 3rd. I included the new list in a link on the blog
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
Whew! Lets hope the list continues to exclude copy machines.
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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: Is This the Beginning of the End for the Padding of Lease Rates?
Here is a report from leasingnews.org. One of their legal editors is doing a three part review of this legislation. Leasing News Exclusive: State Senator Steven Glazer and the genesis of CA SB 1235 (Part 1 of 3) By Tom McCurnin Leasing News Legal Editor This is important not only if you are doing commercial business in California, but this may affect other states. If you are new to this, here is legislation passed both the assembly and senate, awaiting California Governor Jerry Brown’s...
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Re: Is This the Beginning of the End for the Padding of Lease Rates?
Part Two: Leasing News Exclusive: The Opposition and How Senator Steven Glazer Got SB 1235 Passed (Part 2 of 3) By Tom McCurnin Leasing News Legal Editor The bill was "Engrossed and Enrolled" and presented to the Governor at 5 p.m., September 12th, awaiting his decision to sign or veto. How He Pushed It Through the Legislature What are the takeaways from this interview and SB 1235? ▪ First , I Was Surprised at the Overwhelming Support of Trade Groups for the Bill. When he rattled off the...
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Re: A Few Copier Vignettes from the Late Eighties & Nineties
Art, You and I are from similar professional backgrounds and times. We started in 1980 selling Sharp and Juki typewriters. Everything sold near MSRP. Then the fax boom came and we caught that wave perfectly. We sold Ricoh thermal faxes for full list ($2995.00). The only issue was cash flow; we sold them faster than we could order and purchase them. Copier Maintenance agreements went from .022 up to .035 and did not include drums, developer, toner, fuser rollers or lamps! Also, like your...
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Re: A Few Copier Vignettes from the Late Eighties & Nineties
Yup we have the same issues with cash flow. It was a great problem to have. The Hunt for Red October was a great book, even found the movie awesome too! Ty for the comment, we should connect for lunch one day
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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?
I love the idea! I've tried this in the past with Kijiji or Craig's List with little success. I was wondering if you had any stats that this worked or that the leases were successfully transferred? Thanks!
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Re: Ten Reasons Why I'm Still Enamored With the Copier Industry!
Let me add a few: * There are no Government regulations to restrict or impede my business. So many businesses are massively effected by governmental regulatory agencies like OSHA, EPA, FDA, etc. This isn't meant to be an indictment. Just saying that we don't find ourselves unemployed when a drug is taken off the market or a patent runs out. * A variation on the theme above is that because we don't sell to a single vertical market, there are always prospects. Realtors do well when the housing...
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Re: Will H.P. Uber the Imaging Channel
After a week og being overwhelmed with opinions this is the most sensible/viosionary article I read about HP - Samsung
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Re: Will H.P. Uber the Imaging Channel
Thanks Martin Hofman, The industry needs more "Imaginationalyst" (Yes I made that word up). Without the ability to imagine a completely different way of doing things, or the ability to break loose from stubbornness. Change will always happen to you instead of being caused by you. Too much analysis not enough Imagination we need to combine them "Imaginationalyst"
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Re: Will H.P. Uber the Imaging Channel
This is a great article! One point that I disagree on is that HP will be entering the SMB market with this acquisition. What's the point? Dealers own the SMB market, and most dealers will sell whatever their customers already have. Where HP has the advantage is going into their national and global accounts where they dominate with MPS contracts on A4 devices. Finally, they can go back to the banks/governments/etc and kick out the Canon/Ricoh/Xerox A3 devices that are in there. And because HP...
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Re: Nine Serious Issues For Today's Copier Dealers
Art I would love to add a 10th to your list.... The transformation of sales reps inside a digital business world. Educating, inspiring and transforming sales reps! This is a huge issue inside dealerships. Sales reps must learn a digital set of sales skills.
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Re: A Growth Strategy or an Exit Strategy both take an EBIT Strategy
As you've said for years, the Imaging market is at crossroads. - Acquire other dealerships and achieve economies of scale? - Position the dealership on other markets? The only bad solution would be to deny the reality. Therefore, the accountancy is always right. And your EBIT definition makes sense.
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Re: Imaging Channel, Let's Become the Innovation Channel!!
Geo-strategic picture. Just great, Ray!
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Re: Imaging Channel, Let's Become the Innovation Channel!!
Ray Good stuff, however when discussing imaging (which is a wide portfolio of devices), everyone seems to forget about the huge growth of niche imaging devices. Those devices include wide format, grand wide format, label presses, and envelope presses. While in Las Vegas in the spring of this year, I was able to attend the ISA Sign Expo. I've been to a lot of events in the past year and the ISA was the largest event I every attended. Two hundred thousand square feet of convention space with...
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Re: When your Deliverable doesn’t excite your Customers’ then it’s time to Innovate or even change that Deliverable.
Special thanx to Ray for letting us post this blog today Water, what's wrong with water? There is still growth in print, just not in the SMB or Enterprise markets. I'm in the trenches every day and you're correct. There's no more excitement with mfps. They all do the same thing, they are all reliable and when push comes to shove, all we are doing is stealing clients from each other. Growth for companies like Ricoh, Konic a Minolta, Canon and Kyo could be robotics. Robotics could mirror the...
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Re: When your Deliverable doesn’t excite your Customers’ then it’s time to Innovate or even change that Deliverable.
Who is this guy, is he a consultant?
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Re: When your Deliverable doesn’t excite your Customers’ then it’s time to Innovate or even change that Deliverable.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/raystasieczko/ good guy, been posting his stuff for quite sometime
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Re: Imaging Channel, It’s also about a Lease-less Future!
Interesting. Have been working on new revenue ideas for the copier dealer channel.
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Re: Sharp CEO States "I believe it is my responsibilty to...)
No money means no R&D. Sharp is getting destroyed in Canada. Since Konica Minolta purchased Pitney Bowes' imaging division (Sharp's largest dealer in Canada), they've been offering customers massive incentives to flip their Sharp gear into KM bizhubs. I think there's more value in Sharp's direct channel base customer list than the actual technology. I've always found the MX series to be lacking in quality and ease of use. Prices have come down on Tier 1 products which means Tier 2...
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Re: Tell em Columbo Sent You!
Thus, I took all the comments and made zero mention of the LinkedIn connection. I did ask about all of the other players and received. Names of the three other vendors, machine models, and monthly lease pricing for each of them. AS predicted price will play the most important part of the buy in, however, I was able to get me and my company to the top of the list (did not give the price yet)m due to the knowledge that I brought to table for automating a workflow process. Gotta just figure out...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Have to remind customer of your long term involvement vs. price. Usually the differentiator...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Originally Posted by Art Post: Whoa there Art.... I've been with Canon (CSA) for 20 years. We have thousands of well satisfied customers. Not everyone everywhere is going to be happy but, to the chagrin of our competitors, most are. If they aren't, they will leave. You know it and I know it. We have ROE's that are rigidly enforced where I do business, we are not out to buy the business and the competition from Canon's own dealers often force prices to rock bottom margins. You've been at this...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
I call complete bull **** on that. I am dealing with a customer right now whose quote from csa is 20% less than we can buy it for with all programs etc. the directs are blaming the dealers for running the industry into the ground? That's hilarious And I've heard that from Ricoh direct as well. Let's not forget who decided to bring out the A4 machines and drive the hardware revenues down to nothing and then start doing service at cost so the factory could continue to run. Those branches are...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
I am dealing with this right now, my DBM is looking into it but I'm skeptical having lost two previous accounts to Ricoh Direct. One was a school district we had seven mfp's in Ricoh had one billable obsolete AF 650 so "technically" we weren't the incumbent. Ricoh has a lot of ways to get around their rules. Ricoh "says" the dealer cost is the same as direct but we see them sell at our cost all the time. Originally Posted by txeagle24: We've had issues with Ricoh finding (or try really hard...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Need to resort to good old salesmanship. Dealer service and personnel benefits. Best wishes..
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
It's difficult to sell dealer service and benefits when your pricing is 30% higher. That's a lot of value to add and if anyone thinks they can truly do that much value on a regular basis, I want them on my team.
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
That's about all I can tell my reps is good luck. Your not going to beat the directs on price. If you can sell the value of a dealer/customer relationship that's the best bet. My post may have sounded a little Blount/direct towards you which wasn't intended. I just get fed up when I see my reps bring quotes back that we can't even touch without losing money.
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Price , as an objection has always been challenging. I use to spread difference over 5 yrs then load up on advantages which I could offer. Sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't. You seem to be seasoned at this. If significant enough I brought DSM from Mfgr. That helped me get customers attn.. Usually mentioned to prospect longevity of rep from dealer vs. transition of direct contact if that helps. Let me know how you make out.. Again best wishes. What state are you in?
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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: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
We're in Illinois. I have brought in my DSM/DBM and a Ricoh Solutions specialist when necessary didn't help in the last instance. When we see Xerox selling off the state contract they usually sell at below our US Communities cost. This is a broke ass state and price is often the only "value" they care about.Originally Posted by Larry Kirsch: Price , as an objection has always been challenging. I use to spread difference over 5 yrs then load up on advantages which I could offer. Sometimes it...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
I would add a solid A4 lineup from Lexmark or Samsung. They're aggressively priced, & Ricoh would likely still consider you a single source dealer. A3 placements are on the decline, & A4 is the only growing segment, plus the aftermarket revenues and profits are higher.
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Sounds good. Years ago I was br. Mgr in loop for Savin.. Also had sharp/ Panasonic dealership nyc.. Business has changed but appears to be more lucrative nowadays . Kyocera may play out as good second line... Nice warranties for dealers.. Stay with it.. Where in Ill. Are you??
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Larry I am in NC. Have been doing this about 10 years. It's all I've done since college. I love the industry, for the most part, and really am at a point I couldn't afford to leave it behind. We are a family dealer so running the company has always been my goal so I've neve freaky wanted to leave either. For the ones that are single source RFG, we use to be in the same boat. We added Samsung in 2009 so we have seen tej good and the really bad of SAMSUNG. We brought on Kyocera for a short...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
All sounds good. Bumped into Keith Allison last week. Is he in your area?? Anyhow sounds like you guys are well diversified . Re the tough prospect !! Perhaps an offer of a back up used copier could counter Ricoh 30% lower cost ? Try almost anything to get prospect on your side. Then next year inc price?? Maybe?? Lol
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Yes Keith has a branch in our area but we don't run into them that much. Yes we stuck it out with Ricoh for as long as we could. We really took a hard look at the dealer/manufacturer relationship when the ikon merger happened and we saw pricing in our area that was worse than we see now. What broke the camels back was when we asked for support from Ricoh to gain some of the canon accounts that we had engaged and Ricoh told us point blank to walk away from the deals because we would never win...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
Sounds like you are on a roll. Keep up the good work...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
mnchstr How about Muratec, they now have the A3 KonicaMInolta's also
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
This has been a great thread so far! We're a mid size dealer in central pa and have most of the directs knocking around in our area. TABS, KMBS, RBS, CSA, Xerox and now Global just bought a small dealership. In addition we have quite a few other Indy dealers like us. I whole heartedly agree with what some one said before about selling the value of your company, service and the relationships. I've also told customers point blank I cannot compete with the directs price so if that's all that...
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Re: Canon Business Systems Pulling a Ricoh
A lot of focus , dedication, and hard work always is helpful. A little luck also doesn't hurt. Best wishes.