I know we all chimed in on this select series, however when I first read this, I stated OMG we (Ricoh, since I sell Ricoh) have really turned into IKON.
Over the past year or so, it seems I've seen more of the Ikon culture embedded into Ricoh Americas, things like marketing pieces, pricing announcements and now the Ricoh Select Series. I'm someone what alarmed and seems to me that Ricoh jp cut a deal w/Ikon to make the deal and keep as much of the IKON culture as possible. I could be wrong, but it seems like this Select Series only benefits one party and that would be Direct. Who else could sell negotiate rock bottom pricing with Japan and commit to thousands of units before they even have been refurbished? Not the dealer community.
I don't expect the pricing that we've seen to be the LDP, and they are still calling it LDP (Lowest DEALER Price) right, if so DEALER does not mean DIRECT.
Is Ricoh losing so many deals that they need to have a Select line? (feel free to answer)
Will they make more profit selling the Select line or will they give them away like everything else? (feel free to answer)
The core of the issue is the comp plan, having a revenue based plan was the only way that Direct can hit their revenue goals. On one end Ricoh wants to be the "Apple" of the industry and sell value, and on the other end they give the equipment away.
What's bad about wanting to make a profit?
Are we now managing a dying business model based on putting ink on paper?
A recent blog I read had someone at one of Ricoh’s innovation center touting the fact that Ricoh was creating paper apps and giving them away for free, does this make sense?
Will paper go away in the near future?
Just a few questions would like to hear from others on the IKON/Ricoh culture and if others are thinking the same.
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