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Welcome to our three-part series on service contracts. Service contracts can vary for copiers, fax machines and laser printers, so that in this series I will cover them separately in three different articles. Just to clarify the nature of the machines, which I consider myself in these articles are the most common varieties. Inkjet copiers, fax machines and inkjet printers, inkjet printers are not covered in this article. The necessity of contracts for equipment like this may not be cost effective. The device, which I think you should be covered on a service contract-volume copiers that are designed to make thousands of copies, prints or faxes per month. Service contracts are similar to insurance. You can also save money or not. Your costs are fixed, so that you know how much you spend per year instead of the hope that it will not break their will be too much or too serious or expensive repairs during the year. There are many ways of paying for a service contract. Most service companies charge you monthly, quarterly or annually. If you choose, monthly billed, call your service company is at the end of each month and collect your meter reading. Then they are the number of copies multiply by your cost per copy. Some copiers can also be a device that is sending the meter reading automatically every month and in this part of the process can be fitted. If you do not make many copies, I would choose to hold an annual or quarterly billing. This is because most service companies, a monthly minimum fee and billing, you can end up paying more. Another reason to choose quarterly or annual basis would be the task to write a check each month and always deal with the counter. On an annual contract to ensure that you keep an eye on how many copies you produce or you will pay for copies that do not use, or you refresh too quickly. The cost per copy The cost per copy is the most common method of fixing the price of service contracts. Whenever you have a copy of the meter clicks like the odometer on your car. Many buyers purchase their machinery for the price of the cost per copy, because the service contract can often cost more than the price for the copier. Average cost per copy is, eg, 1 5 cents per copy. This could be higher or lower depending on some variables. • How many of you have copies made per month. • What type and age of the machine that is being covered. • Environment plays a role, because if there in a dirty environment, she needs twice as much service as a machine that is in a clean environment. Figuring out copies per month or per year Determining the amount of copies per month is the most important information that you purchase a service contract. If you already have a copier that is on a contract for a while, then it was easy. Look at your history. You must also experienced in the account for slow depreciation or increases in reproduction, that your company will be. If you do not have a history, there is a way to estimate. If you know how many tons of paper that you consume per month, you multiply by 500, because 500 sheets of paper in a stack of paper. This can be obtained in the ball park. Coverage Understand what is covered and what is not covered is very important to find out a service before the purchase contract. Many contracts do not extend to Staples, the paper and document feeder belt, and it could consider some other way with your provider. Does this contract for supplies? Some consumables are toner, developer, thermal rolls and rolls. Find out what hours they are available and day of the week that they are active. What holidays they take off? What is the response? Is their four hours response time more expensive than the next day service? Most contracts do not extend to abuse or neglect. Thus, with the paper clips and staples cautious as they can cause an expensive repair, and it will probably not be covered. Get all of this in writing, then there will be no surprises. Accessories Some companies charge extra for each accessory. As an automatic document feeder, finisher, large capacity and cassettes. Some may still levy a fee for each unit, but I do not see this too often. Scanning We live in a new era with digital copiers, you can now scan your computer. The scanner is worn on the automatic document feeder, but are not seized the parts in the copier. Digital copier machines can count only as scanned images that can be an additional fee for this. I know that service companies in our industry kind of scratches on his head, because this may seem difficult for this type of service fee. Color Copiers Service contracts for the full color copiers and MFP are essentially the same as black and white service contracts, except that you pay for a color or black and white copy. Some average quantities will be about 1, 5cents per copy for black and white and 10 cents per copy for color. If you’ve ever bought toner for a color unit, you know that color toner is more expensive. Connectivity Most service providers will set up your newly installed copiers for free to your network. You should always have your IT person on site during installation so that they can answer questions about your particular network. Install drivers and connecting devices to your network is fairly simple, depending on your system. Existing network problems or additions will most likely will not fall on the copier service contract, if you make an agreement with the service company before its time. Most network are experiencing problems with your computer specialist already treated. You must decide for yourself or your company, whether you buy a service contract for your copy machine. Many companies do very well without. They have been waiting for the machine and replace parts and supplies as needed. The only problem is if you are repairing a circuit board or a time-consuming problem. This can sometimes cost a strong amount of money and a service contract can really pay off. Remember, a service contract is like an insurance policy. It can provide peace of mind and you will know in advance what your costs will be. Look for my next article in this series. “Service Contracts – Part II, Fax Machines.”

Welcome to Part II of our three-part series on service contracts. This article covers service contracts on high volume laser fax machines. Service contracts on high volume fax machines much different than service contracts for copiers. The difference is that fax machines are not affected by cost per copy charge. If you have questions in my earlier article ’service contracts on copiers, “then you know that means the cost per copy that you will be billed each time you save a copy. Fax service contracts are billed differently. Understand what is covered and what is not covered is very important to find out before you buy a service contract on your fax machine. Most of the fax service contracts will be invoiced annually, and the supplies are not covered in the rule. Many contracts do not include toner, drums, heat rollers. Many service companies will sell supplies at a discounted rate as long as you continue to keep the computer on contractual agreements. You can also cover an additional levy on PCBs. You can also purchase “contract cleaning only.” You can have two or three cleanings or service calls per year payable in advance at a discounted rate. That way you keep your computer clean and if you have problems and you need to make a service call to save money. I always recommend the installation of high-quality surge protection for all copiers, fax machines and laser printers. The machine is protected from power surges that could destroy your device. Surge Some companies have a warranty that covers your computer, if not to protect their surge up your system against a high voltage overload. Service contracts are similar to insurance. You can also save money or not. Many companies do not buy service contracts in fax machines, because they are not things the way they do cover copier contracts. Their service machine (s) on a per call basis. You must decide for yourself or your company, whether you buy a service contract for your fax machine. Look for my next article in this series. “Service Contracts – Part III, Laser Printers.”