“Cut out the middle man,” like most common phrases, contains some wisdom. There are times when dealing directly with a manufacturer is advantageous. However, when it comes to printing and copying equipment, you might be surprised at how well (or poorly) this age-old wisdom holds up in practise.
First and foremost, let us address the major issue…
Cost
You’d think that if you purchase directly from a manufacturer, you’ll always get a better price. But that’s typically not the case when it comes to printing equipment.
How is this possible?
Manufacturers charge the same wholesale price for their equipment to their branches and dealers. Because manufacturers rely more on branch revenue, many branches mark up equipment more than a dealer would. Dealers can remain profitable with a lower markup because they may also offer equipment from other manufacturers and other profitable services.
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Furthermore, dealers frequently act as strong advocates for their customers, putting additional pressure on manufacturers to keep their prices as low as possible.
When you shop through a dealer, you are not only likely to get a better price, but you are also assisting that dealer in keeping equipment prices lower throughout the industry.
Product Recommendations
A manufacturer has a strong incentive to sell you one of their products, and the truth is that different manufacturers have different strengths and cater to different needs at various price points. While manufacturers must maintain their reputations for producing high-quality goods, a dealer has a much stronger incentive to match the right equipment with the right business. That is especially true when it comes to printing equipment.
Because every organisation prints differently, there can be a significant difference between the printer with the most features and the one that will bring you the most ROI. What saves one organisation a lot of time and money may be completely wasted on another. A great dealer will ask you a lot of questions before making a recommendation, and they will look at solutions from a variety of manufacturers to find the perfect match. A manufacturer will not provide you with the same level of service.
Service and Repairs
It is widely assumed that manufacturers must be better at servicing their own equipment. In reality, a dealer’s technicians are frequently certified by the manufacturer, and dealerships can receive special recognition for how well they maintain and service their equipment. Canon, Kyocera, Konica Minolta, Sharp, and other companies are among our strategic partners.
And, as with custom recommendations, providing excellent service is an important differentiator because a dealer does not manufacture what they sell. Dealers have a greater incentive than manufacturers to provide prompt, dependable service.
Account Management
Not that this is breaking news, but if you call a manufacturer that manufactures products all over the world, you won’t get their full, undivided attention if your printer fails to perform as expected. You will not have a dedicated account representative, nor will you have a direct line. You’ll be given a 1-800 number, and we all know how those work.
When you work with a dealer, the opposite is true. You’ll get someone who is motivated to keep a positive relationship with your company. You’ll get their phone number, email address, and possibly even a holiday card… while spending less money on your equipment.
Community Support
This is probably not the most compelling reason to choose an independent dealership over a manufacturer’s branch location, but we believe it is critical. Most large corporations, including equipment manufacturers, are dedicated to giving back. When you work with an independent dealer, however, their time and resources tend to stay in their community. And they do more than just hire members of the community; they also provide more opportunities for rapid career advancement within that community.
A large manufacturer is unlikely to be present at local festivals, supporting school activities, or collaborating with local nonprofits. A dealer, on the other hand, provides a way to shop locally while still having access to world-class technology.
Our Gold Standard culture at Marco is built around four pillars: employee engagement, client satisfaction, community support, and vendor partnerships. We believe in internal promotion, professional mentoring, supporting the communities in which we live and work, and providing excellent service to our clients and partners.
Finding an Independent Copier Dealer
Most copier dealers will offer you better prices, service, and technical support than the manufacturer. However, some will go above and beyond than others, so it’s worth a phone call or some online research before deciding who will get your business.
No printers or copiers leave Marco with default admin passwords still on them. It may appear to be a minor detail, but if you rely on your employees to do this, your trust may be misplaced. Despite the security risk, 40% of IT personnel admit to not changing default admin passwords. Even if they aren’t given the same attention as laptops and servers, networked printing equipment can be a point of entry for hackers.
And, while we are not a large manufacturer with multiple locations across the globe, we are also not small. We can use our clout with top manufacturers to keep our clients’ prices as low as possible while providing best-in-class service. So, if you’re in the market for a new printer, copier, or multifunction device, we’re in a great position to make your next steps — including product research — as simple as possible.
