MFD office equipment with a scanner, printer and copier is becoming more complicated and the options are increasing. The merger of traditional printers and photocopiers has presented companies with difficult decisions. What is the best manufacturer for the money? Low cost? Better options and functionality? More sustainable? Canon, Toshiba, Minolta, Ricoh, Gestetner, Xerox, HP, Sharp, Lanier, Copystar, Lexmark, Brother?

Now combine the many brands with companies that only specialize in one or two brands and it’s clear to see why companies have trouble selecting the right equipment or hiring the wrong lease. If you get your gear from a company that specializes in one brand, be careful. Why? Because you will receive a skewed view.

If a vendor only represents Canon or Sharp, how will you know if you should get a Gestetner, HP or Ricoh may be better? So what should I do?

Do some basic research online using the buyer’s lab reports. Look for prizes and low failure rates. If the model is new; wait a few months for the manufacturer to have time to remove the bugs. Don’t assume that a GREAT NAME means the best option. Did you know that Lanier / Gestetner / Ricoh / Savin are the same company? Mita/CopyStar/Kyocera too! Did you know that HP laser printers are actually based on Canon?

It is a challenge to make an educated selection. Be careful. Ask questions. Get referrals. Check the service sheet of the company you choose.

When does your equipment lease end? Do you offer a lump sum or $1 release clause at the end of the lease? What is the current value of the equipment? What is the estimated life of the copier/printer? Most of these questions are easy to determine with a few keystrokes on the Internet.

Get all the answers before you commit. Ask questions. Look at the terms. Know your page count and be very careful not to fall for the low tactics of some copier printer leasing companies.