There are principles that every Madison based business must understand in order to avoid being taken advantage of by a “Copier Vampire” when it comes to figuring out color coverage.
First, if the contract you have with your copier rep stipulates a 20 percent color coverage limit, make sure that there will not be an extra charge if your coverage exceeds the 20 percent limit. If the copier rep you are dealing with cannot guarantee that there will be no extra charge, then it is up to the business owner to monitor their company’s color coverage. They should guarantee that their color coverage does not exceed 20 percent on color copies and 5 percent on copies that are printed in black and white.
It is a good idea to have your team print off documents that you can show to your copier rep. Based on these documents, your copier rep can determine what your color coverage needs are. If the copier rep gives you a number by simply looking at the documents without running an analytics tool, you may be dealing with a “Copier Vampire.”
What to Consider
Buying a copier is a significant investment for any Madison business. Before you commit, take time to evaluate a few things. Start with your monthly print volume. If you print fewer than 5,000 pages a month, a mid-range machine will usually do the job. Higher volume offices should look at commercial-grade equipment built for heavier workloads.
One common mistake is focusing only on the purchase price. The real cost of owning a copier includes toner, maintenance kits, drums, and service calls. A cheaper machine can end up costing more over three to five years if the supplies are expensive or the machine breaks down frequently. Kyocera equipment is known for reliability, which helps keep those long-term costs down for southern Wisconsin businesses.
Bottom Line
Take your time, compare total cost of ownership, and work with a dealer you trust. The right copier should handle your daily workload without constant attention. If you need help choosing a copier for your Madison office, reach out to our team at (608) 229-1508. We can help you find the right machine at the right price.