FAQ

FINANCING OPTIONS

Copiers have been traditionally leased, what leasing options are there?

There are two basic types of leases; Fair Market Value and Specific Buyout Terms, Usually 10% or $1 amount.

What is the monthly term for most lease contracts?

The majority of office equipment companies quote the lowest monthly price. This equates to 60 month terms with a fair market buy out at the end of the lease. It is important to note that you must pay a property tax on your machine if you decide to lease. A seller does not typically share this information upfront with you.

What does Fair Market Value mean?

The FMV option allows the customer to buy out the copier at the end of their lease for a "Fair Market Value." Which can be around $1,000 to $5,000 (or more depending on the model). This option is great for companies looking to spend the least amount of cash during the life of a lease. Buyouts range from 15-25% of the initial equipment price. ex. A $10,000 machine will have a buyout of $1,500 to $2,500.

What is $1 buyout?

The $1 buyout or "dollar-purchase option" is the best choice for the customer who intends to the keep the equipment after the lease ends.

Why 60 months? Are there other terms?

63 to 72 months are the longest. Other terms are 24, 36, 39, 42, 48, 60, 63, and 72 month.

What if my needs change? Can I cancel the contract?

No, lease contracts are not cancelable.

What if my service is bad, can I stop payments?

No, the lease contract is not with the company you purchased the copier from. They have no obligation or even the power to do anything about your promise to pay 60 payments, no matter what. So beware of the company offering a price so low that it seems to good to be true, because it probably is. In the long run, the quality of service you receive will save you much more money than the getting the lowest initial price.

Is the cost of service included in the payment?

Cost per print is either added to the lease or there is a separate service agreement.

Are there other ways to acquire equipment?

Yes you can pay COD (cash on delivery) or you can pay for what you are really buying, which is the copies/prints/scans on a month to month basis

Should I really read my lease contract?

Yes, it is a very one sided document in favor of the lease company. A failure to read your lease contract will inevitably cost you in some form or another.

Are parts and supplies included in service contracts?

It depends. A popular choice among customers is to include parts and supplies in the service contract, this helps simplify the agreement on both ends. Although, some cases require a custom service plan designed for specific budgets and needs.

RENTAL OPTIONS

What are the benefits of a rental?

• Upgrade, downgrade, or return with 30 day notice
• (much more flexible than leasing options).
• Everything included - Toner Parts, and Labor (except paper & staples).
• Rentals are tax deductible as an operating expense.
• (we pay property tax on rentals, so you won't have to)
• Scan, Print, Copy, and Fax capabilities in an all in one MFP device.
• Low monthly rates starting at only $99.95 for a full feature MFP's.

SERVICE QUESTIONS

What does 4 hour response time really mean? All the companies advertise this.

From the moment a service call is placed for your equipment, a technician should physically be at your office to work on the issue within 4 hours. Many, if not all companies advertise this, although very few actually deliver on the promise. There are 3 key reasons why DocTech can follow through with the 4 hour response time efficiently:

1. Local dispatch and local technicians.
2. Good technician to machine ratio.
3. Central location in Albuquerque.

How many machines can one technician handle in the field? What do most companies do?

This depends on how skilled the technician is and the reliability of the product. Another major factor is how many machines the technician is responsible for servicing (tech to machine ratio). If this ratio is low, then a technician will have more energy and time to spend on each individual machine. If this ratio is high, the technician will be rushed and look for quick fixes as opposed to fixing the issue correctly the first time.

How much training is a tech required to have?

Every technician should be certified through the manufacturer of the products they service.

Are techs dispatched locally?

Yes. All of our technicians are local. The moment a service call is placed they are notified via text message. In other words, they know instantly when you call and you will get a prompt service response. Many other companies are not local and dispatch from another state. This naturally takes much longer and is not nearly as efficient, causing a much longer response time.

Does paper make a difference in the performance of the machine, or is it all the same?

Yes, low quality paper is proven to cause more jams and service problems in copiers, printers, and MFPs.

What is the difference between inkjet and laser printers?

Ink-jet printers are generally very inexpensive (upfront at least) and have a slow print output. They are generally for personal and home use and breakdown very quickly. Although the initial cost of an ink-jet printer is very low, the ink must be replaced very frequently, easily doubling or tripling the cost of the printer in the first month or two. The cost per page on a typical inkjet printer is generally around 35 cents for B&W.

Laser printers are generally more expensive upfront and have a fast output (25-50ppm). They are generally used in office settings and tend to be very reliable and have less of a tendency to breakdown quickly. While the initial cost of a laser printer may seem high, the cost of supplies is very low compared to an ink-jet printer. The cost per page of a laser printer is generally around 2 cents for B&W.

PRODUCTS/SERVICES

What is managed print services and why should I consider it?

Managed Print Services (MPS) involve managing hardcopy device fleets (copiers, printers, multifunction devices, and fax machines) in a unified fashion. While this can be done internally, the term is typically associated with outsourcing the fleet to an external vendor.

Benefits:

• Save up to 30% on your overall printing costs
• Take the burden off of your employees
• Increased productivity
• Eliminated or significantly reduced waste
• Continuous improvement with document life cycles
• Greener corporate citizen status

Contact us today to learn more about how MPS can help optimize your office!

What is document management and why should I consider it?

Document management, often referred to as Document Management Systems (DMS), is a computer system or set of computer programs used to track and store electronic documents and/or images of paper documents.

Benefits:

• Store and manage any document/file type
• Search any document or image quickly and easily
• Greatly improve document security
• Free up office space
• Disaster proof your documents

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you implement a new document management system into your office!

Can I scan documents into our network directly from a copier or MFP or do I need a separate scanner?

In most cases a separate dedicated scanner is not needed if you have a copier/MFP. Current MFPs and copiers have evolved to accommodate most office scanning needs such as:

• Scan to folder
• Scan to email
• Scan to jump drive
• Scan to document management system (such as docSTAR)