Posts Tagged ‘Color’

Some printer companies take a certain economic stance on pricing office machines: initial cost of the machine is cheap, cost of supplies is expensive.  Other companies take an opposite approach: initial cost of the machine is expensive, supplies cost is reasonable.

Would you be surprised that many office equipment purchasers fall for the cheap initial cost machine, only to regret it later?  The allure of the cheap printer is obvious, when comparing one machine to another using machine statistics alone.  Especially without considering supplies costs it seems like a no-brainer.  But like most siren songs, this one could end up ringing in your ears for quite some time.

A few office machines companies take interesting approaches to stay competitive.  Take Xerox for example.  Xerox offers 2 very similar machines, the Phaser 8560, and the 8860.  When compared side by side the 8560 appears to be the deal of the century.  Investigating deeper reveals the reasoning, Xerox needs to position itself to compete with both the cheap to purchase machines and the cheap to run machines.  No machine offers both.  The 8860 at a substantial initial cost reveals its savings in the form of dirt cheap ink.  So cheap in fact, that it can print full color for the cost of typical black & white.  It all comes down to a few things:

1) How much are you willing to pay to save?

2) How much do you print to justify the initial expense?

3) At what point will the initial cost of the machine essentially pay for itself in cost of ink savings?

4) Am I bright enough to figure all of this out?  Do I have the time to figure all of this out?

5) Maybe I should just call Doc Jams Printer Repair.

Q: Aren’t most printers throwaway?

A: For consumer level models, certainly.  Many printers are designed to be cheap and use a lot of ink.  Printer companies will give a machine away knowing that it will be useless to the end-user without ink or toner.  Ink and toner supplies in consumer level machines are dramatically smaller than professional level machines.  This ends up costing you and the environment a hefty sum.

Professional level machines are anything but disposable.  They are built to last, and have the low cost per page to be able to sustain a great printing atmosphere.  If you have a throwaway printer, you are likely throwing more money away than anything else.

Q: Can I repair my own printer?

A: Printer repair is like any repair, you need a small degree of mechanical skill, a positive attitude, and the need for a little adventure to tackle a repair.  You also need the right parts, and a good technical support team to back you up, that’s where Doc Jams comes in.  We supply detailed instructions with images to help you with your repair.  We also offer limited free technical support, should you get stuck.

Q: Why should I buy a Xerox Phaser instead of a cheaper printer?

A: Quality.  Xerox Phaser printers are meant to take on the daily beatings that graphic designers, engineers and other professional offices that utilize color in their daily activities dish out.  Xerox does not offer a cheap inkjet for a reason—they are in the professional printer business.  You certainly could buy a cheaper printer, but do you think that you would be getting a quality machine?

Q: Can I mix and match Phaser Ink Sticks?

A: No.  Each printer is designed to work within the temperature range of its own ink stick.  Mixing them can cause printhead issues, as well as jamming ink loaders.

Q: Are aftermarket ink sticks ok to use?

A: We feel that no current aftermarket ink manufacturer is able to offer similar quality to genuine Xerox Solid ink.  Some aftermarket companies do ok, but none are great, and most eventually destroy printheads.

Q: Is aftermarket toner ok to use?

A: Yes, as long as it is from Doc Jams.  Doc Jams only offers the highest quality compatible toner cartridges.  Not all aftermarket toner cartridges are created equal.  Many are terrible at best.  When in doubt, simply ask these three questions: Who do I call if the toner fails when I have a deadline?  Who can repair my machine if the toner fails and I have a deadline?  Are they the same company?

Q: Why solid ink?

A: Because it offers a superior image.  Especially when compared to other types of machines on a cost and quality level.  Cost per page is equal or less than laser printers and durability is dramatically better than inkjet printers.  In addition, solid ink printers offer a print with a nice sheen similar to high end photo paper, without the expense of photo media.

Q: Do you sell printers?

A: Yes.  Contact us at 1-888-362-5267 and we can discuss your needs and help you find a printer that fits your office.

Q: Do you buy printers?

A: Yes.  Contact us at 1-888-362-5267 and we can discuss what you have to offer.

Q: Do you recycle printers?

A: Absolutely.  Doc Jams does everything it can to limit the amount of resources that are wasted and taken to landfills.  From parting out machines, to separating the metals and plastics, you can be sure that Doc Jams is doing what it can to make sure we can print tomorrow in a beautiful world.  What good is color if the sun can’t shine?

Q: Why is ink so expensive?

A: This question can be answered many ways.  Printers need ink like cars need fuel.  Some printers are very efficient, and some printers are ink and toner hogs.  Generally speaking, the more expensive the printer, the more efficient it is.  That is a very solid rule with Xerox Phaser printers, and most other brands follow that principle.  If you are buying ink more than once a month you may be costing yourself too much money.  Call Doc Jams and let us identify how to help you save on ink and toner costs.

Q: Where are you located?

A: We are located in the capital of Wisconsin in beautiful Madison.  Madison, Wisconsin is situated in scenic Dane County.  Our address is 4611 Dovetail Dr. #1 Madison WI  53704.  We offer onsite printer service and repair for the southern half of Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.  Franchise opportunities are available anywhere in the US.

We live in a world where most people enjoy color printing at home though they may not have that luxury at work.  Isn’t it odd that a place of business is not utilizing color to make their brand stand out?

Printing a color logo on every piece of correspondence is a great way to create unity and brand identity.  Ask any graphic designer and we are certain they will agree, color says it better.

Be careful what machine you use for color, though.  Check out our other blogs for advice on professional color printers.