The MPS Group

Winning with Heather Cruz….

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 22:14:00 +0000

Building a winning team is NOT possible without people who are winners..

and that's why our "Here's to You," goes out to Heather Cruz this time around. Her winning attitude, disposition and work ethic help to make The MPS Group/Printer Solutions a winning proposition.

Before coming to the MPS Group/Printer Solutions, Heather was a manager at a Pizza Hut. Working ridiculous hour, at times up to 80 hours/ week, did not leave her any time for her family. She decided a change needed to be made and sought work with The MPS Group after responding to an ad on Craigslist. The rest is, as they say, history. Heather has been with the MPS Group for 3 years. Her position of "Service Manager," is centered around the repair side of the business - making sure that customer's needs are taken care of in a timely manner and that the turn-around time from problem to solution is minimal.

Heather is, while working full-time at The MPS Group, simultaneously working towards a degree in Business Management. She is currently enrolled in 15 hours at Palo Alto College AND has a 3.9 GPA. Nothing short of impressive, I'd say. When she is not working or studying, her time is consumed by her family. She has three children: a 17 year old daughter named Jestyne who is a senior at Athlos Charter School and plans to go to nursing school after graduating, a 13 year old son named Nathan who loves all sports, especially baseball and soccer - a typical boy who throws in a little PS4 every now and then, and then there is 11 year old Abigail who loves school, hanging out with her friends, riding bikes outside and helping her mom bake, when time allows.

Recently as a result of a "love at first sight" encounter, Heather married her husband, Jessie. The whole blended family thing is going very well - Heather says that her life with Jessie has given her the peace she was missing before he entered her life. Jessie is an electrician in San Antonio and is a tremendous source of strength and help to Heather and the kids.

Our fearless leader and Owner, James Thomas, when asked about Heather, said, "Heather has grown professionally, spiritually, and family-wise since she came to work at The MPS Group/Printer Solutions . She was a single mom that has recently re-married, she is working towards her degree in business and runs our service department. She is always tackling new challenges and always has the best interest of The MPS Group/Printer Solutions in mind."

Recently I was able to pin Heather down for moment and find out exactly what makes her tick, where she came from and where she's headed.

Me: "If you could give me one world to describe the culture here at The MPS Group/Printer Solutions, what would it be?"

Heather: "Family." She went on to explain, "everyone is very helpful and lends a helping hand when needed. We work on cross-training so everyone can pitch in and do other jobs, if needed. It works well here and it's what makes us a team."

Me: "Heather, if you could, tell me about a few of the clients that you deal with on a regular basis."

Heather: "Alamo Cement is a really good client. They have 40 plus machines in two different locations. We provide service and toner for them. They know they don't have to wait or worry about any issues. Recently they had a printer that was down in their finance department. In order to get them up and running quickly, MPS had the parts overnighted and we got it fixed within 24 hours."

Me: "I'd say that's pretty quick turn-around time, huh?

Heather: "Well, that's what we do best here at MPS. We give top notch service in a timely manner."

Me: " Do you have another client that comes to mind?"

Heather: "Yes, Diti Imaging - a radiology company. They have two machines and are contract customers - which means everything is included in one price- machines, toner, supplies, and service. They can't afford to go "down" because they are in dire need of their machines. Recently they had an issue where a machine was no longer operable and we got them a replacement machine within two working days. Needless to say, they were happy to have such prompt service." "Oh, and another client I wanted to mention is Jace Pearson PCA. They had been in contract with another company in the past and had been burnt. They called us and we went out and fixed their machine. We built loyalty and trust with them and they became a regular client."

Me: "Thanks so much for giving me some insight into some of your regular clients and what you encounter with them from time to time."

Heather: "Sure, no problem."

Me: "So, Heather where do you see yourself 5 years from now?"

Heather: "I hope to be finished with school and to have gained a lot of business knowledge from all that I learn here at The MPS Group/Printer Solutions on a daily basis. One day I hope to incorporate all of that knowledge into owning my own bakery. Baking is my passion and I feel like everything I am doing today will hopefully propel me forward into making my own dreams come true."

Me: "That's awesome. Makes me want a cupcake. haha. Let me ask you this, WHEN that happens, will you use The MPS Group/Printer Solutions for your document needs?

Heather: "Absolutely." :)

Me: "One last thing, Heather - what makes MPS a place you want to come to work every day?"

Heather: "In general, the culture here is relaxed and it's a nice place to work. When I first started there was more micro-managing going on - which I didn't enjoy. Now there is freedom to make decisions and grow as much as you want to. James is sometimes a hard boss, but he is also the most caring boss I've ever had. The MPS Group/Printer Solutions is a structural place - it's built on a solid foundation - and that's what makes it a great place to work."

Me: "Thanks so much for taking a time out of your busy schedule and talking with me, Heather."

So, there ya have it. Another success story - not of The MPS Group/Printer Solutions - but that of a dedicated employee that we have here that works hard to not only further the success of the company, but is diligently working every day to become more, better and to achieve her goals. Here's to you, Heather Cruz.

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:50:00 +0000

How to Know When You Are Ready to Go Exclusive With One Vendor

By Kyle Odom|Jul 13, 2015|Sales|0 Comments

“Having the same guy show up at your door each time takes the guesswork out of how important your partnership is to the vendor. ” – James Thomas

Believe it or not, San Antonio based The MPS Groupand their CEO and founder, James Thomas, is often asked: Why Xerox? So when I asked the same question, the answer was both informative and simple: reliability. “If you’re going to do one thing, do it well,” says James, that’s why in the fourth quarter of 2014 he opted for an exclusive partnership with Xerox.

The search for an exclusive vendor relationship

For years, the MPS Group sold printers and copiers across many vendors, always with the expectation that at some point they would find the right fit and chose to be exclusive with one vendor. Finally, in 2014 Xerox stepped up to the plate with benefits that made working with together an obvious choice. Ever since, James and his team have reaped the rewards of tripled sales as an attentive, communicative, and stable vendor helped pave the way.

Thinking of going exclusive with a vendor? Ask these four questions first

CLICK TO TWEET

Four questions to help you choose an exclusive vendor

Are you considering an exclusive relationship with one vendor? Here are four questions that James suggests you ask yourself when considering moving to a single vendor:

1 – Does the vendor offer stability?

Having the “same guy show up at your door each time” takes the guesswork out of understanding how important your partnership is to the vendor. Low turnover and high product knowledge provided by Xerox is invaluable to The MPS Group, “We can count on Xerox to share people, products, tools and pathways to success.”

2 – Are their products readily available?

Too often vendors have new releases that are in high demand with the end customer, but aren’t readily available. Selling a product only to find it’s on back order is not good for business. James says, “Xerox earned The MPS Group’s trust by having new products available as soon as they’re released”.

3 – Do they provide reliable service?

“Only sell it if you can service it.” That’s one motto The MPS Group lives by. They are firm believers in ‘service after the sale,’ and choosing Xerox as an exclusive partner helped streamline their service department. James, his team and their customers do not have time to rely on a vendor’s time frame, which can be very sporadic depending on the vendor. When repairs are outside of The MPS Group’s scope, a local Xerox technician is dispatched quickly. Local technicians are trained in good customer services so even when The MPS Group can’t fix the problem, their end-users remain happy customers.

4 – Do they provide five star training for your technical specialists?

The online training programs Xerox provides are top notch and one of the cornerstones of this partnerships’ success. The curriculum provided keeps The MPS Group technicians up to speed on all the new products while teaching them the technology as if they were one of Xerox’s own technicians.

How Xerox Channel Partner, The MPS Group, Tripled Sales in One Year By: Kyle Odom

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:33:00 +0000

How Xerox Channel Partner, The MPS Group, Tripled Sales in One Year

By Kyle Odom|Jun 1, 2015|Sales|9 Comments

Be honest – we tell prospects we’re not going to sell you a dump truck when all you need is a pickup. – James Thomas

Distinguishing your brand, creating a niche, and cultivating a voice that resonates with customers can be challenging. So, when a small company makes huge gains – quickly, you can’t help but wonder: how did they do that?

The MPS Group, a Texas-based, exclusively Xerox channel partner, tripled sales in just one year. You’re probably saying ‘is this possible?’ Well, yes. It is, and their President and Founder, James Thomas, was kind enough to share his vision and insight regarding their rapid growth.

From repair shop to print solution provider

Formerly Printer Solutions, The MPS Group, is a locally owned small business, serving San Antonio since 1999. They started off as a repair shop with a few technicians, built on James’ firm belief that “if you are doing only one thing, you better be doing it well.”

Over time, satisfied repair customers began asking advice on equipment purchases more and more often. In 2009, James added equipment, supplies and a showroom and then used their unparalleled reputation to propel growth. A few years later, in 2014, James took another bold step. He stopped working with many different vendors and partnered exclusively with Xerox, complete with a showroom design to match the Xerox colors. Since that move sales have tripled and continue to rise.

From repair shop to print service provider - how The MPS Group tripled sales in one year

CLICK TO TWEET

I asked James what advice he would give other small business owners with similar goals. Here is what he said:

Five pieces of advice for small businesses

Define your mission and take risks

The first step is to study your competition. What are they doing right or wrong and how can you deliver a better service or solution? Don’t be afraid to take risks and differentiate yourself. Understanding who your customers are and what they want from you is key. Customers come first. Always, and honesty is a winning strategy for The MPS Group. They tell prospects: “we’re not going to sell you a dump truck when all you need is a pickup.”

Define your value after the sale

The MPS Group’s commitment to honesty is present at every step of the sale. They’re the first to admit, “we’re not the cheapest but we will be here for you when you need it. You have a direct line to our CEO at all times and you’ll love the level of service we provide.”

Service after the sale is a huge part of The MPS Group’s success and brings new clients through word-of-mouth referrals. As James says, “we’re small, we’re local, and we’re accountable.”

Take pride in being a small business

“Bad news doesn’t get better with age.” You’re a small business, take that in your stride and run with it. James has great affection for his market and understands how people in San Antonio want to do business. Because of this, The MPS Group is that much more successful. “Motivate your sales force, contribute back to your community and be honest. It will all be reflected back in your sales pipeline”, says James.

Motivate your sales team, contribute to your community & be honest - it will be reflected in your sales pipeline

CLICK TO TWEET

Use all available vendor resources

The MPS Group became an exclusive Xerox partner due in large part to the array of tools, people, and knowledge available. For instance, SharedVue Social helps to take the worry out of posting relevant and engaging content across multiple social platforms. James sees social as a “captive audience” and the beauty of social media happens when you find the most effective platform for your business and post consistently. For MPS Group, the two best platforms for their audience are found on Twitter and Facebook.

Couple SharedVue social with email campaigns and newsletters created in the Xerox Impact Marketplace and lead generation activities are a snap. Fully utilizing both tools helped The MPS Group triple sales this year.

Talk to your customers

Your current customers are your allies in staying relevant and running a successful business. Ask them what you can do better, how you can help make their job easier and what they would like from you. Engage them in the conversations that inform your next steps for growth.

Find out what works for your business

Not every business runs the same way nor do they achieve the same results. What The MPS Group accomplished in one-quarter cannot be attributed to a single variable, but a multitude of them. Take these thoughts into account and put them to action within your business. The sky is the limit.

Putting the "Memorial" Back in the Day… (and kicking it off right at The MPS Group/Printer Solutions)

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:44:00 +0000

On the last Monday in May, barbeques will run amuck and pools will be swimming with people. In the name of Memorial Day, many Americans will sit back and enjoy homemade ice cream and maybe even fly “Old Glory” as a semblance of what the day means. However, for most, it will be just a much needed paid holiday and it’s meaning will be absent.

Whatever stance on war one may have - in the end, the liberty, independence and freedom we all enjoy have come about as a result of war. The soldiers that have lost their lives – defending OUR rights to live peacefully and freely, have done so on behalf of this country and the people that inhabit it.

The tradition of having a holiday that honors the fallen soldier began three years after the Civil War ended. It was originally known as Decoration Day, declared by Major General John A. Logan, who was head of an organization of Union veterans. The day was set aside, at the time, for the decoration of the gravesites of those who had lost their lives in the Civil War.

General Logan’s original order, given to his posts to decorate graves in 1868 was :

“With the choicest flowers of springtime, we should guard

their graves with sacred vigilance…. Let pleasant paths invite

the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners.

Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or

To the coming generations that we have forgotten as a

People the cost of a free and undivided republic.”

After World War I, the day was expanded to honor those who perished in all American wars, not just the Civil War. In 1971 Memorial Day became a National holiday, always set aside on the last Monday in May.

In December 2000, congress passed “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” encouraging all Americans to pause at 3:00 local time for a moment of silence, in order to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation – as a way to help put the “memorial back in Memorial Day.”

So, on Memorial Day, take a moment. Reflect. Remember that the American life we are privileged to live has a price. And for many, that price has been life. And, certainly, those are worth honoring.

As a way of honoring the Memorial Day weekend, we, at The MPS Group/Printer Solutions, want to kick it off right and invite YOU to our “Pre-Memorial Weekend Open House.” We are absolutely proud to live in a country where we can operate a small business and have opportunities to build relationships with our clients and make new connections in our community. We pride ourselves on being local and available to the people with whom we do business.

So, let’s do this! Come on by anytime between noon and 5 p.m. and enjoy a good ol’ American smorgasbord of hamburgers, hotdogs, sodas, beer and maybe even a ‘rita or two! And what kind of American company would we be if we didn’t offer prizes? We are excited about the opportunity to kick back and enjoy a great afternoon with you. We are located at: 12020 Warfield, 78216. To register: www.office-events.com/xerox/thempsgroup# Any questions? Give us a call at 210.334.0332.

Here's To You, Angelina Valadez

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Wed, 13 May 2015 15:14:00 +0000

Angelina and her 7 year old son, Joel

Building value in a company would not be possible without valuable employees. Can I get a witness????

Here at The MPS Group/Printer Solutions we are making it a habit to express our gratitude to the people that turn the wheels of this business everyday, making it grow in a positive direction. Doug Conant, CEO of Campbell’s Soup, was spot on when he said, “To win in the marketplace you must first win in the workplace.”

Our “Here’s to You,” this time, goes out to Angelina Valadez, who has been with The MPS Group/Printer Solutions for almost two years. She interviewed with us after viewing an ad on Craig’s List where we were advertising for a receptionist – and was (in her words), “desperate for a job.” We saw the potential she possessed and snatched her up. After six months, she was moved into the position of Sales Representative Assistant and now she is the Contract Logistics Manager, a position created for her due to our need and her ability.

Once a contract is signed, Angelina is the one who manages that contract. She, and her super powers, manage around 800 accounts. She remotely assesses the needs of each client, in maintenance and supplies. And if that happens to be your company - she’s the one who makes sure you don’t go down, that a beat is not skipped regarding your needs, and before you even have to ask, an answer is given. Now, that’s VALUE.

When Owner/CEO of The MPS Group/Printer Solutions, James Thomas, was asked to describe Angelina, the first thing that came to his mind was “Remarkable.” He went on to say, “Remarkable because of her work ethic and dedication and attention to detail in everything that she does. Remarkable in that as a single mother she successfully manages her family as well as a career. Her “no nonsense” approach when attacking challenges and obtaining results is incredibly valuable to the success of our organization.”

Besides being such a valuable part of The MPS Group/Printer Solutions, Angelina does have a life. And that life very much includes her seven-year-old son, Joel. During the time that she isn’t dedicating her energy at The MPS Group/Printer Solutions, Angelina and her son enjoy bowling, board games like “Chutes and Ladders,” and movie nights. Of course, her son is a big “Avengers” fan (what young boy isn’t???). Angelina said they recently saw the newest “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” She and I were in agreement that although young boys sometimes force us moms to do things we wouldn’t normally do…. the Avenger movies are pretty entertaining (thank you, sons).

Recently, I was able to interview Angelina and these are some of the things she had to say:

Me: “Angelina, what are some of the things you enjoy about working at The MPS Group/Printer Solutions?”

Angelina: “ The workplace culture is amazing. It is very family-like. I feel like we offer very honest solutions to businesses and that makes me feel good about my job. Also, a big plus is that our CEO and owner, James Thomas, is not “unreachable” by our clients. So many times big companies don’t have that to offer. And, unfortunately, so many companies are dishonest and don’t shoot straight with the customer. We are honest and local. That makes what we have to offer stand out from the rest.”

Me: “As a single mom, Angelina, I know the load must be tough. How do you juggle everything?”

Angelina: “Well, to begin with, my hours are great and James, our owner, is super understanding. He understands that my son is my most important responsibility and is willing to work with me in situations where my son is concerned.”

Me: “If you could foresee the future, Angelina, what would be something you would like to see happen?”

Angelina: “I would like to see our business grow to the point of there needing to be two of me. That would mean we are growing and I would love that. The MPS Group/Printer Solutions is such a great company with so many great things to offer.”

If it’s like Campbell’s soup’s CEO says, “To win in the marketplace you must first win in the workplace,” The MPS Group/Printer Solutions is already winning – with the help of amazing employees like Angelina Valadez.

Fences… Printer Solutions (and why those two things relate to one another….)

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 15:11:00 +0000

Ever been on the “fence?” When you are vacillating between one thing and another? Straddling what seems to be a good idea and what you’ve always known? In other words…. Deciding whether to play it “safe” or take a chance and go for it?

James Thomas, the blue jeans, boot wearing, good-ol-boy, present, in the office on a day-to-day basis, owner and CEO of The MPS Group/Printer Solutions, was once on the fence. The fence, that on one side had a stable job he had known and the other – the possibility of starting a business of his own.

Lying awake in bed one night, he decided to go for it and risk what little capital he had on building a business, that fifteen years later, is successful and offers clients and potential clients a solution oriented option for printing services.

The MPS Group/Printer Solutions operates differently from the “street beaters,” – you know, those “copier salespeople” - who have one goal in mind…to sell as many copiers as possible, throw a box (copier) at you, disappear and wish you luck on figuring out the rest. Oh. And did I mention, take your money? Yeah, that too.

So, you may be asking these questions about now… (And we HOPE you are) …. Well, what does The MPS Group/Printer Solutions offer? What can I expect if I were to have them come to my business? What if I am currently in a contract with another company and am unhappy with the service I am getting? Do I have access to “real people” when I call The MPS Group/Printer Solutions or do I get a phone tree that shuffles me from one automated message to another? Does the MPS Group offer service alone options if my business currently owns a copier, purchased elsewhere?

By the way, these are all great questions. Glad you asked!

Here is the short list of things you can count on from The MPS Group/Printer Solutions:

The MPS Group/Printer Solutions offers a solutions-oriented package – which means all of your printing, copying, scanning, faxing (and anything in-between) needs will be assessed and taken into account. Your business will be our focus and meeting your needs will be OUR business.
After an Account Executive visits you and assesses your needs, you will be presented with a solution that is tailored to meet the needs of your business. Nothing more. Nothing less. You will be quoted a monthly fee which will include everything you need, except paper. I know you are probably thinking – does this include toner? YES. Service? YES. AND the copier? I know – it’s a lot of wonderfulness to take in, but YES.
If you are in a contract with another company and unhappy with them (first of all, our condolences) – Yes, we can help. We can offer buy out price and help you get out of your current situation. Life is too short to be in business with people who are not meeting your needs. Service isn’t our middle name; it’s our FIRST name at The MPS Group./Printer Solutions.
When you call The MPS Group/Printer Solutions (during our normal hours of operation, people… not 24/7) you will get a real, live, speaking person on the phone. It’s a little sad that just that statement alone causes a sigh of relief to readers everywhere (YES, I heard you). Our goal – and mandate by James Thomas (the boss-man-cowboy) is to answer a phone call within three rings. If things are crazy in the office, it may even be that boss-man-cowboy that will answer the phone at times. Our office culture includes providing quick effective service in a positive upbeat way. If you’re wondering if all of this is too good to be true, dial the number (210.344.0332).
Service. Remember I told you it was our FIRST name? True Story. We offer service alone to businesses that currently own their own copiers or printers. We service ALL brands of copiers. There are ZERO (and that means NONE) exceptions. We take the guesswork out of your service bill. We offer a flat hourly fee. The way we see it is – if our technicians cannot fix you copier in minimal time (an hour or two max), they shouldn’t be fixing copiers.

So there you have it, some real-life, honest to goodness, straight-shooting reasons to consider The MPS Group/Printing Solutions for all of your document/printing/imaging needs. If you or your business is on the “fence” right now – trying to decide who you can trust with your business needs – because you’ve been given the run-around and are tired of unfulfilled promises by other companies, now is that time to get off the fence. Call The MPS Group/Printing Solutions today and put us to the test – we are up for the challenge.

KYOCERA ECOSYS P6026cdn [PRODUCTS WE OFFER]

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 05:35:00 +0000

KYOCERA ECOSYS P6026cdn will enhance your work group with a professional office color printing solution. It is made of KYOCERA's renowned long-life components, which help to reduce waste and give the printer the exceptional reliability KYOCERA stands for. To make sure it is a pleasant tool to share a room with, they made it very compact and quiet. And even though it produces color prints of astounding clarity in no time, it uses very little energy – thus treating both the environment and your budget with utter care.

SPECIFICATIONS

Functions Network Print
Speed 28/28 PPM (Black/Color)
Max Monthly Duty Cycle 65,000 Pages per Month
Resolution 600 x 600 dpi, 9,600 x 600 multi bit Interpolated Resolution
Standard Paper Supply 500 Sheet Drawer, 50 Sheet Multipurpose Tray (MPT)
Max Paper Size 8.5" x 14"
Max Paper Weight Drawers 32 lb Bond MPT: 120 lb Index
Original Size 8.5" x 14"
Network Connectivity Standard 10/100/1000BaseTX
PDL PCL6 (PCL5c, PCLXL), KPDL3 (PS3)

Request A Quote

If you or a business partner are currently looking into saving money with purchasing new equipment and would like more information on our products and services, please contact James Thomas at the MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

Outstanding Customer Service

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 04:17:00 +0000

All customers want and expect superior customer service, and it is all too important that we give it to them. Otherwise, our competition will. Our customers do not want to be treated like another statistic along an assembly line. They want to be treated with respect. It is very important that customers of the MPS Group realize how important their business is to us.

Imagine if you were a daily customer at a bank, restaurant, or some other establishment. And every day you walked in, a sales associate would take care of your business, than hurry you out the door, without so much as a hi, bye, or even making eye contact for that matter. Now you don’t necessarily go to these places to make new friends, but you would think that the experience could be just a little bit positive.

Maybe this isn’t enough to make someone take their business elsewhere. However, it just might if they were approached by our competition, and our competition gave them an idea of just how the grass can be greener on the other side, and managed to swipe that customer from us The most important thing to our customers when doing business is customer service. People want to be treated with respect. They want to be addressed by name, they want their phone calls returned, and they want their problems resolved in a timely fashion. Customer service, believe it or not, is more important to people than the amount of the product, or the over all fees’ they have to pay.

Before we discuss pricing, the MPS Group gives its potential costumers great customer service up front.

Excellent customer service is a great way the MPS Group builds customer relationships, as well as customer loyalty. When there is customer loyalty, they won’t be so quick to jump ship when approached by our competitors.

Customers continually have the peace of mind that service have with us is secure. Customers know if ever there is a problem, or if they have a question, the MPS Group will be there to resolve their issue, regardless of what it may be.

Maybe right now you or someone you know are not getting the outstanding customer service you deserve from your current vendor. If you or a business partner are currently looking into getting outstanding customer service and would like more information on our products and services, please contact James Thomas at the MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

ALL ABOUT MULTIFUNCTION PRINTERS, SCANNERS AND COPIERS

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 02:13:00 +0000

Multifunction printers are the best for small offices and or the home. It is a real miracle - one unit that prints, copies and scans. It saves on space and money. One point has to be kept in mind that it does all these functions but not all of them well. If the requirement is for high grade scanning then this three-in-one model might prove to be inadequate. It is all right for

moderate use and not for intensive application.

As regards the speed the printer might prove to be too slow for professional use. This is especially so in the case of color printers. While using a multifunction printer and trying to get some fast assignment completed then the rate of 30 pages per minute as against the crawl of 12 pages per minute does matter.

Multifunction printers that have more memory turn out to be more costly. This inadequacy becomes apparent when one tries to do three things together - scanning, printing and copying. If the requirement is heavy then it is best to opt for a multifunction printer that has higher memory - to say the least.

The quality of the image depends on dpi or dots per inch. The standard (600x600) will suffice for printing but is unsuitable as regards quality of photo. Scanner resolutions must be noticed, as these are usually low in multifunction models. There is a wide gap as regards quality between interpolated and optimal resolution.

Multifunction printers that have to be fed with one page at a time can become a real headache and eat up the whole day. It is best to buy a multifunction printer that is fitted with a document feeder system that is automatic and at each go holds 15 sheets at the minimum.

It is advisable not to just pick a multipurpose printer off the store shelf, have it packed, pay and walk off with it. Always play around with it in the store giving a good amount of time and attention. Carefully scrutinize the specifications and see how the printer actually behaves when put to the test. Each operation should be tested separately. After all it must meet the specific requirements of the buyer - no matter how small it is.

Most of the multifunction printers are manufactured with the prime function of photographic output. But being three-in-one the other utilities are kept in mind.

The scanner function is of great importance. There are two main types technologies involved in manufacture of scanners. CCD or charge-coupled-device performs better as regards quality of image especially when dealing with books. On the other hand the other technology of CIS or contact-image-sensor makes the machine more durable. Other points to consider are sheet-fed versus flat-bed machines.

The flat-bed ones allow scanning of thicker objects. Try to include in the purchase package an OCR or optical-character-recognition. It converts the pages that are scanned into text documents that can be edited. This will save a lot of time - running into hours - if the original soft copy is misplaced. For those who want to store oldphotographs purchase with this multipurpose printer attachments that will enable scanning of slides and films.

The speed of making copies can never be up to the mark unless the unit has these gizmos. Always bear in mind that documents have to be lifted and replaced innumerable times. Apart from speed other areas of importance are user friendliness and storage of memory. But with all the attachments included it will be child`s play to manage multiple copies; only few buttons will have to be pressed.

If you or a business partner are currently looking into saving money with purchasing new equipment and would like more information on our products and services, please contact James Thomas at the MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

imageCLASS LBP7660Cdn [PRODUCTS WE OFFER]

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 01:34:00 +0000

The imageCLASS LBP7660Cdn is a compact and easy-to-use machine that is packed with terrific features including quality color, fast print speed, and provides duplex output for printing professional-quality documents. The device boasts print speeds of up to 35 pages-per-minute (ppm) in both color and black and white, and delivers Quick First Prints in approximately 15 seconds. Additionally, you will find support for PCL 5e/6 as well as host-based driver support (UFR II LT), which takes full advantage of your PC's processing power, so your printer does not require additional memory to perform high-speed processing.

The LBP7660Cdn can handle up to 300 pages with the standard 250-sheet cassette and 50-sheet multipurpose tray allowing users to work throughout the day without interruptions.

The imageCLASS LBP7660Cdn also incorporates the Canon Single Cartridge System, which combines the toner and drum in one unit making it easy to replace. By using the Canon Genuine Toner Cartridge 118, you can be confident that your Canon device will produce high-quality results, time and time again.

Reviews

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TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

Local and Accountable

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:09:00 +0000

In today’s society, people are always on the go and do not have time to waste. We’re constantly checking our phones for emails and updated status posts. When we’re at home, we fast forward through the commercials on our DVR. We’ve seemed to run out of time to talk to people on the phone. We send text messages instead of calling people because our lives have become so busy and filled with family, work, meetings, extra activities that we can’t stand around waiting for someone to pick up and have a conversation with them.

If you are a busy consumer and you call a business and you get an automated operator asking you to push buttons to get to an operator with your language choice, more than likely you’re not going to be very happy when someone finally does pick up. Chances are, that person is going to be in another city with no sense of accountability towards your concerns.

At the MPS Group, we are local and accountable. Any time you call us you’re never going to get an out of state representative. When you talk to our personnel, you’re going to get the satisfaction we understand your time is valuable and we do not want to waste one minute of it. The MPS Group will take each concern, no matter how small it may be, and hold ourselves accountable for service we’ve promised to uphold for you.

The bigger printer companies are easy to gravitate to. They’re big. They’re shiny. They’re well known and have deep pockets for advertising to get your attention. Yet, does the bigger printer company’s boss know your name? Does the bigger printer company know you by anything more than an invoice going out every month? When you have an issue with equipment, they send out “technicians” who are contracted by the company. They aren’t actual employees of the bigger printer companies.

Furthermore, even is a client calls one of the bigger printer company’s 800 number, which is usually out of state, that bigger printer company usually tasks out the MPS Group to handle their service calls.

Why not save your valuable time, call the MPS Group directly for your equipment service and repair.

At the MPS Group, we are local. At the MPS Group, we are accountable.

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

P2035 Monochrome Laser Printer [PRODUCTS WE OFFER]

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:21:00 +0000

Boost productivity without spending a lot. The HP P2035 Monochrome Laser Printer has the speed you need with high-quality results. Compact and quiet, it is a perfect fit in any small office space. Plug it in and see how easy printing can be.

Ideal for businesses that want a fast, affordable black-and-white laser printer that delivers high-quality results for a wide variety of documents

SPEED: 30 PPM- B&W
RESOLUTION: 600 x 600 dpi
First Print in 8 seconds (B&W)
Manual Duplex Printing
250-sheet Input Tray
50-sheet Multi-Purpose Tray
150-sheet Output Tray
IEEE 1284-C Parallel; Hi-Speed USB 2.0
Duty Cycle: 25,000 pages per month
266 MHz Processor
16 MB Memory

Productivity at an exceptional value

Get prints quickly with speeds up to 30 ppm and get back to work fast.
Typical office print job Time To Completion can be nearly two times faster with Instant-on Technology1.
Easily connect this printer to your computer through the printer's USB or parallel port
Spend more time printing and less time loading paper with 300-sheet input

Reviews

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TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

Printer Fleet Optimizing: The Right Way

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:01:00 +0000

Doing It Right

It’s not very often in the business environment today to find a solution that both reduces costs and improves productivity without any initial capital investment. The MPS Group allows companies to do more by leveraging their existing printer fleet, while spending less. Once you understand your costs and printing trends, the next step is optimizing. This is the process of moving from your typically unmanaged print environment into an environment where each device has been placed specifically to properly address end-user needs and optimizing the costs to do so.

The Right Equipment

As we collect data and learn more about your print environment, we work together to implement a new set of best practices. The end result is a finely-tuned and highly-managed print environment. It starts with making sure your print devices are being utilized properly. Each device has an ideal utilization range, measured in recommended pages printed per month or duty cycle. Print costs are optimized when the device's actual use is aligned with its duty cycle. Substantial savings are seen when you align your most cost-effective printers with your highest print volume. Implementing this simple principle will reap huge rewards for your business. We use management reports to identify over/under-utilized devices and make suggestions for realigning print device locations based on print volume.

The Right Understanding

It starts with understanding your printing trends by looking at the history of printer performance over a period of time. This history is readily available since information is continually collected on your printer fleet. Trends emerge over time, providing an opportunity for printer optimization and consolidation. Once implemented, The MPS Group can expose common problems, such as:

Under and over utilized devices
Devices with high cost of operation printing high page volumes
Out of control color printing
Redundant print devices
Proliferation of high cost, locally connected devices on desktops with no consideration to the total cost of ownership

Analyzing and implementing the recommendations resulting from the analysis, will address and correct these issues

The successful implementation of printer optimization is a multi-phased approach not a onetime quick fix. The opportunities for cost savings and productivity improvements are continuous and evolve along with changes in your business. Managing the existing environment is just the beginning.

If you or a business partner are currently looking into saving money with optimizing your copier/printer fleet and would like more information on our products and services, please contact James Thomas at the MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

Start Paying Attention to Printer/Copier Optimzation

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:21:00 +0000

Earlier this week, we talked about ways that could help you begin to optimize yourprinter/copier fleet. Despite their importance to company performance, printers and copiers are rarely managed as a corporate asset. This inevitably results in increased operating costs, sub-optimal leases and contracts, and lost opportunity for process improvement.

We asked the question, where do you have to begin? We provided five steps on how to get the optimization process started, with the first step being to “Pay Attention”. Many companies struggle to understand just how many printers reside in their corporations, how many pages are printed each month, or the cost of each sheet of paper that passes through their printer fleet. Man have little standardization and most fleets are fragmented and non-integrated in company placement philosophy.

Since this effort is often overlooked in the demands of day-to-day operations, it can be beneficial to engage an outside firm to conduct the assessment and make recommendations for improvement. The timing of your activities can be crucial as well. Don’t wait until your contracts are about to expire; a lack of time to respond often forces companies to simply re-up their contracts and hope for the best.

What Can Be Done TODAY to Pay Attention?

1 – Compile and regularly update a complete asset list including:

- Make and Model

- Serial Number

- Location

- IP Address

- Volume

- Acquisition Dates

- Contract Information

- Suppliers

- Important Dates (expirations, reweals, etc.)

- Costs

- Performance

- Utilization

2 – Calculate your current per page cost for each device.

- Hardware

- Maintenance and Support

- Consumables

3 – Map your operational process used to assess, acquire and manage devices.

- Discover and document current strategic goals for your device fleet.

- Understand how your organization uses different types of documents.

- Consider how your current fleet add/supports/detracts from operation efficiencies.

If you or a business partner are currently looking into saving money with optimizing your copier/printer fleet and would like more information on our products and services, please contact James Thomas at the MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

Optimizing Your Copier/Printer Fleet

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 02:30:00 +0000

While there are many environments and technologies to consider when designing a document strategy, companies are discovering that their printer and copier fleet can serve as an effective and profitable place to start. Once you decide to begin efforts to design a document strategy, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the decision. Work-group printers and copiers are a natural and sensible environment for a document strategy because they directly support the day-to-day business of organizations of all sizes and types from every industry. Ultimately, business operations depend on the efficiency, effectiveness and cost control associated with work group printers and copiers.

Where do you begin? What should the scope of your strategy cover? How will you justify your efforts and demonstrate a return on investment? Here are some answers by suggesting five steps you can take toward an effective and profitable document strategy that can benefit your company.

Step One – Pay Attention

This first step to designing an effective strategy is to simply pay attention to your printer/copier environment. Many companies struggle to understand just how many printers reside in their corporations, how many pages are printed each month, or the cost of each sheet of paper that passes through their printer fleet. As a result, there are tremendous opportunities to save money without investing in any new equipment. Since this effort is often overlooked in the demands of day-to-day operations, it can be beneficial to engage an outside firm to conduct the assessment and make recommendations for improvement. The timing of your activities can be crucial as well. Don’t wait until your contracts are about to expire; a lack of time to respond often forces companies to simply re-up their contracts and hope for the best.

Step Two – Target your Scope

By focusing on work-group printers and copiers, you can develop a comprehensive, yet manageable scope for your document strategy. Document strategy must be comprehensive enough to make sure that nothing of importance is not overlooked. Yet it also must be manageable enough to avoid the risk that nothing ever gets done. Developing a strategic approach to your printer/copier environment

may require a change in the habitual “this is the way we've always done it” mindset. As a result, an outside consultant with an independent view may be useful to overcome this barrier and bring about meaningful savings and improvements. In any case, targeting your scope to improve printer/copier performance and increase the effectiveness of your contracts and suppliers will help you make better decisions and more profitable recommendations.

Step Three – Build Return on Investment

Once you have gone through the analysis, assessment and evaluation needed to map your plan, now you face perhaps the most difficult task of all: Building and demonstrating a realistic return on investment. What can you look for in order to build ROI and justify your strategy? A few examples would be to inventory your printers and copiers, assess hardware, maintenance and support costs. This approach will help you justify the return on investment in your document strategy. Your activities will bring to light the data and perspective needed to better manage expenses, reduce your total cost of ownership, and develop a clear and measurable enterprise-wide strategy.

Step Four – Implement your Strategy

Even the most thoughtful document strategy will not be successful if it is not executed effectively. All of your assessments and proposed actions now must come together in a project plan that maps the course of your strategy and directs your efforts successfully. While there may be many areas of effort included in the implementation of your strategy, here are a few core activities to consider. Balance device deployment – Analysts calculate that balanced deployment of printers and copiers can reduce your operating costs drastically. A balanced deployment strategy can improve device performance and cost, optimize asset utilization, maximize return on investment, and reduce total cost of ownership. Matching features to user needs – The requirements of your printing/copying environment will evolve as your business evolves, so it makes sense to periodically evaluate the needs of each work-group as well as key employees in key functions. Negotiating contracts for optimal benefit – The time to evaluate the performance of your contracts and lease agreements is well before they are about to come up for renewal. View this opportunity as a means of providing an incentive for your vendors and suppliers to not only give you their best pricing, but also provide you with a higher level of service and performance.

Step Five – Manage the Environment

Once you have completed your assessment, negotiated the best contracts and implemented your strategy, it is important to monitor all key cost and performance indicators of both your devices and your vendors over time. Without ongoing management of the environment you may not be assured that the ROI you assumed is actually being reached and maintained. As a result, organizations that optimize their work-group printer/copier environment are more likely to have an advantage. Firms can begin to gain this advantage by an independent and non-bias assessment of work-group devices and their associated costs – which is most cases has never been tracked. Often, this approach can uncover hidden cost savings and overlooked inefficiencies without the commitment for additional capital expenditures.

If you or a business partner are currently looking into saving money with optimizing your copier printer fleet and would like more information on our products and services, please contact James Thomas at The MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

You Can Save Money by Saving the Environment

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 03:01:00 +0000

"Going Green" does not mean higher costs for your business. Implementing sustainable business practices will not only be better for the environment, it can also be better for your bottom line.

Here are some ways you may be able to do both:

Buy In Bulk

Buying your groceries in bulk saves on the per-unit cost and reduces waste by using less packaging. Keep the same principle in mind when you buy supplies like toner or recycled paper. Look for the words "high-efficiency" or "high-capacity" to denote bulk-sized items that lower your per-print or per-unit cost.

Return Toner Bottles and Cartridges for Recycling

Available recycling programs has kept millions of used supplies out of landfills. Xerox Green World Alliance offers this program. You can also find pre-paid UPS shipping labels to send back your used supplies.

Replace Stand-Alone Devices w/ MFPs (Multiple Function Printers)

Instead of buying several individual fax machines or printers, buy one product that can print, copy, scan and fax. You'll save money by purchasing supplies for only one device instead of several. You'll also cut energy use you would have used to power separate components.

Install Energy-Saving Products

ENERGY STAR compliant printers and multifunction printers allow you to save money on energy bills. ENERGY STAR should be enabled before you start using the equipment. Xerox, for example, offers products that can learn your company's usage patterns and automatically adjust between power saving and ready modes to help conserve energy.

Preview Before You Print

Use the Print Preview feature to avoid printing unwanted pages. Some examples of typical waste characteristics are: pages with just a URL, banner ads, logos or legal jargon. Using print preview allows you to catch these before you print.

Duplex Print and Copy

Using both sides of a page is the best way to reduce paper use. Double-sided printing is available on plenty of products.

Use Recycled Paper / Recycle Used Paper

Recycling paper fiber saves trees, energy, water and chemicals. Keeping a recycling box at each desk makes it easy to collect used paper.

Use Scanning to Enable Digital Workflows

Multifunction printers can be your fast access to turning paper files into electronic ones. Document scanning makes them easy to archive, share, email and retrieve. This saves time spent searching for information, and saves money by reducing paper document warehousing or storage costs. With scanned documents, you can also distribute information electronically instead of hard copies.

Look For Trade-in Offers

Turn in your old device for cash toward a new printer or multifunction printer. The MPS Group can dispose of your old device properly or re-manufacture the parts to reduce waste. Contact The MPS Group for more information on trade-in offers.

Learn more at www.xerox.com/environment.

If you or a business partner are currently looking into saving money with eco-friendly business practices and would like more information on our products and services, please contact Daniel Cantu or James Thomas at The MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

Copystar CS 6550-CI [PRODUCTS WE OFFER]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:39:00 +0000

Copystar CS 6550-CI

Designed specifically with the customer in mind, the Copystar CS 6550ci incorporates the flexibility to tackle both your day-to-day document imaging needs as well as more complex color projects with ease, through highly productive functionality and superior document handling. Robust finishing features and vibrant color technology bring the professional polish your output deserves, while integrated business applications provide added power and capabilities to transform your document workflow and simplify your business processes.

Functions Standard Network Print, Scan, Copy and Document Box
Optional Fax/Network Fax, Dual Fax
Speed 30 ppm Black / 30 ppm Color
Resolution 600 x 600 dpi, 9600 x 600 dpi interpolated / 8 bit color depth
Standard Paper Supply 1,150 Sheets
Max Paper Size 12" x 18" (Trays and MPT); 12" x 47" Banner (MPT)
Max Paper Weight 120 lb Index (Trays); 110 lb Cover (MPT)
Original Size 11" x 17"
Standard Embedded Duplex
Fax Modem Speed 33.3 kbps
Fax Memory 12 MB Std, 120 MB Max
Max Monthly Duty Cycle 150,000 Pages

If you or a business partner are currently looking into purchasing new equipment and would like more information on our products and services or request a quote, please contact Daniel Cantu or James Thomas at The MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

The Benefits of Equipment Finance

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:42:00 +0000

Operations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies finance their equipment. They do so because they gain access to a wide range of benefits.

With equipment financing, you are able to:

Get 100% financing with no down payment

Unlike requirements of most traditional lenders, you may be able to arrange 100 percent financing of equipment with no down payment. This is key if cash flow is a concern to your business.

Maintain cash

Equipment financing is a source of funding that lets you hold onto your cash, or working capital, so it can be used for other areas of your business, such as expansion, improvements, marketing or R&D.

Manage risk

Equipment financing can help mitigate the uncertainty of investing in a capital asset your business needs until it achieves a desired return, increases efficiency, saves costs or meets other business objectives.

Hedge against inflation

Equipment financing may hedge inflation risk because instead of paying the total cost of equipment up front or with a large down payment in today s dollars, the stream of payments delays your outlay of funds. In addition, either a lease or loan can lock in the rates that exist on the date of the closing. In other words, the finance company absorbs the devaluation of your payments over time due to inflation and other financial risks.

Plan expenses for cash flow and business cycle fluctuations

Financing equipment helps maintain cash flow and greater certainty in budgeting by setting customized rent payments to match cash flow and even seasonal cash flows.

Keep up to date with new technology

Leasing, loans or other financing often enables you to acquire more and better equipment than you could have without financing. Certain leasing finance programs can also allow for technology upgrades and/or replacements within the term of the lease contract.

Address tax considerations

Tax-oriented leases should produce lower rents since the lessor retains title and depreciation. A tax-oriented lease is a transaction that includes the value of tax benefits. Conversely a conditional sale or loan enhances tax benefits of higher deductions to the lessee/borrower.

Leverage equipment expertise

The equipment financier can be a valued consultant, providing benefits that range from setting residual rates through lifecycle asset management solutions.

Avoid getting stuck with out-of-date equipment

When a lessor owns the equipment in a true lease, the lessor bears the risk of the equipment used by a business from becoming obsolete.

Outsource asset management

Many financing companies provide asset management services that can track the status of equipment, know when to upgrade or update it, and provide services relating to installation, use, maintenance, de-installation and disposal of the equipment.

Obtain the convenience of product and service bundling

Certain financial products allow customers to finance the entire cost of equipment, including installation, up-front maintenance, training and software charges, thereby packaging systems and ancillary products and services into a single, easy-to-manage solution.

Get no-hassle equipment disposal

Equipment management by a third party, such as an equipment financing company, should enhance the ability of a business to focus on its core operations. In the case of computers and other technology devices, these companies may also agree to dispose of equipment. This service can prevent the lessee or borrower from incurring legal penalties for improperly disposing of such assets because disposal is often regulated by federal, state and local governments.

If you or a business partner are currently looking into leasing and financing and would like more information on our products and services, please contact Daniel Cantu or James Thomas at The MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

XEROX Phaser 6010 [PRODUCTS WE OFFER]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 23:30:00 +0000

Phaser 6010

When best-in-class print speed meets a compact, space-saving design, Xerox makes color the easy choice with the Phaser 6010 color printer. It’s a refreshingly office-friendly printing solution powerful enough to handle your printing demands with ease.

Color: up to 12 ppm
Black: up to 15 ppm
Max print resolution 1200 x 2400 dpi
Standard paper capacity: 160 sheets
Output capacity: 100 sheets
First-page-out time as fast as 17 seconds color, 14 seconds black-and-white
Duty cycle Up to 30,000 images/month
For individuals or small workgroups who need value-packed color printing
Compact design is ideal for a small office with limited space

Reviews

For other reviews on this product, click here.

Competitive Edge

The Phaser 6010 color printer is faster than other printers in its class
A smaller footprint means you can locate the Phaser 6010 where it’s most convenient
Proven Hi-Q LED print engine consumes low energy and space and produces low noise

Print Quality Features

Hi-Q LED print engine uses the same breakthrough technology found in some of our higher-end graphic arts devices
A print resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi delivers an amazing 16 shades of color per pixel. That means a wider color range for more impressive business graphics
Unique Xerox EA Eco toner technology gives you crisp text and printed images with superior detail and clarity. It’s the same high-quality toner used in our professional graphic-arts color devices
PANTONE® Color approved solid-color simulations and Xerox color correction technology provide easy tools for precisely matching the colors of important business assets, such as company logos

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

Total Cost of Printer Ownership

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 18:51:00 +0000

Are you in a situation where you are needing to purchase a new printer? When printers are purchased for personal and commercial use, factors like durability and wear and tear, pages per minute, and life expectancy are thoughts to consider. PC Mag reported “You have to make assumptions about how long you'll own the printer—the usual assumption is three years—and how much of each kind of page—monochrome, color, and photos—you'll print. Kodak says its research shows that the average home user prints 800 pages of black text, 550 pages of color graphics, and 150 photos per year. HP uses very different numbers based on information gathered by Lyra Research—roughly 550 pages of black text, 275 color pages, and 72 photos per year.”

It’s almost crazy to believe but it costs close to $4,731.00 per gallon for printer ink.

Printer Ink!

Printer Ink is more expensive than vintage champagne, rare whiskey, and Russian caviar according to PC World reported this almost ten years ago.

And not much has changed since.

These days, printer ink will still run you about $20.00 to $35.00 per tiny cartridge, each yielding from 400 to 1000 printed pages. In fact, unlike everything else in the world of consumer electronics, ink prices are going up--as much as 30 percent since 2009.

In a business where hundreds of pages are being printed each day, those costs are significant. It’s easy to dismiss a single page coming out of the machine as inconsequential, but with a price per printed sheet (per color used) now hitting anywhere between 3 and 10 cents, a business that goes through 500 sheets a week could be spending $2,600.00 annually on printing--and many times that if staffers regularly print in color.

Inkjet printers are not the only culprits for high cost of ownership printing - small laser printers sold at your larger office retail outlets (such as Office Depot or Office Max) are more costly than most might seem. Some of these units are attractive with relatively low-up front cost but over time, you will spend more on 'cost of ownership' than expected.

A general rule – the lower the cost to acquire a printer, the more the printer costs to operate. There is a reason inkjet printers are practically given away. Like we stated above, the ink in an inkjet printer is more expensive than some of the finest perfumes.

For MFPs, the reverse is true. The cost of acquisition is very high compared to the cost or operation.

Copier and Printer vendors will tout the low cost of operations but not factor in the monthly lease payment as part of the total cost of operation.

Printing is a substantial business expense, but ultimately you have more control over it than you might think. Sure, some printing--packing slips, mailing labels, legal paperwork, and so on--may be unavoidable, but there’s a lot you can do to cut printing costs. There is one sure way to help not only identify how much you are spending monthly, per printer and per page - perform a Printer Fleet Analysis. The MPS Group performs these analysis' for your business - for free.

In the Printer Fleet Analysis (PFA), we help you develop a strategy, establish a baseline and treat the printer as an asset. We also monitor, measure and manage your equipment to measure and adjust on a continuing ongoing basis.

The comprehensive study brings to the surface your total cost of ownership exposing - down to the penny - your cost per print. After we engage with our client finding out their specific needs and goals, we can put together a cost-saving solution that will not only increase functionality and improve processes it will also lower costs - immediately.

Avoid Hidden Costs in Copier Service Contracts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 18:11:00 +0000

As small businesses grow, office products such as copiers, printers and fax machines are acquired when they’re realized they are needed. Companies end up with dozens of different brands or products. Each product has different methods of support for obtaining toner or services. Each also carried a different method of billing.

A copier service contract is a very important factor to consider if you are planning on obtaining a provider for your copiers and printers. Copiers, like any high use office equipment, are vulnerable to wear and tear; they may malfunction in times when they are really needed. Considering help from experts, sometimes is the best solution to solve your temporary electronic equipment problems. There are several technicians online and in the phone book that are available to repair your equipment for you. You also must understand these technicians are in high demand and could be quite expensive on a per job basis.

Prior to signing any long-term contract you need to be aware of the salesman who is offering a product or service that seems too good to be true. Carefully read any contract and ask any question you may have on any item. Unfortunately there are companies that take advantage of customers lack of understanding the full service of their contract.

One main issue that customers do not catch and service providers take advantage of is the different revenue generating traps in cost per page printing.

Check to see if you are paying for pages you do not even print. Does your contract say you will be billed “X” amount of dollars for printing 9,000 pages a month? What if you only print 7,000? You saved 2,000 pieces of paper that month, but are still being charged for 9,000.

At The MPS Group, we allow for 'Quarterly Billing' thereby allowing for something like 'roll over' pages in a particular quarter.

So, if you are allotted 9,000 pages per month, you in effect are really allotted 27,000 within that given quarter. This allows for variables and slight fluctuation in your business that may cause slower versus busier printing months.

Before signing a copier service contract, it is important to evaluate the documentation first to understand the relationship with your equipment supplier. With The MPS Group price per page solution, our agreement is a billing program that charges the customer to pay for only the prints they make.

Here are some ways The MPS Group avoids these "gotchas" or hidden costs:

'Cost of living' annual increase to the maintenance agreement per device of 10% - our standard is 2.5%
Lease auto renewals at end of term - most auto renew for a one year term when client does not give usually a 60-120 day notice of non renewal. Ours only auto renew for 30 days at a time and we only require a minimum of 30 days notice.
We do not charge for scans - scans are free. Others do charge.
There are no shipping charges/delivery charges for supplies. Others charge for shipping and/or delivery.

If you or a business partner currently seeking a new service provider for your copier and printer solutions, and would like more information on our products and services, please contact The MPS Group at:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.

OEM VS. OEM ALTERNATIVE TONER CARTRIDGES

noreply@blogger.com (The MPS Group) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 19:42:00 +0000

Whether you are an owner/manager of a company or work group, chances are you try to budget in the direction of lower cost printing. With the “state of the economy” as it is, businesses large and small alike are making efforts to save money without affecting the quality commitment to their customers.

One of the easiest ways to cut back drastically is to switch from OEM Toner Cartridges to OEM Alternatives. By doing so, chances are your partners and customers will never see the difference.

An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Toner Cartridge is a cartridge that is made by the particular brand of printer you are using. For example, if you own a Lexmark T654n Mono Laser Printer, Lexmark is the original manufacturer.

An OEM Alternative is just that. It’s an alternative to the original manufacturer’s branded equipment. The OEM Alternative is made by a third party with new compatible parts and similar quality. OEMAlternative Toner Cartridges should not be confused with the re-manufactured OEM toner cartridges. Re-manufactured cartridges are the name brand toners that have been used, and then recycled. They have been taken apart by the manufacturer, had any worn out pieces replaced, been refilled with the toner components, and then put back together.

Many manufacturers of printers recommend only using OEM toner cartridges with their printers to achieve the best results. However, they are also trying to get you to buy their product. OEM toner cartridges are generally the most expensive, and usually there is not a big difference in quality between an OEM cartridge and a quality alternative.

Also, If any parts dealer, repair service, or original manufacturer tells you that using an OEM Alternative Cartridge will void your warranty, it is not true and they are violating the law.

The Sherman & Clayton Anti-Trust and Magnuson-Moss Warranty Acts, ensure that the manufacturer of printers cannot void the warranty because of the use of re-manufactured or compatible cartridges. Penalties for violating the Sherman Act Anti-Trust law can be severe.

The warranty will not be voided if you decide to an OEM Alternative Toner Cartridge, but it does not necessarily have to cover the damage that is a direct result for using anything other than an OEM product or part. For this reason it is important to trust the company supplying your toner cartridges and they are using only high quality products.

Benefits of OEM Alternative Toner Cartridges:

OEM Alternative Cartridges have a lower cost than their original manufacturer counterparts.
Can be reliable if they are high quality
Cost Less to make than new OEM cartridges
Are not made with recycled, but with brand new parts

The MPS Group offers a 100% guarantee on all OEM Alternatives. Unlike other companies, The MPS Group product warranty on OEM Alternatives covers the cartridge itself as well as any damage to the machine that is tied to the product directly. So in the rare circumstance one of our cartridges is the cause of your machine's problems, you will not be liable for the repairs.

If you or a business partner currently use Original Equipment Manufacturer Toner Cartridges, and would like more information on our products and services, please contact Daniel Cantu or James Thomas at The MPS Group:

TELEPHONE: 210-344-0332

EMAIL: info@fixmyprinter.com

We look forward to doing business with you.