Depending on the amount of paper documents that your business goes through, and what type of equipment they are printed on, it may be surprising how much those documents actually cost to produce. Desktop Printers are the biggest culprit, and can cost substantially more (20-80%) to operate than multifunction equipment. The main reason for this is that the output from printers have a variable cost, versus a fixed cost off of multifunction copiers. The standard yield on supplies for printers that you see advertised from major equipment manufacturers are based on 5% coverage. In reality most documents printed have coverage that is much higher, around 15-20%. HP and Xerox provide good information on how much things will cost on their network printers, but they certainly don’t put it on their homepage.

How can you tell how much you’re spending? In short, get help – free help. Most local copier vendors now are armed with software and a slick USB tool (PrintAudit and PrintFleet are common names you can ask for) that can really help you get a clear overview of your office peripherals. They have incentive to give you a no cost quantitative analysis in the event they can provide a more cost effective solution. You can run a quick network scan and it will download your vital equipment information including make, model, serial and print counts. Repeat the process in 30 day increments until you feel that accurate volumes have been recorded, and then rely on your vendor to give you total costs of operation on all of your devices.

You’ll be surprised what you find; you might even find a printer or two than you didn’t even know about. Once the data is collected, it might be advantageous to your organization to redirect larger print jobs to more cost effective multifunction devices, or possibly even replace printers with a fixed cost device.

Labels: coverage, desktop printer, Hewlett Packard (HP), laser printer, Print Audit, Print Fleet, xerox

All HP LaserJet toner cartridges are eligible. Dual packs are eligible (dual packs count as two cartridges) and there is a limit to 8 gas cards per order - Get yours today!

Labels: HP Toner, Hungate Business Services, laser printer

Don't have time to call the 800 number for service? Neither do we!

Thanks to the service group at Xerox, there is a great new way to place a service call online for your copier, printer or fax machine that is under a maintenance contract.

Just click the link below.

Online Service Call - Xerox Copiers, Printers, and Fax Equipment

Labels: copier, laser printer, service

With a green initiative coming around every corner these days, probably the least likely you’ve heard about is right in front of you at work everyday. Your reliable little friend that churns out paper like a pasta maker is not only costing you a pretty penny, but it is also filling up the landfills. Studies show that after after 100,000 pages printed, a typical laser printer generates over 157 pounds of waste due to cartridges, fusers and imaging units. Simply put, a laser printer produces a staggering 90% more waste than alternative print engines like solid ink.

How about when you go to fix your desktop printer? If you’re like most people, you throw it away and get another one. Desktops have gotten to be so inexpensive it’s easier to replace, rather than fixing them. Manufacturers have a done a wonderful job of “reverse marketing” to the public when it comes to getting their products in the hands of consumers. Why buy toner that cost a couple of hundred bucks when you can buy a brand new printer for a few dollars more?

How can you do your part?

1.Migrate to multifunction devices
2.If you have to buy a printer, use solid ink printers
3.Don’t replace laser printers when they break down, repair them

It may be hard for many people reading this to actually consolidate into more of a workgroup device because of habit (or sheer laziness). Yes it is more convenient, but Mom making your lunch everyday was too. New technology can print at certain times, and some even print securely so you don’t have to worry about unwanted eyes seeing confidential documents. Also, many users will be pleasantly surprised on the speed and features available on a multifunction device that they can’t get on their desktop.

At the end of the day you’re probably not going to win a Nobel Prize for “going green” in your office, but the little things add up. Finally, a closing note from our friend Gabby, an elementary school kid who has a unique perspective on this topic.

Labels: laser printer, multifunction device, printer service, solid ink