In case you missed the comments for some of last week’s articles, here’s three worth sharing. The first two were in response to the “Off the Record” piece on the manufacturer’s race to zero. The last comment was in response to Art Post’s column, “Copier Scams Part Deux: Dude, Where’s My Copier?”
The Race to Zero
All the manufacturers care about is moving the box at the lowest price and putting the independent dealer out of business. They move the box at the cheapest price and then the customer is the one who suffers with lousy support for the next 3-5 years. They have ruined the perfect business model where everyone was making money and very profitable for decades. Hopefully we, as dealers, continue to see the direct ops sell their bases and eventually close up shop. Secondly, for Direct Ops who say they are more concerned with selling IT and Services and not the box, you sure wouldn’t know it by seeing the pricing they put out on the streets.
This industry is about to go into rapid decline in the same way that the typewriter business did in the early 90s. Beware!!!!
Copier Scams Part Deux: Dude, Where’s My Copier?
All of this would go away if the leasing companies would make it easier to upgrade a lease early and return the equipment. For the most part the leasing companies will not let a dealer or customer return the old equipment……It has to be stored somewhere either by the customer (who just wants the machine gone) or by the new dealer until the old leasing company will release the return instructions. Make no mistake, the biggest bottom feeders in our entire industry are the leasing companies.
