Prining versus Photocopying

[witch]

We are having some grief from teachers who are using our Epson colour laser to print multiple copies which is using up our ink really fast. :x
We think that printing one copy and then photocopying is cheaper - does anyone have any figures to this effect?

[Ric_]

Just work it out using the manufacturer estimated life of the cartridges.

Generally, the cost is somewhere in the region of 5p-10p per page (assuming that it isn´t blocks of colour). Photocopiers are generally half this.

[elsiegee40]

It's miles cheaper to photocopy... I will see if I can find my paperwork. I seem to remember that photocopying was roughly 4p a page and the colour laser about 45p a page... although that was for heavy colour

It's cheaper to use a simple mono laser than a colour laser - the toners cost about half the price and unless the user spcifically prints as a mono job, I think you'll find that black on the colour laser doesn't only use the black toner!

We solved this problem by setting the teachers' print quotas to a level which meant they couldn't print off "one for everyone". They moaned at first, but they are used to it now.

[bossman]

Have recently had figures of 5.5p per page colour photocopying (this includes the hire of latest technology photocopying, rack em stack and pack em, toners and maintenance) based on 5% coverage. Most colour printing involves on average 15 - 25% so that would be approx 15 - 25p per page.

When compared to a laserjet HP 4600n cost increases to 10p per page based on same principles. So cost of average page is equal to between 30 - 50p per page.

You can setup the photocopier as a networked printer and setup database with dept passwords so costs are for usage by the individual depts and therefore comes out of their budgets. This can also be made available online so they can then use it from home.

Of course teachers don't like this as they then have to go to a central repository to collect the photocopying which takes up too much time (lazy is the key word).

[localzuk]

Have recently had figures of 5.5p per page colour photocopying (this includes the hire of latest technology photocopying, rack em stack and pack em, toners and maintenance) based on 5% coverage. Most colour printing involves on average 15 - 25% so that would be approx 15 - 25p per page.

That is odd. Most companies do a 'flat rate' charge per sheet, as they don't log what % coverage is used per page.

[witch]

We havent got print quotas
The problem is people coming into the main IT suite and using the big colour laser instead of the perfectly good little mono laser in their area, or indeed the photocopier.
It is a problem with laziness as the photocopier is a stand alone in the main reception and they can't be bothered to walk to it!