Photocopier MFP Recommendations

[ToffeeMan]

Hi

 

We are just moving from our existing provider and looking for 5 new photocopiers (A3, A4, A5, Scan, Email, Stapler etc)

 

Anyone got any recommendations on hardware and the service provided by either the vendor or hardware manufacturer?

 

We will likely go for a managed service including toners and full service contract

 

Thanks

[localzuk]

I'd say speak to Ricoh direct. Give your nearest office a call - Our Offices. They can do some great pricing under various government and related frameworks. We've been with them for 2 years and they've been pretty good for us so far! We've been using Ricoh machines for about 5 years total and I like them.

[DevilsAdvocate]

Another vote for Ricoh direct here. Been with them almost 12 months now on our managed service and has been very good all round.

[sonofsanta]

Our Repro lady swears by Ricoh machines, and she's a rottweiler with pricing as well so she wouldn't keep going with them if they didn't offer a good cost.

[nyiss]

Ricoh here too. Been with them a few years and they've never given me a reason to complain.

[bigjb]

Riso all the way. RISO Print cost saving, printing reduction and copier costs control

 

Got 4 Riso devices on a managed contract and they are a dream.

[howartp]

Interesting to hear positive comments about Ricoh.

 

When we started our current contract 4.5 years ago, we replaced the Ricoh's and avoided them for replacements because they were so battered and failing left, right and centre. I wasn't here at the start of, or involved in, the contract, so I don't know what service or support we had with them, how long we had them, etc, but I'm presuming 5 years like we normally do.

 

I'll be starting the process again after Half Term, so will add them back onto the considerations list.

 

(Currently using Sharp MX series models; the only one we had proper trouble with was MX6201 which hadn't had the model-refresh the year before we bought like the others - 2600, 4200, MXM1100 - so was inherently older hardware in the first place. Added a newer 5201 to the fleet 1.5 years in, which is even newer model-refresh - problem is we don't like the new UI on the 5201 so hoping it's got better since if we renew with Sharp)

 

Peter

[localzuk]

One tip - avoid 5 year contracts. In fact, I don't think schools are actually allowed to sign up to them now for leasing, without express permission from the Secretary of State. 3 years maximum for copiers - they just get beaten too much to last longer.

[chilbs]

The crown commercial ( formerly GPS) framework Lot 1 is a choice of 3 or 5 year leases.

[localzuk]

The crown commercial ( formerly GPS) framework Lot 1 is a choice of 3 or 5 year leases.

 

The framework might well be, but the rules still exist somewhere. I know I couldn't go for 5 year as the document from the DfE specifically said we couldn't.

 

EDIT: Might've been only applicable to academies.

[john]

The framework might well be, but the rules still exist somewhere. I know I couldn't go for 5 year as the document from the DfE specifically said we couldn't.

 

EDIT: Might've been only applicable to academies.

 

If its in GPS (or whatever its called today as it changes name so frequently) then State schools can just pick from that list no questions asked in most cases.

 

I personally swear by Toshiba kit but know a few on here had a bad run so depends clearly on your reseller.

 

Where I work now we have Canon and they just seem to work but we don't hammer anywhere as much as education but I do think a lot depends on the reseller and support teams, poorly maintained kit of any make will be a disaster but good maintenance should be a saving grace.

[DavidLong]

Hi,

 

Another vote for Ricoh, I used to manage repro in my previous school and we replaced all out canon and sharp equipment with them on 3 year deals and then renewed for another 3 years just before I left. We found that there call outs where atleast twice as quick as canon and the machines much better built.

[howartp]

The framework might well be, but the rules still exist somewhere. I know I couldn't go for 5 year as the document from the DfE specifically said we couldn't.

 

EDIT: Might've been only applicable to academies.

 

I just checked with our Director of Finance; she says it's the other way round here - as an Academy we don't have to do anything they tell us.

 

However she would now like me to consider it as a sensible suggestion (rather than it being enforced from above)!

 

Peter

[HTCPCP]

All our MFPs are Sharp, with 1 ricoh which is only used when absolutely necessary as it breaks down so often. The contract expires soon on that thankfully, then it will be all Sharp MFPs with a handful of HP Laserjets for specific staff who need a printer locally.

 

Something I would suggest is making sure that you get the encryption/delete function installed, as it can save you a fortune when you come to get rid of your printers at the end of their life, as the company will have to strip out the hard drive and destroy it, whereas with this, they don't.

[Stuclark]

I would steer clear of Sharp & Toshiba for build quality alone

 

Ricoh were good when I last did a large implementation (over 200 machines)

 

Canon are getting better after a while in the wilderness

 

OCE are ok, but a bit flakey at times

[localzuk]

I just checked with our Director of Finance; she says it's the other way round here - as an Academy we don't have to do anything they tell us.

 

However she would now like me to consider it as a sensible suggestion (rather than it being enforced from above)!

 

Peter

 

Your Director of Finance is somewhat wrong (or, if your DoF is anything like ours, just being flippant) - academies have to follow the rules as laid out by the EFA and DfE. The rule I was talking about was introduced in the Academies Financial Handbook 2012, where it stated "FAs impose distinct restrictions on ATs in relation to leases. Specifically, an AT needs the Secretary of State’s consent if it wishes to take out a lease of more than three years’ duration."

 

However, reading the Academies Financial Handbook 2014, that length appears to have randomly disappeared! However, there are still rules to follow - ie. no finance leases, only operating leases are allowed.

 

If its in GPS (or whatever its called today as it changes name so frequently) then State schools can just pick from that list no questions asked in most cases.

 

No, academies still have to follow the rules the DfE and EFA set, per their funding agreements!

Edited January 16, 2015 by localzuk

[MatthewL]

Interesting to hear positive comments about Ricoh.

 

When we started our current contract 4.5 years ago, we replaced the Ricoh's and avoided them for replacements because they were so battered and failing left, right and centre. I wasn't here at the start of, or involved in, the contract, so I don't know what service or support we had with them, how long we had them, etc, but I'm presuming 5 years like we normally do.

 

I'll be starting the process again after Half Term, so will add them back onto the considerations list.

 

(Currently using Sharp MX series models; the only one we had proper trouble with was MX6201 which hadn't had the model-refresh the year before we bought like the others - 2600, 4200, MXM1100 - so was inherently older hardware in the first place. Added a newer 5201 to the fleet 1.5 years in, which is even newer model-refresh - problem is we don't like the new UI on the 5201 so hoping it's got better since if we renew with Sharp)

 

Peter

 

Sharp all the way for me, the models you list up there are older especially the 5201 and 6201.

 

The Sharp kit is more advanced than any from an IT point of view, you can do a lot more with them with without having to do a lot. I work with these machines day in and day out as I do others and Sharp wins hands down for me anyway.

 

Any questions drop me a PM.

[Jamman960]

Brought in 5 Toshiba mfds over the summer and they've been great, only 2 service calls so far and next to no jajamming. Previously had a mixture of Sharp, Kyocera aand Konica.

 

Wasn't keen on the sharp as it was an older model, Kyoceras had a nice ui but both jammed far too frequently among other issues. The Konicas were reliable but had horrible interfaces and print drivers

[timbo343]

Im glad i stummbled across this now. We are looking at the managed print route, keeping our options open but good to hear other people's feed back.

[howartp]

The Sharp kit is more advanced than any from an IT point of view, you can do a lot more with them with without having to do a lot. I work with these machines day in and day out as I do others and Sharp wins hands down for me anyway.

That's a good way of putting my gut-feeling that I struggle to describe/explain down on paper.

[MatthewL]

Sharp offer alot more features than many of the other out the box, they don't even compare to the likes of Toshiba from a user point of view I think.

[Ric_]

The last school I worked in, I switched everything to Konica Minolta... The school had used their large courts for years which meant we convincing them was easy. Dealing direct meant they blew everyone else away on price and the service was excellent - SLA of 1 business day but typically an engineer was onsite within a couple of hours.

 

Build quality on the smaller MFDs could have been better but it was certainly acceptable. The printers were built like tanks. They also supplied PCounter as part of the agreement - charge back, accounting and pull printing.

[BlueSkies]

Hi there,

 

I am just looking into procuring a new MFD for our school office.

 

Does anyone have experience of using the MFDs provided by Xerox under Lot 1 of the RM1599 Framework? In particular, we are looking at the Xerox Workcentre 7220 ....

 

Thanks!

[MatthewL]

Xerox produce good quality print but you will often find you pay alot more for their contracts. Service isn't particularly good in areas, their call center is in the Philippines which often puts alot of people off. No experience of that particular contract but kit wise its not bad, got a few in various print rooms but that is where it is best place I feel.

[Printman]

Having worked for Ricoh National Accounts dealing directly with the education sector I would also agree that the products work well. However a lot of IT Managers have realized that 90% of the print within the education market place is A4, so why pay for an A3 devise when you don’t require it ? Over the last two years I have been deploying Lexmark products which not only have reduced down the overall spend by 27%, the service calls have dropped by over 60%. This along with the software on board like embedded paper cut, Google print, scan to SharePoint too name just a couple, should be something all IT Managers should take the time to consider.

 

Lexmark is tried and tested with over 90% of the financial sector using Lexmark.

 

Pm me for education referral sites.