MFDs/Photocopiers - Primary Schools

[Lolus]

Hello,

 

We are going through procurement process to get 10 MFDs/Copiers for 9 Primary Schools.

We went directly to

* Kyocera

* Ricoh

* Konica Minolta

* Sharp

* Riso (very expensive, in some cases 4x more)

 

So far, Ricoh is the cheapest, but I wonder if anyone else has any experience with them? good devices? support? installation process?

 

Thanks!

[6Foot2]

How will you be supporting them (service/repairs) once installed?

[Guest Guest]

We currently have Sharp on a managed print contract direct with Sharp. They've always been very reliable, when we've needed an engineer they've been out either same day or following morning

[atcoates]

We use Ricoh across all my schools. Very few issues and the schools are really happy with the service.

[Jawloms]

We currently have Sharp on a managed print contract direct with Sharp. They've always been very reliable, when we've needed an engineer they've been out either same day or following morning

 

We were with Sharp who were good. When we renewed, AltoDigital (with Xerox devices) promised the earth at a reasonable price. Shocking..... If you're happy with Sharp, stay with Sharp.

[Lolus]

How will you be supporting them (service/repairs) once installed?

Managed contract, service/repairs/support - all included.

[6Foot2]

Managed contract, service/repairs/support - all included.

 

OK. To clarify, I asked because I am aware of at least one school that acquires the kit and looks to the manufacturer's guarantee for "support" When that expires, run it, repair it yourself (if you can) or until it breaks.

 

[Lolus]

How will you be supporting them (service/repairs) once installed?

 

Managed contract, service/repairs/support - all included.

[steveg]

I'd recommend you do it through the Crown commercial services framework, no chance of finding hidden clauses or getting ripped off later down the line then, and when we tendered was considerable cheaper than those not on the framework.

[TriggerHappyUK]

We've recently gone through this process too. We have 12 MDFs and 11 A4 Desktop printers. About to finish our current contract with Konica. Our local Grammar school recommended Ricoh. So we added them to a list of manufacturers (Toshiba, Konica, Ricoh, Sharp). We went for Ricoh in the end as they seemed to have a better overall service (and quite cheap too). All fully managed for 5 years. Anything goes wrong, they'll come out and fix it. PaperCut integration too :-)

 

All getting delivered in the last week of term, then installed the week after.

Edited June 23, 2022 by TriggerHappyUK

[MatthewL]

I've used all sorts and installed all sorts and for me Sharp hands down have more features on them out the box than others and the UI is far more user friendly than others and they can be customised.

[Sonic007]

We are with Riso and they are the cheapest of the lot.

[HereIGoAgain2601]

A few primary schools I worked in recently have had “unlimited” print contracts offered - cost based on a per pupil scheme. Service has been great - sounds to good to be true and felt like there would be a catch but have to say 2 years in everyone is happy including SBM as costs are as budgeted. Was cheaper than previous contracts which were on relatively good click charges of £0.02 per colour

[saggu]

Sorry to jump in!

Anyone has information about Xerox 7025 or Xerox 7030?

 

Thanks for help!

[pete]

Use the Crown Commercial Contracts (or CPC, though Crown was cheaper when we tendered last).

 

Avoid Konica Minolta. The techs are great, the hardware is reliable but the backend services (finance, parts and consumable delivery, account management) necessary to keep things working smoothly are terrible and have been for too long.

[PrimaryNetMan]

Copiers should always be purchased via gov framework.

[PotNoodleTech]

Ricoh here - purchased on gov framework. Great copiers, great integration with papercut, great tech service/engineers too. Can't recommend enough.

 

I'v heared so many horror stories about other companies - and horror stories from schools that have moved from ricoh to someone else as they were slightly cheaper and are now struggling.

[k-strider]

as others have said use Crown comercial services framework

https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6174

[DrCheese]

Yes - Need to scream from the rooftops about using the frameworks for this.

Whenever I've heard of a school being ripped off, it's because of a photocopier company. Whatever dodgy con you can think of, they've tried it & weaponised contracts against schools when they've tried to leave or ended the contract through normal ending.

 

The framework stops all of this stone dead.

[Alis_Klar]

If a supplier says it follows the Framework can you go directly to them without a tender etc. Some say they follow the Direct Award option. IF I go though the Tender how many companies will quote? Can you restrict it and will you get harassing sales calls etc?

[DrCheese]

Yarp you can direct award to a supplier - But make sure you go through the framework process/rules around that so you are getting the protection of the framework. If you deal directly with the supplier they'll try to sign you up to a non framework contract.

 

If you're doing further competition, you must offer it out to all the suppliers on the framework - Realistically tho you won't get responses from every supplier. I put out to all 12 companies on it (when I did it) and received 4 back.

[nicholab]

We used to be with https://www.annodata.co.uk and they seem to do a good job. It also handy if your Papercut or other print management can be included in the contract.

[slugshead]

We've got a fleet of Ricoh's across our campus. Got them with papercut and works without a hitch.

 

They've also given us a small box that collects the printer stats and sends them over to Ricoh, they post replacement toners and you post empties back (4 at a time, prepaid labels from the portal).

 

Copiers self report issues and engineers do randomly appear to look at the faults which the devices auto report.

[AlanThePrinterGuy]

Hi. They are not current models. The recent and replacement models are 7125 and 7130.