School spends 35k on a photocopier!

[john]

I do agree that there is far too much of the "pots of money" mentality. The school gets given money for something, and it has to spend it on that *specific* thing - even if we don't really need it.

 

A case in point - we have a few skylights which constantly leak and need repaired every couple of months. Around March time, the (now retired) caretaker went to the finance manager and said "look, these skylights are leaking badly, I'm spending hours of my time each day mopping up the mess, can we get the glazier in to replace them" - and was told there was no money in the routine maintenance budget, the only money being in the budget for repairing damage or vandalism. Of course, that night the caretaker went on the roof with a few stones... and the skylights were replaced the next morning .

I should suggest that to our Site Manager, I will turn the CCTV off and then he can go and smash the leaking skylights and shame the CCTV didn't work, never mind time for some new ones Any suggestions on how to enhance the leaking roof ??

 

I must admit these fixed pots of money to do set things are jokes, we've just got a load of bike racks, we must have oh about 5 students that cycle to the place and a few staff, the staff park bikes against the wall by the staffroom not in the bike shed, as a result of said bike racks, we have lost an outside store room as we have to keep the bins secure and out of the way, the solution put the bins in the outside store room and loose a huuuge storage shed That cash would have been spent on fixing the leaking roof.

[somabc]

I do agree that there is far too much of the "pots of money" mentality. The school gets given money for something, and it has to spend it on that *specific* thing - even if we don't really need it.

 

That is because traditionally 'the powers that be' have never trusted schools to make the right choice on where to spend the money.

[laserblazer]

That is because traditionally 'the powers that be' have never trusted schools to make the right choice on where to spend the money.

 

Yet, you can see from discussions on this site, that ICT Technicians spend time and effort searching for the right deal. I wonder how many other departments are as diligent?

[grumpy_git]

I should suggest that to our Site Manager, I will turn the CCTV off and then he can go and smash the leaking skylights and shame the CCTV didn't work, never mind time for some new ones Any suggestions on how to enhance the leaking roof ??

 

That one was never worked out, we have the same problem!

 

Which is another waste of money - every summer do we have roofing contractors up there sticking felt patches on the roof to try and keep it watertight for a bit longer. Every summer do the decorators go into the corridor to re-paint all the corridors ruined by water. By about christmas, the roof is leaky again and the corridor damaged. Should we replace the roof? "No money". But we've got enough money to waste it on roofers and decorators year on year, whereas if we spent a few years' money rolled together we could have a new roof and save a small fortune!

[webman]

if we spent a few years' money rolled together we could have a new roof and save a small fortune!

 

There's another thing - you're not allowed to "save up" for things - you're forced to spend each year's budget whether you need to or not; which can naturally lead to wastage, and has the knock-on effect that big costly projects that aren't affordable at the time can't be done.

[broc]

That is because traditionally 'the powers that be' have never trusted schools to make the right choice on where to spend the money.

Sometimes 'the powers that be' are right though. As an ex-Governor, I know how 'creative' schools can be when deciding how to spent 'targetted' funds from HM Govt

 

I lost count of the number of times we were given money for things we didn't need, but by being creative we were able to still use the money for the benefit of the school. Equally well, I have seen money spent on things of debatable value

[Paulbatey]

Hi All,

 

Just came across this web-site today when looking for advice for a school I am dealing with on photocopiers.

 

Not really sure if schools know about us! If you want free advise on purchasing decisions photocopiers being a good example contact your local school procurement partner. We are nationwide and funded by central government to help schools procure better and save money.

 

Many of us come from professional procurement backgrounds. Look at our web-site (best if you google ...I wont say too much incase I end up with loads of work!

 

Teachernet, Educational Procurement Centre or Teachernet, Educational Procurement Centre

 

As a bit of advice see out your photocopier contracts to the end before renewal as many photocopier sales people will offer to give you a new machine for the same quarterly lease as the old machine and add the dept of the old machine to the new lease.

 

Although the quarterly charge remains the same the total payment period is much longer. You are now paying for a machine you dont have? why did you not just keep the machine even if you also got a new one as you are paying the same either way.

 

The other problem is you are now paying interest on the remainder sum of the old machine.......again! as there was interest on the first photocopier to start with.

 

Anyway just thought I would make you aware of our services, its all free and confidential...but we just deal with goods/services procurement, not staffing!! Sorry....

 

Cheers

Paul

[Printerman]

Hi all

 

This £35,000 for one copier is not unusual at all. I have learnt that we in education are synically seen as a "soft target" by many copier suppliers. The way the offers are presented is very alluring and once we have signed....whoops, we are stuck in an increasingly expensive contract. That's what happened to a friend at one of our schools over here. It was no ones fault, they did the best they could but were grievously misled.

 

By simply comparing a number of quotes it may not be immediately apparent where the expensive contractual problems will be, as the contract only comes out at the signing stage doesn't it? The head teacher was so embarrassed that she hadn't read it through properly, but it seems few of us either read or fully understand these contracts.

 

With my help she found a specialist contract consultant to help them to move away from one of these "rip off" merchants. The new service was just brilliant, it didnt cost them a penny! They also were able to source new equipment for much less than anyone else at very low trade prices!

 

My colleagues have saved a small fortune and are now looked after by a wonderful supplier. I cant praise them too highly!

 

They are particularly helpful to schools that have got themselves into trouble; why not give them a try?

 

AKPconsulting.com

 

Contract Resolution Consultants

 

All the best

"Printerman"

[torledo]

Hi all

 

This £35,000 for one copier is not unusual at all. I have learnt that we in education are synically seen as a "soft target" by many copier suppliers. The way the offers are presented is very alluring and once we have signed....whoops, we are stuck in an increasingly expensive contract. That's what happened to a friend at one of our schools over here. It was no ones fault, they did the best they could but were grievously misled.

 

By simply comparing a number of quotes it may not be immediately apparent where the expensive contractual problems will be, as the contract only comes out at the signing stage doesn't it? The head teacher was so embarrassed that she hadn't read it through properly, but it seems few of us either read or fully understand these contracts.

 

With my help she found a specialist contract consultant to help them to move away from one of these "rip off" merchants. The new service was just brilliant, it didnt cost them a penny! They also were able to source new equipment for much less than anyone else at very low trade prices!

 

My colleagues have saved a small fortune and are now looked after by a wonderful supplier. I cant praise them too highly!

 

They are particularly helpful to schools that have got themselves into trouble; why not give them a try?

 

AKPconsulting.com

 

 

Contract Resolution Consultants

 

All the best

"Printerman"

 

i bet the contract lawyer wasn't cheap.

[Arcath]

id love to know where these schools with money are, most the ones i work in can barely afford to keep toner in the printers let alone replace any broken equipment

[Printerman]

i bet the contract lawyer wasn't cheap.

 

Hi Torledo

 

We thought that specialist professionals like this would be highly expensive too!

 

In fact, on close inspection these particular consultants offer an unusual service, they only charge a proportion of any savings they make for us, so there is no real charge! If they can’t help us or save money there is absolutely zero cost, which we thought was very fair.

 

I hear that they were really empathetic and supportive right through the process. Once they established the ground rules it really was a "no brainer" for my friend’s school.

 

We found them friendly and highly ethical. The contracts they offer are very fair and are completely clear of the dodgy small print clauses that can so easily entangle us non legally trained bods!

 

We heartily recommend them as a risk free and cheap way of sourcing brilliant equipment and service. This seems a very prudent way of making sure that our colleagues don't have problems like these again.

 

“Printerman”

[torledo]

In fact, on close inspection these particular consultants offer an unusual service, they only charge a proportion of any savings they make for us, so there is no real charge! If they can’t help us or save money there is absolutely zero cost, which we thought was very fair.

 

no win. no fee.

 

love it.

[Butuz]

That is because traditionally 'the powers that be' have never trusted schools to make the right choice on where to spend the money.

 

Which is exactly why we are in this situation.

 

Butuz