Explaining Copier Maintenance Costs

Key Takeaways:

1. Understand the simplicity and benefits of a supplies and service plan.
2. Learn how cost per print works and what it includes.
3. Discover the complexities of maintaining a copier without a service plan.

Managing copier maintenance costs can be straightforward or complex, depending on the approach you choose. Opting for a supplies and service plan simplifies the process, offering predictable costs and comprehensive coverage.

In contrast, handling maintenance independently requires careful tracking of consumables and understanding yield. This article will explain these options and help you decide which is best for your business.

Simplicity of Supplies and Service Plan

When you choose a supplies and service plan, maintenance becomes straightforward. These plans cover all the essential components needed to keep your copier running smoothly, except for paper. You pay a fixed cost per print, which includes the technician’s services, parts, and consumables.

For example, if your plan quotes 7 cents per color print, this means every color print, whether it’s an email address or a full-color brochure, costs the same—7 cents. This flat rate covers everything, ensuring you don’t have to worry about unexpected expenses or the complexity of calculating yields and coverage.

How Cost Per Print Works

The cost per print model simplifies budgeting and maintenance. Here’s what it typically includes:

• Technician Services: Professional maintenance and repairs to ensure your copier operates efficiently.
• Parts: Replacement of any worn or damaged parts.
• Consumables: Toner, developers, fusers, drums, waste cartridges, ozone filters, transfer belts, and other necessary items.

This model provides peace of mind, as it eliminates the need for detailed calculations and reduces the risk of running into unexpected costs.

Complexities Without a Service Plan

Choosing not to have a service plan requires careful management of consumables and understanding their yield. Let’s break down the main components and their implications:

• Toner Yield: The yield of a toner cartridge is measured by the number of pages it can print at a specified coverage. For example, if a toner cartridge is rated for 15,000 pages at 5% coverage, this means you can print 15,000 pages with an average of 5% toner coverage per page. However, if you print documents with higher coverage, like full-color brochures, the yield decreases proportionally. For instance, at 15% coverage, the same toner might only produce 5,000 pages.
• Additional Consumables: Besides toner, color copiers use several other consumables, including developers, fusers, drums, waste cartridges, ozone filters, and transfer belts. Each of these items has its own lifespan and replacement cost, which must be tracked and managed individually.

Think of coverage like the size of a glass. The bigger the glass, the fewer glasses of fluid you get per gallon. Similarly, higher toner coverage on a page reduces the number of pages you can print before needing a new toner cartridge.

Choose Pahoda for a Copier and Service Plan

Managing copier maintenance costs can be simple with a supplies and service plan or complex without one.

The cost per print model offers a straightforward, predictable expense that covers all necessary components and services. In contrast, handling maintenance independently requires careful tracking of consumables and understanding their yields, which can be time-consuming and potentially costly.

Want to simplify your copier maintenance costs? Contact Pahoda Copiers & Printers today to learn more about our comprehensive supplies and service plans. Let us handle the details so you can focus on running your business efficiently.