Global Imaging Dealers

[jrsc]

I am currently looking a purchasing a Xerox 700. I have been offered what I think is good price and a good click rate from a Global Imaging dealer which of corse is owned by Xerox. My question is what are the disadvantages or what should I look out for purchasing from a Global Imaging dealer instead of Xerox direct? Also are there an advantages to purchasing from a Global Imaging dealer other then price?

 

[dynamicprinter]

I don't know anything about them, but one thing i would make sure of that you get some kind of real training on the machine. With the different rip options, etc... a lot of this stuff gets confusing. I know I got my machine direct from Xerox and saved some money but only got a couple hours of training on both machines I leased and that was about using them as a copier -nothing about printing to them which is 90% of my work.

 

[Jtamoe46]

Global Imaging

Global Imaging

JRSC,

It is hard to say with confidence what a good recommendation is. Keeping in mind I am an agent for Xerox, I will give you my recommendation. The 700 is a great machine, but if the service technicians aren't experienced on that machine specifically and if they do not understand your environment (print for pay and not a corporate) then you could have challenges with any Xerox service organization you go with.

Global Imaging, although owned by Xerox, operates independently of Xerox. They would be using there own technicians and not Xerox direct technicians. YOU need the Xerox technicians to make sure you maximize the stengths of the product. Additionally you want to make sure whomever is giving you training and installation know what they are doing..specifically for your environment. If you need someone to show you how to run variable data print jobs using an External Creo, the Global analyst better be trained.

The advantage of going with Xerox or a Xerox Agent is the resources they can provide to make sure you get all the help you need....when you need it.

That being said you need a good sales rep who will do that leg work for you as well. Depending on what part of the country you are in the circumstances might vary. You might find a Global dealer who has better resources that Xerox direct or a Xerox agent, but you gotta figure that out.

 

[jrsc]

The Global dealer claims that they have the same support from xerox as a xerox direct techs do. We are in a smaller town so non of the big dealers have a great presence here.

I received a bit of a poor showing from xerox direct. I inquired through the 800 number and never got a call from the sales person. I had to get his number and call him. Since then I've only talked to him a couple times and have never seen him in person.

Global's sales office is an hour and a half away from us and the day after I inquired a sales rep stopped in my shop. Since then they have been very responsive with trying to get what I ask for. The only bad thing I've seen is when I went for a demo in their office it was given by the sales rep and he didn't really know how to use the production features of the equipment. He has also given me the option to come back for a second demo of just he xerox (at the time i was looking at both the 700 and the KM c6501) and he can bring in a specialist from xerox. He also offered to take me for a demo at the xerox gill hatch center in rochester so i can get a demo of all the different rips (we are about 3 hours away so I might do this).

 

[Jtamoe46]

My recommendation is to talk the the Global service tech who is going to fix your machine as well as the service manager. See how much experience that tech has on working on 240/242/250/252/260 or 5000's. (Look for 5 plus years on these type of products)

*Talk the service manager as well to see how many techs they have a a back up (depending on where you are located this could vary, but 2 back ups would be great). Have him promise you to give you 2 back up fusers

*Talk to the Analyst who is going to help install the machine and do the training (whatever RIP you go with make sure they have installed them before) You can request the manufacturer rep to be used as a resource as well. If you are getting a CREO get them to throw in the free darwin as well.

Once you feel comfortable with all of them, then go with Global. If you can't Xerox Sales to step (agent or direct) it probably is an indication of how the sales people will react when you have a problem.

If it's Xerox direct that covers you...I am not surprised by their laziness

 

[X33]

I would also recommend making sure your local GIS support (technician, analyst, phone) is capable. GIS is still new in this arena.

Another difference betweed GIS and Xerox/Xerox Agents is the lease itself; who is holding the lease, is it Xerox Capital Services, or a 3rd party finance institution?

 

[jrsc]

They quoted me with a lease with a 3rd party. How does this make a difference? They said I could do it with xerox but it would change some stuff. I didn't really get the details.

 

[User Name]

3rd party lease for a 700

3rd party lease for a 700

It's better to have Xerox hold the paper. If you should have some problem that a service tech can't fix and you need to return the machine, receive some compensation whatever, the bank can push the blame onto Xerox or another service vendor. That vendor can push the blame onto the bank and so on. It can be a real time soaker chasing after paperwork and the responsible party.

When Xerox holds the paper, you have more leverage because they have to back their Total Satisfaction Guarantee.

I am an agent for Xerox.

 

[X33]

Xerox leasing is also more flexible.

When the lease is under a 3rd party bank, remember that their business is about financing; they charge insterest, penalties, fees, huge early buyouts, etc.

Xerox' business is about the post sale, the clicks. If you have the need to upgrade in the middle of your lease, your current lease can easily be terminated by Xerox for a new one.

 

[jrsc]

So if I purchase through Global and have them do the lease with Xerox would that provide the same benefits as if I purchased from Xerox direct and used a Xerox lease? The Global dealer made is sound like it is better for me to have the lease through a 3rd party.

 

[X33]

I'm not sure if Global can do a lease directly through Xerox. That's probably why they were offering you the 3rd party.

Ask them to show you a sample Lease Agreement from Xerox; it should read Xerox Corporation and/or Xerox Capital Services LLC

 

[jrsc]

I talked to our sales rep again today and got the details. They can do the lease through Xerox but when they do the machine comes from xerox inventory instead of theirs and they have to sell it at a specific price that xerox specifies. So basically it sounds like they would be acting more like a xerox agent in this case.

 

[Jtamoe46]

Just make sure the order agreement is blue and red an has Xerox on it.

 

[X33]

They can do the lease through Xerox but when they do the machine comes from xerox inventory instead of theirs and they have to sell it at a specific price that xerox specifies.

that's interesting; I didn't know they could do that.

just out of curiosity, why don't you call your local Xerox Agent? Xerox Agents will provide you with a Xerox Lease for sure, and have pricing flexibility from Xerox HQ, they don't sell at a specific price set by Xerox. You might end up getting a better deal. Plus, your service and support will be Xerox direct.

 

[jrsc]

that's interesting; I didn't know they could do that.

just out of curiosity, why don't you call your local Xerox Agent? Xerox Agents will provide you with a Xerox Lease for sure, and have pricing flexibility from Xerox HQ, they don't sell at a specific price set by Xerox. You might end up getting a better deal. Plus, your service and support will be Xerox direct.

apparently they mostly do that when there's something like government contract pricing involved.

I have called my local xerox agent. He basically referred me back to the person I was dealing with through xerox direct. They are working up some new pricing for me since they were quite high the first time. Our local agent is basically two older guy that are clueless about the equipment. When I called and asked for a quote on the 700 his response was "can you explain to me which machine that is." He started telling me how good the service is so I questioned him on a couple things. There is a local tech trained on the 700 but xerox does not have any production accounts in the area. The tech for the global dealer has been trained on the 700 but currently doesn't have any that he covers, but does cover production accounts with other equipment.

The biggest player in the production market around us is Ikon. Every one of our local competitors has an Ikon cpp650 (km 6500). We have also been with Ikon for several years. Now that they have been bought by ricoh they have nothing to offer us. We tried an in house demo of the new c700ex and found it has major problems. They can't sell us a c900 because we are an hour and a half from their office and they don't have enough techs trained on it to cover that far out. They actually just called me and want to try to get me a slightly used cpp650 for very little money just so they can keep our account. I really don't know if its a good idea to even consider that since they aren't a konica dealer anymore.

 

[Jtamoe46]

I would be curious to see if Global can actually offer a Xerox lease. All communications to the Agent Group have been a solid no. I would be surprised if that is the case.

In regards to the Xerox Agent, inquire about the Xerox Service Manager who covers the area and meet with them. The Agent should have a Production Specialist that support them. If the Agent does not have the expertise to assist in the sale, then this individual should be able to help you out.

In regards to the Global tech having ability to service "other" competitive production equipment...that is a non-factor.

I am still disappointed that a Xerox direct or Agent rep can't get their act together to help you out. The pricing flexibilities that Agents have on Color Production machines in unbelievable right now.

 

[mrgraphics]

Looking for online price guide.

Looking for online price guide.

Is there a site whereby we can get online price or see the approximate price for KM 6501e/ep. With its consumable prices and also showing the prices according to the system you want to buy.

Please let me know or even giving me the approximate prices so i can know what's the basic as dealers here on my side normally keep the high price.

Thank you.

 

[jrsc]

I would be curious to see if Global can actually offer a Xerox lease. All communications to the Agent Group have been a solid no. I would be surprised if that is the case.

In regards to the Xerox Agent, inquire about the Xerox Service Manager who covers the area and meet with them. The Agent should have a Production Specialist that support them. If the Agent does not have the expertise to assist in the sale, then this individual should be able to help you out.

In regards to the Global tech having ability to service "other" competitive production equipment...that is a non-factor.

I am still disappointed that a Xerox direct or Agent rep can't get their act together to help you out. The pricing flexibilities that Agents have on Color Production machines in unbelievable right now.

Actually yesterday xerox did get their act together. The production specialist submitted new pricing that was lower then global and was very responsive to getting questions answered throughout the day. Now you say their pricing flexibility is unbelievable right now. What is the best way to go about asking for a lower price.? Is it better to ask for a lower price on what i'm getting or ask for them to through in more free stuff. Also, do they have flexibility in the service pricing as well?

I think that for whoever I buy from I will be the tech's first 700 and probably the most production oriented machine they work on. I would have to go with Konica c6501 to get a tech thats currently servicing a bunch of those machines.