machines and customers are minor issues I reckon, bitchy service controllers with hormone problems can be the ultimate destroyer
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my dream job, actuallyComment
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Hello D_L_P, Great to hear your perspective on the job. Could I ask what specifically was the problem withe Ricohs? I thought these were very good machines, from what i have seen anyhow. Have had many running pretty hard with minimal problems at teh dealer I sell for and do some service. Was it development unit related, or fusing section, etc. Any and all info appreciated.Comment
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Well, I have 3 problems with Ricoh's in general.
1. They are part whores, meaning feed clutches, motors, sensors, main control boards, toner hoppers, developer assemblies, drum assemblies, and feed assemblies need replaced more often than any other brand of copier I have worked on which includes every major one out there except Sharp. I don't know how a service department can make any money given the cost and how often parts need replaced on these compared with other brands.
2. They all have jamming issues. 50cpm and up are better, 20-30 cpm are the worst, but in general they have had more calls for jamming than any other brand I have worked on. MP2550 with 003/013's, mp4000 with 003/028, mp4500 with 028's, mp5500 with 013's. If I'm not covered in toner doing a PM, I'm trying to find the cause of a jam that occurs every 100 or so copies.
3. They are poorly engineered. The paper lift system on the 25cpm, all the mylar on the mp5500 pre-registration area, toner system on the 1106, placing the cleaning unit directly above the drum on B296's, using air to move waste toner, these are all bad ideas. The motors and clutches they use are too weak for the application and wear out prematurely. They use way to much mylar, in cleaning units, in paper path, in toner hoppers. I will say the engineers did do a good job making everything come apart easy though.
A couple examples,
Toner hopper on a MP2550(or any25 cpm). I've replaced tons of these and 4 of them were on new copiers with less than 10k. After adding toner for only the 2nd time, they were cracked and spewing toner everywhere. If only techs added toner they would last a long time, but the engineers at Ricoh underestimated customers.
PCU adonis in the B296. 3 weeks after doing a PM I get a call for drum lines. I order and replace all the mylar, drum, blade and everything I can in that cleaning unit. 3 weeks later, I get a call for drum lines. I order and replace the entire PCU $600(?) and no more calls for drum lines, but I won't even mention calls for B2969640.
I have had that same scenario happen 5 times now and none of them had more than 300k. A $600 assembly is needing replaced about every 300k, compared that to a $150 drum unit on a Canon ir2270 that might need replaced every 120k.Comment
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Shit pay , nice hours , nice profile but the best is, people being so dependant on your service that they would only buy your brand because of you and the day you dont feel like working you can give them any lame story they will take your word for it.Alot like being in control.You also get to travel , eat the best lunches very cheap and see some nice ass almost everyday.And you do all of this on the companies expense. Beats the hell out of sittng in the office all day and look at some horrible peace of ?Comment
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Problems well explained
Really appreciate the details, I am going to have to look into this and get back to you after talking to a couple my fellow techs. I certainly don't want to represent anything with more problems than the average machine. Maybe you are in higher volume environments more than we are. Do you recommend better paper for jamming issues? We do recommend Hammermill CopyPlus paper - they even guarantee less jams although how they back that up I do not know. Better than the big box store paper. Less paper dust, etc. I will supply thier inout when I get a chace to bring it up.Comment
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Sometimes they can't use better paper. Government is supposed to use recycled paper, even though it cost more. We also service Ricohs, and Konica Minolta. At one point I had 325 one year old Konicas, and 650 7 year old Konicas on base at the same time. Me and another guy who was not much of a tech did them all including deliveries and paid printer calls. One week out of the month, the other guy collected meters and I worked them all by myself. We lost the 650 machine contract to another dealer selling the Ricoh, it was a low bidder thing. Their machines are less than a year old and I have seen as many as 3 to 4 techs of theirs on some days working the machines. Just wait til they get 4 or 5 years old. I had 3 work orders on my 325 Bizhubs this week, if that means anything.The greatest enemy of knowledge isn't ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Stephen HawkingComment
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Basically, over 20 years, I've developed a thick skin and a backbone. I'm as polite as possible and generally get on with most my customers, but don't take much crap from them. I've also, over this time, made my share of bad and good career moves to different companies. The previous one I worked for left me feeling like I was either gonna top someone or myself.... Right now, I'm really happy where I am, the support I need to do my job is there. Yes there maybe a thing or two that could be different, but nothing worth whinging about.
It's a job that you grow into, the longer you do it, the easier it becomes....
If you feel that you're not getting the support you need, I'd speak up. All these guys are right, all you need to do is enjoy it and look at the benefits you have over people stuck in an office all day under the watchful eye of their bosses.....Comment
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Hey it helps just to know some other people out there feel like they don't have all the answers (or any of the answers) some days! But i agree it feels good when the customer cheers when you come in, and feels even better when you walk out in 10min, prolem solved! Ya feel like a hero. But, everybody hates their copier, and they either love you for dealing with it for them or they hate you because it does not work. Either way it really has nothing to do with you, it's just their out look on things. So soak up the good and ignore the rest. Maybe this 3 day weekend will give you the fuel to carry on. Good luck.Comment
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I'll subscribe to that philosophy. Very eloquent copierlady. =^..^=If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.
blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=Comment
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Most people think office machines work by magic anyway. I've found that my attitude going into the office has a lot to do with the spirit in which I am received. Then again, I've entered an office in another guy's area where the secretaries (small law firm) hated each other. One of them told me to tell the other one to answer the phone, the other one told me to tell the other one "she could answer it her d*#n self", and it kind of escalated from there. I finally stepped in and said, "Look! I'm not here to translate for you, I'm here to fix the fax (Panasonic) and do a maintenance on the copier (Savin). Which one of you will be kind enough to show me where the fax is?" After that, it was the quietest office. You could have heard a pin drop. I finished, got the work orders signed, and was halfway out the door when I saw a pencil fly from one side of the office to the other. No kidding! So I agree with copierlady, sometimes it has nothing to do with you.Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Coke in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!".Comment
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I personally love the field technician position- you get to be the hero five or six times a day- I have received standing ovations when i walk into an office, the sincere thanks from owners and workers who are glad to see you- it doesn't get any better than this!!! I think this is why the 'great and famous' Jim I. named his business 'Knight'- because he saw himself as the 'knight in shining armour' coming to save the day. (Jim, if I'm wrong, correct me)
When I first started in this field 30 years back, I could not believe that I was getting paid to do this job- you travel, see new places, meet nice people, learn new skills, every day is different- it is the best job you can imagine (almost- or maybe not even almost, but it still is great, even 30 years later)
If you are not happy in this field, it may be because of the company you work for-A good company will give you the independence you desire, while at the same time provide you with the support you require. if you can't get both, you will be miserable-time to move on.
it may not be the job for everyone- but the freedom of the field has a great appeal to me- I am my own boss, with strong backup when needed-sweet!!!2000 mockingbirds = 2 kilomockingbirdsComment
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In the past week at least 3 customers have said"You love your job, don't you?", while watching me work. To which I reply "Yes I do!" It must really show when people do not like what they do.The greatest enemy of knowledge isn't ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Stephen HawkingComment
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