Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

[Guest]

I used to enjoy my job, not anymore. As time goes by it is apparent that IKON is now in charge of Ricoh. I heared that IKON was purchased to MANAGE Ricoh. It must be true because alot of Ricoh management have disapearred and IKON management have showed up in their place. I feel like a red headed step child because i am a Ricoh tech. TOO many self-serving back stabbers and that is just in service.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

If it makes you feel any better, the Ikon people don't like it much either. =^..^=

[Ianizer]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

I don't know about Ricoh/ICON, but we used to be a Ricoh dealer and now are not. Ricoh has chosen to deny us all tech support/TSC-access... And we have TONS of Ricoh product still in the field with obligations to support the gear.

Fair enough, I suppose, but it seems like they're shooting themselves in the foot.

-I

[Rtek]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

I guess it's time to fly the coupe. Into the job market I go..........now to update and revise the resume.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

Some of the Ikon guys jumped ship before, some were pushed out during, and a few left later.

You're not the first, and won't be the last to leave. There's no shame in starting again. I've done it four times, and it get's easier each time. I think you'll find more job satisfaction in a position at a smaller company, than a larger one. At least that's the way I found it to be.

When I was with Ikon it was not uncommon to walk around with 30 open calls, and constantly making apologies/excuses for not being there sooner (as if I had any choice). I don't miss that part a bit. =^..^=

[excanonguy]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

I never worked for Ikon but had to deal with them sometimes in Ottawa when the took on the Canon line..had to do calls for them ,and then they were out undercutting us and stealing our customers! I have worked with and been on coarse with some of their techs over the years, never heard one of them say anything nice about working for them ....I am at my second small dealership(first one were crooks I could write a book about them) very loyal customer base , great owner, great and very experienced techs, and our responce time is about 2 hrs, I really like it here compared to the rat race at Canon, I have a name and am respected unlike my days at Canon (I was 4391 there not Steve!)

[HappyHarry]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

Hi. As an ex-IKON toner monkey now toiling at the Ricoh coalface, I beg to differ - at least here in the UK. At IKON, we were able to take charge of our own work planning, had designated customers and areas, and were given what now appears immense responsibilities. But with the shift to Ricoh, it feels as if I stepped into a Tardis, with the controls set to 1994 as far as call planning is concerned. Not to mention systems so archaic that, if IKON were really in charge, it'd been junked on day 1.

[ragajungle]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

As a legacy IKON tech I can sympathize with you. Yes it sucks now, but change is painful... I recall ALWAYS having 12-30 calls on my board, all of us in Chicago where swamped perpetually. Now with the merger things have leveled out. It is not that IKON managers are being mean, but call loads have been redistributed, territories have been evened out.

My manager, a RICOH Manager, explained it in blunt terms during a meeting that "Ricoh techs accustomed to smaller territories, less KPI's, and a strict product line, will feel the pinch more than IKON techs..." in other words, we (IKON) are so used to being overworked with unsustainable call loads that 12 calls will feel like a vacation while you (RICOH) will feel burned. So your feeling are understandable.

Call me naive but I sincerely believe that things can only get better from here. Ricoh has an amazing product line and IKON and Ricoh techs have mad skills - we just need to ride this out and eventually things will even out..

[its_just_a_copier]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

Call me naive but I sincerely believe that things can only get better from here. Ricoh has an amazing product line and IKON and Ricoh techs have mad skills - we just need to ride this out and eventually things will even out..

I agree.

As a relativley new member of a IKON/RICOH tech support team (not sayin' which one!) I find that the legacy Ikon guys are generally pleased with the Ricoh product, and the legacy Ricoh guys are learning the Ikon 'product' just enough to get rid of it!

There are a lot of excellent techs from both sides, and I'm very impressed with their knowledge thus far. As far as the merger goes, things will smooth out and we'll be a powerhouse before you know it!

[ragajungle]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

Add to this that Ricoh also acquired Savin and now IKON there are sure going to be some jaded peeps no matter how you dice it. Especially considering that IKON is company that is totally comprised of companies bought out. Brutal yes, but I AM happy to be working right now.

[Ikon Princess]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

I for one am glad to at least get a signed pay check and some vacation time. What I do to keep some of my sanity is to keep my head down, don't expect any raises for the rest of my career, do my personal best for where I am, don't rely on any one but me and the wonderful web to help when I don't have a clue. I come from the canon line and when they flipped the switch I was assigned a new territory that was primarily legacy Ricoh and out of over 400 assigned machines I think I was now assigned maybe 10 canon machines. Merry Christmas to me! To top it off the territory was now in a town 35 miles from my house (old territory was the town I lived in), I haven't been in that town for over 15 years and it was non stop rain for the first 2 weeks, oh yeah my GPS broke the second day! Yes it has been tough acclimating but it was possible. A machine is a machine so long as I can take it apart and put it back together again it is a good day to me. I don't let the managers assinine requests interfere with my personal time and my only goals in a day are to not get yelled at or fired. I start at 8 and stop at 5 period any time before or after is mine. Okay rant over.

[ragajungle]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

I was putting 800 miles a week on my car before things got sorted out. I feel you... Especially about the keeping your head down thing. The less a manager hears from or about you the better - unless its a customer that praises you.

[Venom]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

I was one of the Ricoh techs that was cut after the merger. After being at a Kyocera Dealer since, I can honestly say that the daily stresses at Ricoh aged me. When I look back over my 28 years in the industry, I can think of any great memories of the 5 years I was at Ricoh. If you look back through time, Ricoh always tries to buy there way out by replacing all of their management every few years...eg Savin, Lanier.....MARK MY WORDS>>>In 5 years Ricoh will purchase another competitor and roll management again and notice that techs will always pay the price

[ddude]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

I was one of the Ricoh techs that was cut after the merger. After being at a Kyocera Dealer since, I can honestly say that the daily stresses at Ricoh aged me. When I look back over my 28 years in the industry, I can think of any great memories of the 5 years I was at Ricoh. If you look back through time, Ricoh always tries to buy there way out by replacing all of their management every few years...eg Savin, Lanier.....MARK MY WORDS>>>In 5 years Ricoh will purchase another competitor and roll management again and notice that techs will always pay the price

Interesting observation- Thanks!! There has been a whole lot of changes within our industry the last few years, and I think Ricoh has been the leader with the most changes (so far....)- What will 2012 bring?

[Ianizer]

Re: Ricoh/Ikon Any other Ricoh techs feel abused?????

I for one am glad to at least get a signed pay check and some vacation time. What I do to keep some of my sanity is to keep my head down, don't expect any raises for the rest of my career, do my personal best for where I am, don't rely on any one but me and the wonderful web to help when I don't have a clue. I come from the canon line and when they flipped the switch I was assigned a new territory that was primarily legacy Ricoh and out of over 400 assigned machines I think I was now assigned maybe 10 canon machines. Merry Christmas to me! To top it off the territory was now in a town 35 miles from my house (old territory was the town I lived in), I haven't been in that town for over 15 years and it was non stop rain for the first 2 weeks, oh yeah my GPS broke the second day! Yes it has been tough acclimating but it was possible. A machine is a machine so long as I can take it apart and put it back together again it is a good day to me. I don't let the managers assinine requests interfere with my personal time and my only goals in a day are to not get yelled at or fired. I start at 8 and stop at 5 period any time before or after is mine. Okay rant over.

I've fallen to a pattern of sharply seperating work & personal time, too... But mine could be age-related neurosis. Oh, I still make polite appearances at after-hours company related functions, but I'm not as into it as I once was. I simply don't buy the We Are Family bit anymore.

Alas, it is good to be working.

-I