[Misc] Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

[reckless]

Inventory levels seem extremely low, not to mention the whole toner problem. I always hated the dealer network but their products quality made up for it.

[patrickjlc]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Well you have the pandemic in China slowing production, chip shortage, and two fires at the KM toner plants.
All those, plus the delays in shipping due to lack of containers are bringing inventories of not only machines, plus parts and ancillaries.


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[mascan42]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

None of this would be an issue if we made the stuff here.

[Gift]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

None of this would be an issue if we made the stuff here.

Probably but then kind of noone would buy KM because it's like 20% more expensive. We loose or can't win customers for way less price differences. Just take a look t the click price developments, sales people argue about 0,0x cent amounts like printing would be the main cost factor on the customers site. I guess the same "purchase-people" who are dumping the prices show a complete different attitude while configuring their company car (after telling their boss how totally "ace" they negotiated down the costs for the printer-contracts). I don't expect this greediness will ever go away just because of some delays or shortages.

[mascan42]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Probably but then kind of noone would buy KM because it's like 20% more expensive. We loose or can't win customers for way less price differences. Just take a look t the click price developments, sales people argue about 0,0x cent amounts like printing would be the main cost factor on the customers site. I guess the same "purchase-people" who are dumping the prices show a complete different attitude while configuring their company car (after telling their boss how totally "ace" they negotiated down the costs for the printer-contracts). I don't expect this greediness will ever go away just because of some delays or shortages.

Agreed (and we could argue about the reasons for that all day) and honestly, the copiers and parts I think we could live with the longer shipping times. But the toner? If it's a choice between paying more for domestically manufactured toner, or waiting two months for their supplies, I think the customers would choose to actually have a copier that works.

[copyman]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Agreed (and we could argue about the reasons for that all day) and honestly, the copiers and parts I think we could live with the longer shipping times. But the toner? If it's a choice between paying more for domestically manufactured toner, or waiting two months for their supplies, I think the customers would choose to actually have a copier that works.

As I've posted on this forum before there is no excuse why K/M should of run out of toner, etc and they should suffer for it just like we have! How does the #1 or 2 copier company short the world of toner because of fires at one warehouse! Why wouldn't they have several factories / warehouses in different parts of the world! I've lost a few accounts and others tell me to never sell them a Kon/Min again. Can't say I blame them after buying a $10,000 machine and not be able to use it because of no toner.
What hurt the most for me is not being able to get off lease machines to sell because customers can't get their new machines delivered. Also after 40+ years telling my customers NOT to use aftermarket toners I had to sell it to them because of K/M shortage!

The whole thing is a mess. I know of one Kon/Min Pro-Tech dealership that dropped Kon/Min after 30+ years and went to Canon. I'm looking into switching to Canon as well. Only thing that may stop me is I'm getting close to retiring.

[jwai]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Inventory levels seem extremely low, not to mention the whole toner problem. I always hated the dealer network but their products quality made up for it.

Never see successor models of current i series since 2019.

[patrickjlc]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

As I've posted on this forum before there is no excuse why K/M should of run out of toner, etc and they should suffer for it just like we have! How does the #1 or 2 copier company short the world of toner because of fires at one warehouse! Why wouldn't they have several factories / warehouses in different parts of the world! I've lost a few accounts and others tell me to never sell them a Kon/Min again. Can't say I blame them after buying a $10,000 machine and not be able to use it because of no toner.
What hurt the most for me is not being able to get off lease machines to sell because customers can't get their new machines delivered. Also after 40+ years telling my customers NOT to use aftermarket toners I had to sell it to them because of K/M shortage!

The whole thing is a mess. I know of one Kon/Min Pro-Tech dealership that dropped Kon/Min after 30+ years and went to Canon. I'm looking into switching to Canon as well. Only thing that may stop me is I'm getting close to retiring.

Last I heard is K/M was reopening their toner factory in Rochester NY

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[tmmdmmm]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

The whole thing is a mess. I know of one Kon/Min Pro-Tech dealership that dropped Kon/Min after 30+ years and went to Canon. I'm looking into switching to Canon as well. Only thing that may stop me is I'm getting close to retiring.

We're a dealer and are currently selling canon just because that's what we can get our hands on, but the few we've sold to previous Kon users were disliked by the EU. I personally don't have any experience on them yet minus what we have in our parters. That being said. I don't believe Kon is going out of business anytime soon.

[reckless]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Canons always were crap to me. Great for graphics bad for production. They just never had the speed or reliability. I looked into xerox but never pulled the trigger.

I think Minoltas had one benefit they didnt require dealer support. Its this toner debacle thats ticking me off. If there were some decent aftermarket toner no need for minolta toner.

[tmmdmmm]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Canons always were crap to me. Great for graphics bad for production. They just never had the speed or reliability. I looked into xerox but never pulled the trigger.

I think Minoltas had one benefit they didnt require dealer support. Its this toner debacle thats ticking me off. If there were some decent aftermarket toner no need for minolta toner.

I don't have to deal with it so I'm not entirely sure, but I believe Kon was shipping Katun for a while. Saw it at a few of our accounts and didn't experience any image issues with them.

[Tony in Oz]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Have used Katun toner in KM's for many years, both mono & colour
never had any problems i could point at toner being the cause

[reckless]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Where do I find Katun toner for KM C6100 or TN622?

[tsbservice]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

Inventory levels seem extremely low, not to mention the whole toner problem. I always hated the dealer network but their products quality made up for it.

They are big, not going out of business soon. The question is WTF their executives are doing those guys must be fired immediately and even way before!

[adecanmin]

Re: Is Konica Minolta going out of business?

They can't go out of business. They have to keep sponsoring their race car in the IMSA series.