Can you set print/copy quotas on Ricoh MFDs

[scoobysteve]

Hi All,

as the topic suggests, are you able to set quotas on the amount of prints/copies a user can do?

Any help would be great.

Regards,
Steve

[lvsb]

Steve,

Ricoh machines can only track the number of copies and prints made, they cannot limit the number of prints

[scoobysteve]

Hi,

thanks for the confirmation.. you wouldnt know of any third party device or software than can do that function? One that is know to work with Ricohs?

[blackcat4866]

Scooby,
I am assuming that you are talking about setting copy minimums when setting up service agreements. Maybe I'm crazy, but I like to see my service contracts at least break even.

Segment 1 & 2 machines I never go below 1000 cpm. Even at 1000 copies there is the possibility of going unprofitable if your customer is high maintenance.

Segment 6 machines I never go below 25K.

If you have history with the customer, and you know that they won't call every time they get a paper jam you can let those numbers stay at the low end. I hope this helps. =^..^=

[lvsb]

Equitrac or Hecon are two but I am sure there are others.

[scoobysteve]

Hi,

I've got a client who wants his staff to have a set amount of prints/copies and when they hit their quota, they will have to ask for more - just for management.

I havent had to much to deal with equitrac but i think it might be too advanced/overkill for this client.

thanks for the help guys. i really appreciate it.

[Ricoh-ono]

I have installed at least 10 Hecon counters on Ricoh machines. All were implemented without a problem. The customer can even order a handheld printer to print off counts from the Hecon device.

[Lagonda]

Softlog is another supplier of external charge managment devices. Their based in Brisbane.

[scoobysteve]

Hi,

I didnt want to go down the path of softlog but ah well, looks like that is what it is going to look like.....

[SGT_Snacks-64]

The best solution would be to leave it, set up user codes for Printing and copying, and ensure the management inform all the employees using the machine that they have x amount of copies/prints a month, if they go over it, they have to pay out of their pocket. Equitrac is certainly an overkill and needs to be rolled out as a big organisation "Like a council or a large Insurance business" and deals a lot with IT.

Hope that helps (?)

[cobiray]

Agreed, user codes are the way to go with out a 3rd party set up of some kind. Plus, it comes with the equipment so it costs nothing more than what the machine does.

[Kasseiken]

Just put a card terminal next to the machine and set it up that your client has a card with for example 5000 credits (1 credit per copy)
After the limit is reached the copier awaits a new card with credits.

It's not the best solution but it might work.

[scoobysteve]

Hi All,

thanks for all your input so far.. it has been helpful... i didnt want to tell the customer that you can't do it then find out that there is a simple way that you can..

the card terminal will be okay for the copying side of things but the printing will still need to be accounted for. I know the users can always print then release their jobs later using their code etc (this is how i did it at university) but then they still have to wait.. this will be a major problem if it is a lengthy print.

Once again, thanks guys.

[cobiray]

You do not have to use locked printing in order to track the printing with user codes. The code can be put in each time a job is printed (used in single pc - multi user) or can be input in the printing preferences (one pc per user).

[scoobysteve]

Hi,

Entering the user code into the print driver isnt a issue but it doesnt offer a quota restriction which is what i need to have....The terminal will offer quota restriction on the copying side but not on printing.