Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

[raffprint]

I installed this machine at the end of February this year in my printshop. The manager at my Vendor suggested this machine based off of the type of jobs I was running on my old Panasonic DPC265. I have not been able to produce any good quality solids with this Ricoh since I've had it. I notified the manager about this and he's been dragging his feet. Now he is saying the manufacturer warranty is up on it and it's a service issue and that creates a problem on his end. I didn't get a maintenance contract on it as I have repaired my own copiers in the past and I'm pretty knowledgeable when it comes to repairing about anything. Even without the maintenance contract I don't see how this is an issue with the vendor. The manager told me the copier may need to be tweaked to get it to print good solids but has not sent anyone over to do this. A friend of mine sells the Savin brand of this machine and told me this is the low end model and it shouldn't have been sold to me at a printshop environment because I run a lot of coated cover and coated text along with heavy index thru it. I have told the manager to take this copier out of here and replace it with something that will handle my needs. He is the one that suggested this model after he looked at what I needed to print on it and I feel he didn't do his job by selecting the right model for me. He claims I am putting too many copies on the copier and that's why it doesn't print quality solids. My question to all of you is, can this machine handle the type of paper I'm running thru it and should it be able to print solids without them looking washed out and kinda speckled looking? Also what is the monthly volume that this machine can handle? I'm about ready to talk to an attorney about the vendor not doing anything about it but wanted to post on here first to find some answers. Thank you!!

[Shadow1]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

This is a light duty machine intended for a small office environment - They do just fine there, but it should NEVER have been placed in a print shop. I'm surprised it feeds and fuses on coated paper at all, at any quality... how bad is pick-off on runs over 10 sheets or with heavy coverage?

[Eric1968]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

Don't expect printing press quality with this machine. If you're running heavy stock, coated paper, etc then this is not the right machine for you. This machine performs very well in an office environment. If you're printing full size color with this one, you won't be satisfied because this machine can not handle this. Oki color printers are much better for these kind of jobs.

[gaudin]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

Hi,

i try to anwser your questions as good as i can.
monthly volume: 3000-4000pages/month recommed. Max 10.000 pages/month
washed image:
If you get sporadic a "ghost" ( offset from page 1 on page 2) you can try to adjust the fusing temperature. (sp 1-104-1/2/3/4), paper bulk on thick 1/2 and install the additional cleaning unit (for fusing unit).

If you only get the offset effect while printing with a pcl driver adjust: sp 1-112-02 from -12 to 0.

If you have a general problem with the image quality...please post a sample.

gz

[turbojetboy]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

May I suggest that next time you consider a machine suitable for this type of work, such as a Pro C901 or 751. So you had no idea you where buying a base model office MFD? Did the salesman force you into this machine?

[raffprint]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

First, thank you for the replies. I have been on this site in the past to troubleshoot some issues I've had with different copiers and you guys are very knowledgeable on here.
I have dealt with my original vendor for 17 years and they were bought out by this company I'm dealing with now. The only reason I stayed with them is because a friend of mine from the original vendor went to work with them as a technician. I did not deal with any salesman on this deal, just the manager of the company. I showed him the work I was doing on my old color copier, which included glossy booklets with heavy coverage, and told him I needed something comparable to this one to run what I've been running on my old one. This is the copier the manager recommended and obviously it's the wrong one. They actually wanted me to be an independent sales rep for them in my area to sell copiers for them too. After all of this, that will not happen. I'm finding out now how shady they are and will not be doing business with them anymore. After arguing with the manager about this issue, he told me to pick out a copier to replace it. He also said he needs to get the buyout figure on this one which I told him I am not paying any buyout fees for a machine that shouldn't have been installed in my shop in the first place. He's suppose to be in today to discuss this further. They sell Ricoh and Canon copiers. Another friend of mine that sells the Savin models for another company told me the MPC3001 would be a better machine to replace this one with. I told the manager I'm dealing with about this and he said it's the same machine as the 2051 just faster. From what I have read about the 3001, it's not the same machine. Would this be a good machine for my needs? I'd really like to get the Konica 360 Bizhub from my friend that sells the Savin and Konica machines but not sure how to work this since I have a new lease on this Ricoh. This whole situation is quite a mess right now, plus I'm a 1 man shop and a single father raising 2 little girls by myself. Talk about a stressful life. lol
I have been able to run coated paper thru the 2051, but after about 50 copies of 11x17 running in duplex mode, I start getting magenta streaks on the backside of the sheets. I do get some picking on it too once in a while. The bypass feeder is horrible with heavy card stock. A lot of misfeeds. BTW, I was averaging about 14,500 copies a month on my Panasonic color copier before I got this Ricoh. That's based on the 4 years I had it and total copies on it when i got the Ricoh.

[TonerMunkeh]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

Any machine below the Pro C651 is an office colour MFP, not a production colour machine. You can't expect a machine of this size to do the work of an MFP ten times the price. Sure, it'll do it for a while but without a service contract you'll get a nasty shock when it rolls around to the first set of drums and developers. Just my two cents.

[raffprint]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

Just had a heated argument with the manager that sold me this copier. He said he would replace it with a Lanier LD360 that just came off lease with less copies on it than I have put on this Ricoh in 4 months, which is 120,000.. How does this Lanier compare to the Ricoh I have? Will it handle coated text and coated cover? He said it retails for $22K new and will sell it to me for $10K, well it would be a replacement but I would have to absorb the difference in price from the Ricoh and my payment would go up about $30 on my lease. BTW, I showed him the replies you guys had on the Ricoh and he asked me if you guys had your Ricoh certification numbers. LOL He can't stand it that I'm standing my ground on this issue when he bullies other people around and gets his way with them.

[FMC]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

Lanier is Ricoh and that machine is black and white only. It may handle the volume as its a 60+ cpm machine but as said before your better going for a print room specific machine.

[raffprint]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

After researching this copier, I did find out it's a B/W copier.. Geez, this guy truly has no idea what he's talking about..

[FMC]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

As a bonus I think it can scan in colour

[turbojetboy]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

I work on the whole range of Ricoh colour devices, the 3001 is a very reliable MFD - and we are getting some great runs from MPC 5001 models - however they are all office colour. I would be making sure that I tested at least a hundred of each stock, duplexed with the heaviest of coverage before comitting to another MFD. Look for the most robust bypass feed mechanism - and preferrably straight thru feed (wont find this on any Ricoh MFD's). Furthermore I would negotiate a single colour click (for large stock) all toner inclusive maintenance agreement - I just dont know how you can afford to take such a risk. Think about all the toner costs, parts and downtime etc. Your volume is good and I hope you find an answer. FYI I also worked on the Panasonic MC's - they where very reliable and easy to maintain with customer replaceable units - what was the problem with that machine, other than getting a few years on the clock?

[raffprint]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

This manager I'm dealing with claims the 3001 is the same as the 2051, just faster. I know better than that. I started in printing in 1984 and have always been a press type of guy, even when I started my own printshop almost 18 years ago I would put more jobs on the press than copier. Nowadays I tend to put more on the copiers because they have much better quality than in years past and it's, well, easier to press a print button than set it up on the press. lol I still can't believe I put over 100K on this Ricoh since the end of February. I had 1 maintenance contract on a copier years ago and it seemed like I paid more on that than I put in my pocket. That's why I have learned to repair most of the stuff myself and did away with the contracts. I have some internet vendors that I can get supplies and parts from very reasonable. On the Panasonic DP C265 I had, I repaired and did maintenance on that myself from day 1. I installed developer units, transfer belts and other parts that needed replaced. The Panasonic was getting to the 750K maintenance point and for that kit, the price was, if my memory is correct was around $2,600. I probably should have just kept it and put the maintenance kit on it instead of upgrading to a new copier that won't do what I need it to do. I just can't believe the way this company is treating me. I told him today that in my over 17 years in business every copier vendor I dealt with would bend over backwards to help me or make it right and this place is putting me on the back burner and won't work with me on this the way they should be. He even told me today that I need to work with him on this his way or he will walk away and I'll be stuck with it. What kind of person would do this??? I haven't talked to an attorney yet about this but that may come just to see if there's anything I can do to legally resolve this. I already talked to the leasing company about it and they made a note so it's on record. Of course they are just the bank and have no recourse on my issues with the vendor, but they were very nice about it and told me what to do and what not to do if the vendor replaces it.
I showed the vendors manager some of these replies on this from here and he wanted to know where all you guy's certification numbers were.. lol That's how big of a jerk he is. Thanks for letting me vent and thanks a lot for the replies so far. I will keep everyone posted on what happens.

[Shadow1]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

If he wants my Ricoh ID number, tell him I'll be more than willing to pass it on through your lawyer. (He can also have my HP Tech ID, CompTIA number, and my old Lanier Clock number if he wants it) Also tell him I am factory certified on all current Ricoh color copiers up to and including the Pro C901s with the exception of the Pro C651... and that's backed up by over 12 years of experience on Ricoh and Toshiba products in the production print environment.

... and tell him Ricoh doesn't appreciate people giving them a bad name. Neither do I.

You have a really good machine that is a really bad choice in your environment. Bottom line - he made a bad sale and doesn't want to admit to making a mistake.

[jonezy999]

Re: Ricoh MPC2051 Quality Issues

If he wants my Ricoh ID number, tell him I'll be more than willing to pass it on through your lawyer. (He can also have my HP Tech ID, CompTIA number, and my old Lanier Clock number if he wants it) Also tell him I am factory certified on all current Ricoh color copiers up to and including the Pro C901s with the exception of the Pro C651... and that's backed up by over 12 years of experience on Ricoh and Toshiba products in the production print environment.

... and tell him Ricoh doesn't appreciate people giving them a bad name. Neither do I.

You have a really good machine that is a really bad choice in your environment. Bottom line - he made a bad sale and doesn't want to admit to making a mistake.

Well said Shadow1.