Konica Minolta high volume trained - what's the going rate?

[Oldslap]

I'm going on a Konica Minolta C6000 training course & wondered what salary I should be expecting as I will be seeking a pay rise!
Any suggestions?
Or anybody looking for a high volume trained tec in East Anglia?
I'm already trained on Sharp MX1100.

[copyruss]

So, the company you're working for is investing in your education & training and you already are testing the water? Kind of a crappy thing to do. Why don't you prove that the training was worth their investment. that's how you get a raise - not by blackmail. "Give me a raise or else I'm outta here." Guys like you who burn their employers are what makes it hard for honest hard-working techs to get trained and get ahead in life. That's also the reason so many companies have Training Contracts - they send you to school, you stay for a year, or the cost of the training gets deducted from last check. That includes air travel, hotels and the salary you were paid while they paid for your education. Good luck, pal.

[anothertech]

Yeah, I got to agree with copyruss. Just because an employer sends you to school(that they pay for, and pay your salary while your there) you can't expect a pay raise. Just be happy that you'll enjoy more job security.

[jonhiker]

Good replies! Training improves your knowledge, but putting this to work in the field is what improves your versatlilty and worth to your company. This will bring about the raise and job security.

[Oldslap]

Thanks for the replies. The company I work for keep adding to my responsibilities and expecting more from me - which I give, for no extra salary. To my mind extra responsibility should equal a rise in salary. I agree that they are investing in me but previous companies that I have worked for have always added salary increments with succesfull completion of training courses. I would never say "Give me a raise or else I'm outta here.", as if someone said that to me I would call their bluff!
It seems to me that certain employers have you over a barrel at the moment as they know there's nowhere else to go - the comments from management is "be gratefull you've got a job!". It's about time companies started looking after their employees better and appreciating the hard work that people put in and the vast experience that their workforce have.
The industry isn't what it used to be!

[anothertech]

Yes, that's true, the Industry isn't what is used to be, but then again nothing else is either. With the down turn in the economy and people losing jobs everywhere, I'm just glad I have a job. We've had a lot of layoffs over the last eight or so years, I do everything in my power to be the most valuable tech that I can be for the company, so when the layoff axe swings, hopefully it's not cutting me.
If you want to get rich doing this, you will be disappointed.

[Oldslap]

It's not a matter of getting rich - I've been doing the job long enough to know that will never happen being a toner monkey! It's just a matter of being appreciated, the industry is losing good people as salaries are going backwards. Guys are leaving as they are fed up with being pushed & pushed and being blackmailed over the possible loss of their job.
The industry has always relied on the same 'pot' of engineers, unfortunately the pot is getting smaller & smaller due to retirements or people leaving the industry. At some point companies have got to start looking after their employees and taking on some new blood to train up. I know engineers in various copier companies and they are all regularly looking over their shoulders at redundancies - it's not the way it should be, especially when certain companies profits keep increasing!
A happy, appreciated workforce = a better service provided to the customer.

[linuxxpwin]

You know I have been field service on canon, Xerox, konicaminolta, Ricoh and other photocopiers for the past 16 plus years, a lot of my experience came from my own wanting to succeed, as I have chosen this as my career, howeve with that said my aim and dream is to become a top class technician, but unfortunately I would not get it where I am presently, and I am looking for employment else where, I have been the only technician servicing 7 islands with a total of about 250 plus machines, all training done by me personally.
I love being a technician but wish I can have an opportunity to expand and to be what I know I can do.

If anyone is looking for a good field service technician, then I am that guy.

[teasea]

Good read and good perspective from both sides.

[logrady2331]

I couldn't have said it better myself copyruss! I would add that ninety nine percent of employess in any industry feel like they are not paid what they are worth. I have had many employess over the years think it is easy to own and run a business, especially a business with so many moving parts. Do any of you have any idea of the staggering amount of money that has to go out every single month? A few of you do and you all know what I mean.
It has been said here already, but factory training, although valuable until you understand how a copier works, is more to satisfy dealer agreements than it is to actually teach anything. I have over four dozen factory certificates from five different brands and not one of those certs had anything to do with the position I have attained. What did it for me was ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS DO GOOD WORK. That means following your routine and doing it right when no one is looking. Clean your machines, call your customers and keep your inventory straight and you will get the pay you so richly deserve.

[charm5496]

Good read and good perspective from both sides.

I agree. I see a lot of rookies coming in and want the money before they even have a clue as to what they are doing or know what good customer service truly is. They are the ones that will never last in any industry. To be a good tech you have to put the extra work and expect not to get paid for it in the short term.

[Tonerbomb]

I live both sides of this line. I wouldn't be in the position I'm in if I had to have an increase everytime I got more training, or when I put in my own time for training. I.E. A+, Net+ ect. But at some point one does need to feel the love after proving theirself worthy. This is what I try to explain to any newcomers or potential hires. I've been at this longer than most, not all and I'm looking for a good Ricoh/Sharp tech in Omaha Ne now.

[musam]

i am in south africa working on konica minolta products i got an offer to work in australia and need all the advise i need to consider or be aware of. anybody

[linuxxpwin]

I agree. I see a lot of rookies coming in and want the money before they even have a clue as to what they are doing or know what good customer service truly is. They are the ones that will never last in any industry. To be a good tech you have to put the extra work and expect not to get paid for it in the short term.

I absolutely agree, with this, new techies think they can come in, and want a high pay when they have no clue about what is expected.

I will give u an example right now, just before I logged on I had a machine Shipped to me for fixing, MF8180, they were told it could not be fixed, well it turned out that I fixed it without replacing any parts in this machine.

A lot of troubleshooting is understanding how the machines works, what comes on when, where and how, observation and listening.

I have had cases where I would sit and talk to the machine, trying to hear what, ailment she have. I have never given up on a machine yet, only time I do so is when I absolutely cannot get parts anymore or if it turns out to be costing the customer too much, depending on size.

Good Tech are hard to find, but when one is found they should rewarded justly.

[Mita-Konica-Tech]

Re: Konica Minolta high volume trained - what's the going rate?

I read everyones post with interest... But the fact is Salaries have been stagnate for the last Five years...and in many markets have drasticly fallen. Yet companies are still quite profitable even though CPC rates have declined; and we tech's continue to provide excellent customer service and continue to update our training...on yet more complicated equipment.... Being in the business for over twenty years; one thing I never turned down was training... I known techs who refused to learn Digital/networked/MFP products when they first came on the market... are no longer in the industry now... As a Production Color Tech my customers are more demanding than ever... Yet employers still do not value our technical experience/customer service skills.... Just so you understand were I'm coming from; I worked both in the field and in management, for small ma and pa shops, mid-size dealers and in a Manufacture branch office.... Yes Money is important but so is job security... Everyone weights these items differently....