Replacing the printer and copier business

[MarioTech]

The Teslas and solar panels will never provide much work. Tesla only exists because they are subsidized. Solar panels are only big in areas where government regulations force people to use them. But I see what you're saying. Almost EVERYTHING is replaceable--not fixable. Even a $1000 TV generally gets replaced instead of fixed.

Here's what I don't understand about PC work:

I spent 3 hours trying to track down a problem that was caused by Windows updates last week. I got it fixed, but what if I couldn't figure it out, and my answer had to be: "You need a new hard drive." That adds at least an hour of loading the OS and all the other software the guy needed. Then another hour trying to recover email and pics and all the crap he had. Can you really charge 5 hours for a laptop that's only worth $1000?

You are correct theengel, it's time consuming and not as profitable as it should be. A desktop PC is about $300 out the door but the content and programs the client uses is where the value is. I went in for a $95 tower cleaning and OS updates as the OS wasn't starting up and ended up charging double as the backup needed to be done for their Quickbooks and other programs. If they lose the information and files they have on this particular PC they'd be in deep trouble as they are a tax firm and they don't have an IT. I walked in to fix their Toshiba mono copier and walked out with more business than I thought I would. Another client that has 2 Ricoh's and 18 PC's is negotiating with me the maintenance on their server and fleet of PC's, previous IT was charging them average $4000 monthly on "service and updates of the servers" if I can get 60% of that money I'll be extremely happy. It'll require every 7 months to go in and clean all the towers, update the OS every month on each tower remotely and the server as well remotely, there's money to be made still in the IT world the thing is I had to get certified on A+, N+ about 12 years ago and recently CCNA and MCSE. But in my case it's paying off, even though I haven't stepped into any business to set their Cisco routers and switches yet it was a great learning experience.

[JR2ALTA]

Let's put COVID aside for a minute.

The industry isn't dying. My company made record profits year over year. We aren't mammoth but we aren't small. Our owner is smart and dedicated. He will get us through COVID and probably will eat up shops that closed on the way.

[adecanmin]

You are correct theengel, it's time consuming and not as profitable as it should be. A desktop PC is about $300 out the door but the content and programs the client uses is where the value is. I went in for a $95 tower cleaning and OS updates as the OS wasn't starting up and ended up charging double as the backup needed to be done for their Quickbooks and other programs. If they lose the information and files they have on this particular PC they'd be in deep trouble as they are a tax firm and they don't have an IT. I walked in to fix their Toshiba mono copier and walked out with more business than I thought I would. Another client that has 2 Ricoh's and 18 PC's is negotiating with me the maintenance on their server and fleet of PC's, previous IT was charging them average $4000 monthly on "service and updates of the servers" if I can get 60% of that money I'll be extremely happy. It'll require every 7 months to go in and clean all the towers, update the OS every month on each tower remotely and the server as well remotely, there's money to be made still in the IT world the thing is I had to get certified on A+, N+ about 12 years ago and recently CCNA and MCSE. But in my case it's paying off, even though I haven't stepped into any business to set their Cisco routers and switches yet it was a great learning experience.

You are quite diverse in your skill set. It looks as though you are more I.T. centric. Computer repair will good for a least a few more years until people don't want to have servers and desktops in their offices. Maybe setting up and hosting your own private cloud computing setup with your customers using your hardware for a monthly price?

[MarioTech]

You are quite diverse in your skill set. It looks as though you are more I.T. centric. Computer repair will good for a least a few more years until people don't want to have servers and desktops in their offices. Maybe setting up and hosting your own private cloud computing setup with your customers using your hardware for a monthly price?

It was a lot of work for sure and thank you for the compliment bud, I've been fixing copiers for 24 years now. since I was 23 years old so I've experienced quite a bit of changes and after managing branches and working my way up to district manager of one of the largest dealers here in SoCal I started my own business several years back. I learned that if you own the network you own what's connected to it thus I went back to school and kept learning, so far it paid off and yes I agree on the suggestion you made in regards paying to host on a cloud, actually the IT I use for servers has that setup and he does great!

[adecanmin]

It was a lot of work for sure and thank you for the compliment bud, I've been fixing copiers for 24 years now. since I was 23 years old so I've experienced quite a bit of changes and after managing branches and working my way up to district manager of one of the largest dealers here in SoCal I started my own business several years back. I learned that if you own the network you own what's connected to it thus I went back to school and kept learning, so far it paid off and yes I agree on the suggestion you made in regards paying to host on a cloud, actually the IT I use for servers has that setup and he does great!

You have done well. I'm a one man shop so I don't have the flexibility to venture into I.T. to the extent you have. I work on the usual network stuff as it relates to the copiers. If I can keep the copiers I sell my customers running, for now that it enough. I always ask my customers about their computing situation. How they get there machines fixed. How does the software perform on their machines. It seems office 365 is very popular as is quick books. Most of my customers don't use an I.T. professional unless there is a problem. Some of my bigger customers have some sort of agreement with an I.T. company for routine maintenance, backups etc... but they are the exception.

[MarioTech]

You have done well. I'm a one man shop so I don't have the flexibility to venture into I.T. to the extent you have. I work on the usual network stuff as it relates to the copiers. If I can keep the copiers I sell my customers running, for now that it enough. I always ask my customers about their computing situation. How they get there machines fixed. How does the software perform on their machines. It seems office 365 is very popular as is quick books. Most of my customers don't use an I.T. professional unless there is a problem. Some of my bigger customers have some sort of agreement with an I.T. company for routine maintenance, backups etc... but they are the exception.

Exactly what I noticed from PC and IT aspect, most of my small clients don't have anyone to take care of their IT needs and when they have an issue they call geeksquad or one of those services and I found out their fees and beat them. And as I showed them the cost from one of those services and my services they didn't hesitate to give me a try and slowly within the past 2 years I'd say I ventured into the IT side of my clients, however when I need a server guy I use a really good one and I just get a small piece as I subcontract to him. Back in the days you only needed to fix an analog copier, then a printer/ copier then fax/printer/copier/scanner so we evolved with the needs of the business I'd say. But there's so much to learn that just me and a few techs aren't enough to fulfill all the network needs, I wish I had the time to learn but it's just impossible with everything we do.

[adecanmin]

Exactly what I noticed from PC and IT aspect, most of my small clients don't have anyone to take care of their IT needs and when they have an issue they call geeksquad or one of those services and I found out their fees and beat them. And as I showed them the cost from one of those services and my services they didn't hesitate to give me a try and slowly within the past 2 years I'd say I ventured into the IT side of my clients, however when I need a server guy I use a really good one and I just get a small piece as I subcontract to him. Back in the days you only needed to fix an analog copier, then a printer/ copier then fax/printer/copier/scanner so we evolved with the needs of the business I'd say. But there's so much to learn that just me and a few techs aren't enough to fulfill all the network needs, I wish I had the time to learn but it's just impossible with everything we do.

A few final points. 80 percent of my customers are workgroup instead of a windows domain. I'm seeing more Apple machines being used in a work environment.

[MarioTech]

A few final points. 80 percent of my customers are workgroup instead of a windows domain. I'm seeing more Apple machines being used in a work environment.

Correct, this actually brought some sales to me as the older units they had didn't support new Mac drivers even though they printed perfect colors. The challenge I usually have with Mac's is the setup to scan to file, most need updates and rarely the clients have them up to latest OS version so I gotta go back once they get it done and in some cases 3 times as each employee takes their sweet time to get it done and place the call to finalize installation. I never got into the Mac world more than I needed to, that's for next life.

[theengel]

Let's put COVID aside for a minute.

The industry isn't dying. My company made record profits year over year. We aren't mammoth but we aren't small. Our owner is smart and dedicated. He will get us through COVID and probably will eat up shops that closed on the way.

You must have a good boss who knows how to keep a company going even when everything's against it. But you can't put your head in the sand. The company I worked for had fifty techs in this city, and they're down to 10. And MOST of the other copier dealers in the area have downsized just as much. The mere fact that most of the guys on this forum are so old (and many of them on their own) should tell you something. The industry itself is dying. Denying that would be the equivalent of denying the typewriter death thirty years ago.

[JLSam]

Can one company do it all? And do it well? Sears in the 70s and 80s tried that with real estate, insurance, banking and retail. I don't think it worked out too well for them. I believe in specialization. Instead of being all things maybe learn 2 things well and go from there. Specialists in the medical field make a lot more money than a someone in general practice.

I've read stories about companies buying other companies to expand their offerings, then years later they spin them off because the venture did not work out.

Nah man. That big tech, we're not doing that. Also, our services are for our clients that want a low price IT dept, but we specialize. It's not like we do everything. Basic server set up is easy, setting up a rack is easy. Cabling a new office is easy. This stuff is pretty much basic. RFID cards for copiers are a common practice and are a natural option with User Authentication. We're not doing something huge, it's just that we CAN, and we can do it WELL. If a tech can't make a cat 6 cable, I'm not sure if he/she should be in the industry anymore in my opinion. If a tech can't set up basic SMB scanning... bruh, I don't know what to tell you. This stuff is basic for us.

But our services are for small business. Whose needs are "I want to print and scan". It's working out for us just fine.

You must have a good boss who knows how to keep a company going even when everything's against it. But you can't put your head in the sand. The company I worked for had fifty techs in this city, and they're down to 10. And MOST of the other copier dealers in the area have downsized just as much. The mere fact that most of the guys on this forum are so old (and many of them on their own) should tell you something. The industry itself is dying. Denying that would be the equivalent of denying the typewriter death thirty years ago.

Well, I'm 30 from a new generation "Hybrid techs" (Look up Copier Careers report). The industry at the moment is fine, and again, people AND gov has said paperless was INEVITABLE 20 years ago. Heck, there was even a mandate that ALL PAPERWORK was to be electronic by LATEST 2003.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-conten...-May2-2000.pdf
We have Gov' Clients, and let me tell you, they use up trees like a hot knife through butter.

This is the fundamental reality, and anyone in the industry should take hope in this next sentence.
"As long as there is Government, there will always be a need for paper". Governments love bureaucracy.

The real threat are conglomerates taking over the small business. Some of us could loose tech support. Like if Sharp buys off Brother, some brother ccrs could get the boot. That will be an industry killer.

But that's why you should study networking man, we are basically under the same umbrella. Heck, A+ covers printing and fuser sleeve replacements believe it or not.

Courage guys, Covid will die off soon. Take advantage of the free time, and study networking, learn to code, get your python cert, or A+, or N+, or CCENT or CCNA. Don't be stagnant!