Simply put: If you don’t need 11×17 size (i.e. “A3”) printing in your office, you should consider using a letter/legal size (i.e. “A4”) laser printer/multi-function laser printer, and not an overly expensive, overly complicated, overly sized traditional copy machine…
Many articles and YouTube videos have been produced by Imaging Industry analysts over the past several years regarding the notion that the traditional A3/Ledger/11×17 size copy machine is going the way of the dinosaur. And yet, every traditional copy machine dealer is still trying to sell these to you anyway, because that’s all they have, or at least that is where they and their sales team will make the most money. Ray Stascieczko, one of the premier thinkers in the document imaging industry, has been consistently “preaching” the message of this reality now for several years. In one of his recent articles entitled “A Misunderstood Threat: The Alternatives Are Awakening,” he states, “Again, it’s not about paper-less; it’s about Annuity-less. It’s not the evaporation of paper!! It’s about LESS PAPER; it’s about a significant decline in supply needs and service annuities. It’s also about the evolution of A4 Products. These are the things the Document Imaging Channel should have already been prepared for [as it continues its] obsession with continuing to over-sell A3 devices.”
As a case in point, I had a good long-time customer who needed to find two more small multi-function printers for his facility. A copy machine dealer, not putting my customer’s needs first, quoted him $1,487 each for two multi-function printers. We hooked him up with two $320 printers that were really exactly what he needed. I’ve always heard and read that this is the way most copier dealers do business: They sell you what they want to sell you because that’s all they have or that’s how they will make the most commission, instead of trying to sell you what you really need. 
Back in the day when someone had to buy a copy machine for the office their only real recourse was to call a copy machine dealer like Canon, Ricoh, or Konica Minolta…. Today that absolutely is not necessary. For example, if you have a small office, all you might really need is a $500, $600, or $800 color or monochrome multifunction HP laser printer. However, if you need more of a traditional style copy machine HP has that for you too. HP has some absolutely amazing monochrome and color multifunction LaserJet printers (mfp) that are built around their laser printers. They are fast, simple to use, efficient, hard-working, digitally secure, and economical to operate. And yes, they have all the features you’ll ever need. I mean, it may not instantly turn on when you walk towards it or let you be able to pick out your dinner reservations for that evening, but who really wants their copy machine to do those things anyway 😊
In a prior blog here, I wrote about the main similarities and differences between the traditional A3/Ledger/11×17 size “copy machine” and an A4/Letter/Legal size multi-function LaserJet printer from HP and why the better choice today for most businesses is the “A4 size” machine from the likes of HP, Canon, Brother, or Samsung. I summed it up this way, “Many offices today that had an aging “A3” copy machine, have been migrating towards these cost-effective, feature rich “A4” machines. When it is time for you to get a new “copy machine” for your office, it would be wise to consider what HP, Samsung, or Lexmark has to offer instead of going to your typical copy machine dealer. This also puts you in more control of your purchase by not being coerced into buying the only over-priced over-speced product that the dealer sells.”
I always enjoy helping my customers pick out the right printer or multi-function printer (mfp) for their situation. Sometimes I have the perfect option to sell them, and sometimes I don’t. When I don’t, I still find the right device for them on-line and send them a link to it. That way, my customers are going to get exactly what they need…
If you ever need any help determining the best printer or multi-function printer solutions for your office or home office, just email me or give me a call anytime to discuss… As an example, here is a link to my Printer Profile on our “Like New” Refurbished HP LaserJet M630 MFP Series Machines: https://www.carlisle-enterprises.com/printer-profile-refurbished-hp-laserjet-enterprise-m630-series-multi-function-laser-printers/
Helping you print smarter, faster, and cheaper: 630-289-0747 or kent@carlisle-enterprises.com