Good attention ....and bad attention

Since i started this blog three months ago, i thought it was worthwhile reflecting on what has happened since then, and what progress has been made in battling the problem of copier salespeople.

Well, firstly I was contacted by a lady who runs a catalogue company. She was horrified to realise the extent of her company's exposure at a time when business was not going well. I was able to help her, and refer her to a specialist, who uncovered a number of instances that warranted investigation as possible fraud.

I was also contacted by a primary school in the West Midlands, whose contracts were up for renewal. The advice they received resulted in them signing a deal with an ethical supplier, saving themselves a massive £42,000 over the life of their contracts.

They have been the positive aspects of dealing with photocopier lease contract advice.

The downside has been the negative commentary from people who, i assume, are copier salespeople. There are a couple of worthwhile examples on my blog - i was tempted to delete them, but thought i'd leave them in place to show just how silly copier salespeople can be in protecting their business. Despite offering free advice, one poster claims i charged them £50. Another (by sheer coincidence posted minutes later) claims that they are a pensioner and i have ripped them off.

So let me restate my case once more. Photocopier lease contracts and service agreements are a minefield for the unwary. Copier dealers would love you to walk blindly into their agreements and earn them a huge profit. As an example, one dealership with whom a client is dealing legally claim that their margins on service are in excess of 65%. Add to that the money they make from hiding costs in lease contracts, etc; and you have a very nice little business designed to maximise the copier company's profit at your expense. And when you can't pay, they will take you to court, where English law will nearly always find in their favour.

I do not charge for advice. I can help you save money, and i can point you towards an ethical photocopier company that will save you money, and they will just retain a percentage of what they save.

So if you are a pensioner, don't send me £50. I don't want it. And if you are a pensioner, and somebody tries to sell you a copier, well, i wouldn't be surprised. Because as the posts below show, some copier dealers are capable of anything and if there is money in pensioners, they'll be along to join the queue, right behind the dodgy gardeners and roof repairers.