[OPLINTECH] print and copier costs

[Bob Neeper]

This is beyond your question but...

My first thought: buy quality printers.
  As they should last a long time the h/w cost per page will be low.
Second:  get someone else to pay for them.
Third: if possible, do your own maintenance.
Forth, as they age watch the OPLIN list for free consumables (or even 
identical printers).

An example
We bought about 6 HP6L Laser jet's before 1997
We bought 3 HP2000C's  (color) about 1999
Almost are still in service.
Over 300k pages printed on the HP2000C's

Last year we did get 2 new Ricoh's on a grant.
We only pay a per print cost, no consumable or maintenance cost.
They default to b/w as the color costs us a bit more.

We have always charged 15 cents per page. Color or b/w.
Paying has always been on the honor system but we seem to still be ahead.

Straight math determined our per page cost.
Used the paper and ink (or toner) cartridge cost.
Also the estimated printed pages per cartridge.
Threw in an guesstimated h/w amortization cost per page
Determined a per page cost
Then added a large safety factor.

To make things better I was able to get free paper at OfficeMax for a 
long time.
Did any printer maintenance myself. And it wasn't a lot.

R. W. (Bob) Neeper     Cell: (740)-407-3572 
Community Library
44 Burrer Dr.
Sunbury, Oh 43074
Tel:  (740)-965-3901



Kevin Jones wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> At Coshocton Public Library we are charging $.10 for black and $.20 
> for color printouts.  We are charging $.10 for copies made from our 2 
> copying machines.
>
> I don't think at that rate that we are recouping our costs especially 
> when you also figure in maintenance and replacement of the printers 
> and copiers.  With our reduced budgets, I don't think that we can 
> continue to charge less than what our actual costs are for the 
> printing services that we provide.
>
> I would like to know what other libraries are charging for black and 
> color printouts as well as copies made from a copier.  I will use this 
> as guidance to propose an increase to our current printing costs.
>
> I appreciate your responses and thank you for taking the time to reply.
>
> Thanks again,
>  
> Kevin Jones
> Technology Coordinator
> Coshocton Public Library
> 655 Main Street
> Coshocton, OH 43812
> Phone: 740-622-0956
> Fax: 740-622-4331
> http://www.coshoctonlibrary.org
>
> "They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes 
> perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds."
> Wilt Chamberlain
>
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