If you have commercial printing equipment for your business, you've likely run into issues with the device. Whether it's user error, bugs with commercial printing software, or physical jams that seem inevitable with these devices, the problems are endless.
However, if you've ever tried to call commercial printer companies to mitigate issues, you know how difficult it is to get helpful assistance.
There are many reasons for this common issue with commercial printing companies, and here's an overview of why finding a local managed commercial printing service might be worthwhile for your business.
1. They're Probably Not Local To Your City
If you try to contact a large manufacturer to troubleshoot your commercial print solutions, you might find it hard to get through to a local representative. Many times, these companies aren't local to your area, and they might be headquartered across the country or overseas.
The problem with non-local support is that they cannot send a technician to help you if your device fails. Even for routine maintenance and toner refills, you'll most likely get a how-to video at best from one of these tech giants instead of an on-site tech to help.
To read more about the differences between local and long-distance service, read our blog: Local vs Non-Local Providers: Which Can Meet Your Business Needs?
2. You Likely Won't Get Personalized Support
When you're dealing with a large corporate conglomerate, you will likely reach a different customer service representative every time you call. This means there's a lack of connection or personalized help. This can muddy the waters when you're calling back about a particular problem.
If you've ever tried to resolve an issue over the phone, you probably prefer having the same service rep helping you along the way. The lack of personal support from big manufacturers can be frustrating. It makes problem-solving take longer because you have to explain everything to a new service rep.
Many businesses choose local managed print providers. These providers have the resources and helpful teams to meet your needs, with much more flexibility to offer custom support.
3. You May Experience Long Call Wait Times
Calling a major company can consume a lot of your time if you encounter the dreaded elevator music and long call queues. These companies have busy call centers, so you'll likely encounter call queues that leave you sitting on the phone killing valuable time.
A key benefit of going through smaller print providers instead of relying on large technology manufacturers is their vendor management offerings. Small print providers often tackle the tech giants for you, waiting in those long call queues to reach a representative on your behalf.
When there's a true error or bug that's the manufacturer's fault, having a small dealer on your side to advocate for your can save you lot of time and money.
4. When Something Breaks For Everyone, Everyone Calls at Once
Along the same lines as long call wait times, when there are system-wide crashes, this issue will become exponentially more frustrating. The more customers manufacturers serve, the more calls will come in all at once if something breaks for all users.
In July 2024, Microsoft users got a taste for what a massive bug can do when all users experience the same outage at once. Don't wait until something like that happens before finding a quality local print service to support you in a pinch.
5. Service Quality Will Be Inconsistent
Every service experience is unique, but you should aim to get similar service quality each time you contact a company.
With many service representatives across the country and the world, manufacturers often struggle to standardize the quality of customer support.
Just as you're unlikely to get the same service professional on the phone twice, you probably won't get consistent communicativeness, thorough support, or response times either.
Invest in Reliable Support Without Hassling With Print Giants
Most people agree that small businesses offer superior quality, personalization, and consistency when it comes to customer support. This is why it's wise to find a quality local print service provider to ensure you're taken care of from start to finish with your commercial printer lease or purchase.
If you're interested in exploring the different ways a print provider could transform your print environment and offer unmatched service, click the button below to speak with an expert.
