Due to economic downturns, manufacturers face poor photocopier sales. Increased competition among Ricoh, Xerox, Konica Minolta, and Canon will lower prices. Many people actually forecasted price rises in the UK but with Minolta Photocopiers sales flatlining UK companies are in no mood to pay more money for copiers.
Manufacturers have claimed that a weak euro and pound against the yen would mean price increases. Despite healthy manufacturer markups and Chinese production, OnlineConnect.co.uk believes the market will resist any price increases for copiers.
Photocopiers remain overpriced compared to laser printers and fax machines, where competition has successfully driven prices lower for consumers.
Manufacturers are looking to recover from falls in Sterling but have not considered the market as a whole. In an already difficult market where many businesses are struggling to make ends meet it is clearly not the right time to talk about price increases. Often stories like this are leaked to encourage buying, ‘buy now before the manufacturer puts up the price’.
Some manufacturers, like Canon, are looking to establish themselves again in the market place. With Ricoh making major purchases of dealers it has left them somewhat out in the cold. So could there be a price war on photocopiers?
Online companies like Online Connect have lowered digital copier prices, benefiting consumers by enhancing competition and improving market accessibility.
 What we haven’t seen yet is real competition for prices amongst the manufacturers themselves.
During lean times customers and photocopier dealers can extend existing rental agreements to get by. Not so with manufacturers who need to shift boxes.
lets face it, not the most desirable thing in the office so when it comes to replacement it’s fairly low down the list. Manufacturers must acknowledge that businesses view photocopiers more as a necessary evil than as an important asset for operations. In turbulent economic times office buyers are holding back on replacing copiers with budgets stretched and funds needed in the business elsewhere.
Where companies have choosen to replace and take out a new lease finance companies have shyed away from many contracts. With the credit crunch many finance companies have become far more selective about who they will lease too leaving photocopier dealers exasperated.
It is not just the priority of the photocopier in the office that has changed either, buying habits have also changed. The office buyer is far more knowledgeable and can gain photocopier quotes online and let sellers compete for their business. Photocopier sales are at a low; manufacturers must significantly reduce prices to encourage consumer purchases and revive the market.. With Samsung and other manufacturers offering digital copiers, plus online price competition, the future looks promising for photocopier consumers.