Buying fax machines, copiers and other tools

Buying fax machines, copiers and other tools

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, Contributor, Jakarta

Office equipment is inseparable from the overall business
operation in any company but what companies need may differ from
one to another, depending greatly on what line of business each
is engaged.

Basically, companies already in operation are in regular need
of stationery items.

Such items can be easily found in most bookstores in big
cities in the country. But office equipment classified into non-
routine items like office furniture, computers, laptops, a
photocopy machine, a fax machine, a printer or an overhead
projector are usually only available at specialty shops or
distributors.

To get initial information on the products from a company
selling office equipment, it might be good for customers to visit
their websites. Many credible companies have equipped themselves
with a homepage allowing customers to view the products with
their features and specifications. Many also provide information
on the prices of the products, allowing customers to prepare a
rough budget estimation.

For business executives living in Jakarta, finding computer
hardware and software might not be so difficult, as most of that
can easily be found in the Glodok Electronics Center in Central
Jakarta. The center offers a wide range of choices of mostly
generic computers, with relatively cheaper prices than name
bands, especially compared to those available at other computer
shops in the city. The center allows for bargaining, and if you
buy on a large scale, you are often given a price discount.

There are also a lot of options for those wishing to buy name
brand products. These high quality products are usually available
at authorized distributors that generally offer Information
Technology (IT) solution. Computers for office use are commonly
inseparable from office networking.

There are a number of companies that offer name brand computer
hardware and software plus business solutions. One of these is
Metrodata e-Konsumer. Established as the Business-to-Consumer
(B2C) arm of the Metrodata Group, the company claims to offer
customers competitive prices and quick delivery of products.

Through its website, customers can view a wide range
of computers and peripheral products from leading vendors
including Acer, Compaq, Gateway, IBM, Mugen, Toshiba, Epson,
Canon, Hewlett-Packard, Textronix, Creative, Seagate, 3Com,
Xircom, Umax, Samsung and Sony.

All products will be delivered with quality and after-sales
services guaranteed.

To provide customers with more convenience, Metrodata
e-Konsumer accepts several payment methods. In addition to
payments by bank transfer and cash on delivery, MEK also accepts
credit cards and for loyal customers, an installment plan.

For newly set up companies in need of office equipment
categorized into costly items, choosing the right place to buy
might be of importance considering that, in addition to the high
cost, the items will be for a long-term use. Therefore, being
careful in choosing the items is a wise decision. Among the
common points being taken into consideration should include
price, quality and after-sales service.

Most products are paid for in cash, but a regular customer is
usually allowed to pay in installments.

For customer convenience, PT Datascrip, for example, provides
a wide range of services starting from design consultation and
installation to after-sales service. "We also provide training,
especially for clients who purchase particular products," said PT
Datascrip's promotion manager W.P. Hari.

He said that the company provides discounts but "it will
all depend on the kind of products and the amount purchased."

Customers who run offices in Medan, North Sumatra, who want to
equip their office with multi-media projectors, can order from PT
Datascrip's branch office there. The company has regional sales
departments in Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar, Jambi and
Pekan Baru and Medan.

PT Datascrip focuses on marketing office equipment
and business solutions, enabling an office to be filled with
partitions, tables, chairs, filing cabinets and much more to
allow for convenient, comfortable and efficient business
operation.

Through such distributors such as Datascrip, customers can
find a wide range of office equipment such as computer
peripherals such as inkjet and laser printers, digital cameras,
scanners, electronic filing systems, multi-media projectors,
calculators, office furniture and filing systems.

Like PT Datasrcip, other distributors such as PT Tritanu also
offers many kinds of office equipment such as copiers. "Our
service includes providing guidance for the company's IT staff
assigned to set up the network with the machine," said PT
Tritanu's Nando.

"For instance, the network will enable each employee
to print or send faxes directly through his or her own
computer," he said.

With its branch offices in big cities, customers in need of
the latest digital photocopiers, such as the M350 or M450
distributed by PT Tritanu, for instance, need not travel to
Jakarta to get one. PT Tritanu's branch offices are located in
Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Denpasar and Makassar in South
Sulawesi.

Customers can also find excellent, top-of-the-line office
equipment products at PT Visi Lintas Media, the sister company of
the Kompas Gramedia Group. The company will fulfill all your
office needs with one phone call, from office stationery, PC
accessories to file systems. It also provide presentation tools
either digital or non digital, like multimedia projectors,
electronic copy boards and laser printers.

The company has partner-shops and outlets spread throughout
all major cities in Indonesia. It also provides quality technical
support, rentals and its own technical service center.