Tips for buying fax machines, copiers and other office 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.