What's a photocopier cost

[canuckamuck]

As most of you know, Thailand has a certain obsession with getting everything photocopied. At least the government does. In our remote village, it is known by some that I can make copies (with my low end scanner printer) and we often get people asking us to do it, and since they ask nice my wife says yes. Well we got to thinking that if we had a copier we would certainly have customers, and better yet I wouldn't need to be involved. But i have never considered purchasing a photocopier. I imagine the cost, even on second hand or a leased one would probably be too high to make the money back. Anyhow, are any of you saavy on copiers in Thailand?

[lopburi3]

http://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?q=xerox

[allane]

Unless, you know how to repair it, better to lease than own, particularly as you live in a remote village.

[Lamkyong]

a couple of years back bought a samsung laser copier about 6000 bht with my calculation toner/paper etc and at a charge of 2 bht per copy

i made a profit of 1 bht per copy not a lot but still a profit but then comes the crunch friends/ family getting freebees and the two established shops in the village deciding that they wanted a piece of the action cut the demand for my copy service by more than half and good on them

but in actual fact saves answering the door to all and sundry early mornings/late nights give it a whirl you may like it

[CharlieH]

Its only 50 satang a copy here, but upto what you think you can get away with.

Explore renting one, then if competition starts or its not that viable , just return it.

Ask some questions here:

http://www.yellowpages.co.th/en/profile/403626030968001

[AlexRRR]

A normal laser printer is good enough for what you want to do there not expensive anymore except when you have to buy the ink...flawed idea but if you must at least make sure you cover the cost of the ink cartage because there almost as much as the printer.

[blackcab]

If you are successful your idea will be copied.

[robblok]

You even have laster printers with scanner included like mine that just have a copy button and then you have a copy. Anyone can do it, but i think if you count depreciation and toner and stuff it will have to be a few baht per copy. Even then your not really making money I guess... maybe a little.

[canuckamuck]

Thanks for all the posts, I had never thought about a laser scanner printer set-up. That might be the thing, if they don't cost too much. Definitely we are not looking at a business model here, but I would like it to pay for itself. Mostly I just want someone else to make copies so I don't have to. I am more than happy to provide a service to the community though.

[manarak]

Thanks for all the posts, I had never thought about a laser scanner printer set-up. That might be the thing, if they don't cost too much. Definitely we are not looking at a business model here, but I would like it to pay for itself. Mostly I just want someone else to make copies so I don't have to. I am more than happy to provide a service to the community though.

just get a multifunction device.

they do printer - scanner - copier - fax.

I bought a Brother some years ago for just 6000 baht, it serves me well.

here are some devices at Lazada:

http://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?q=brother+mfc

[ignis]

I have a Brother's laser scanner printer, but if i want a lot or something in colour then I scan it and put it on a USB drive and take it down to the copy shop there machine will also do double sided copies and A3..

Maybe worth noting this copy shop is between Villages, they have 6 huge copy machines, 5 smaller ones and 2 big colour ones, 5 PC's and a Mac, so will and can design anything, it is just a Thai husband and wife team and opened about 10 years ago. + very cheap.

[blackcab]

A multifunction device is the best way to go. I think the key thing is making sure you can use compatible cartridges in the unit before you buy it. Original ink or toner can be expensive.

We recently bought a Brother DCP-T500W colour multifunction device. This has ink tanks which use bottles of ink - hover rather than being an aftermarket fit the tanks are designed this way by the manufacturer. It seems very economical.

We copy lots of ducuments with it and they have always been accepted by government departments.

It's wireless too, so you have the option of putting the printer in a convenient place and still printing to it from your computer (assuming your computer can use WiFi).

[stupidfarang]

Try contacting the main manufactures of copiers in Thailand they may have second hand copiers for sale

also try www.knmcommercial.com

They have copiers for sale http://www.knmcommercial.com/

[kannot]

Dont forget to add on the expense of employing 3 Thai staff, one to put the paper in one to take it out one to press the button and a fourth ( I know I said 3 ) to look at their phone all day........

[geronimo]

Thanks for all the posts, I had never thought about a laser scanner printer set-up. That might be the thing, if they don't cost too much. Definitely we are not looking at a business model here, but I would like it to pay for itself. Mostly I just want someone else to make copies so I don't have to. I am more than happy to provide a service to the community though.[/quote

so correct me if I'm wrong, you want to buy a copier to help copiers copy?

[canuckamuck]

Thanks for all the posts, I had never thought about a laser scanner printer set-up. That might be the thing, if they don't cost too much. Definitely we are not looking at a business model here, but I would like it to pay for itself. Mostly I just want someone else to make copies so I don't have to. I am more than happy to provide a service to the community though.[/quote

so correct me if I'm wrong, you want to buy a copier to help copiers copy?

A copier so I don't have to help copiers copy.

[Red13]

A simple multi function device which can print, copy and scan, designed for personal home use will run you 2500 THB.

A full blown MFD, the type you would see in a large office environment will run you around 100,000 THB, though they are typically leased.

B&W 1 THB Colour 5 THB. Paper and ink will be your main running costs.

Not sure I would make a business out of it but would be nice for locals within your village.

[shagorillaHotel]

there was a copy shop in my village where i had to go to copy stuff required by the emmigration department so even if you did just 1 or 2 copies she would charge by the page. no minimum charge, ridiculous! so i would over-pay and refuse change. this would distress her. but i would run away.

[bendejo]

In my younger days (1980s, pre-laser) I worked with a lot of different copiers, even had to take a few classes in getting them back in order when they stalled. In those days Xerox and Kodak were the big ones. Every few months a technician would have to be called to service the more intricate problems. I wasn't involved in the cost of things, but a service contract would be crucial IMO. I would suspect that in the tropics keeping these contraptions in air conditioned rooms, and relatively dust-free, would be essential (like a computer).

[Chowna]

Hey Canuckamuck,

I bought a Brother laser Scanner printer copier for 5500 baht about a year ago as I need to scan paperwork quite regular for work,

My wife is always copying stuff for College and we haven't had to buy any ink yet and the cartridges are not to expensive to replace,

Brother also has auto clean so its just a matter of going into the menu and cleaning if it plays up.

Its easier for me to have one at home just for copying stuff last minute for immigration as I'm always late!!

Regards

Derek

(just re-read your post-I think your looking for a commercial grade printer..sorry no clues on that one)