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February 25, 2020
“When will it be here, I have a job that needs to be printed by the weekend?” - this is a question we hear frequently after a customer has purchased their new printer.
Whilst we want you to take on jobs and be excited about your new business venture - we’d love for you to have job requests coming out your ears! - we never recommend taking on jobs before the printer has been delivered for a few good reasons:
- You need to be trained in how the printer is used
Even if you have experience with similar models, you will still require some training in how the printer functions before you’ll be ready to tackle a job - it’s very rarely as simple as plugging it in and pressing go. Training is even more important if this is your first time using such equipment.
Your installer will have a far easier time training you if you’re prepared to take your time and utilise imagery that they are familiar with (rather than trying to tackle your paid job that they have never seen before and is not their responsibility). - You need to practice to get your procedures right
There’s a reason why we often give away a care package of garments with printer purchases - you should practice and get your procedures right before you even think about taking on paid work. Pretreating, for example, requires some finesse to get right and can result in problems with the print when done incorrectly.
Plus, your customers are expecting a certain level of quality in the finished product. Failure to provide them with this can lead to complaints, which can have a negative impact on your new business. - There may be an issue with the printer or its setup
Keep in mind that your printer often requires a lot of different components to get up and running, in particular things like power cables and ink. What are you going to do if your printer is delivered and one of these crucial components is missing? Whilst installers generally carry spare ink with them, cables are another story.
You might also encounter an issue with the printer’s setup - the software may not be compatible with your computer, for example, or there may be a defect with the hardware that was not immediately visible. These things can take time to rectify. - There may be delays due to stock levels or shipping
It’s important to remember that dealers very rarely have printers in stock; instead, they are shipped out to you directly from the manufacturer. If a lot of people have placed orders around the same time, this can cause delays on the manufacturer’s end as they manage stock levels and work through the backlog.
Couriers and postal companies may also cause delays, particularly if they somehow misplace your package. Things like bushfires and floods, which are completely beyond everyone’s control, can also cause shipping delays.
If you are in the market for a new printer, from direct to garment (like the Epson SC-F2160 or the Ricoh Ri 100) to print/cut (like the Roland DG BN-20 or SG2-540), we really hope that you’ll think twice about accepting jobs before it has been delivered. At the end of the day, isn’t it best to lower your stress levels and ensure that you’re fully confident in using the machine before you start taking on paid work?
