Ricoh resellers benefit from price rise U-turn

UK VARs attending Ricoh's Partner Summit were heartened by news that the printing vendor has shelved a proposed 9.5 per cent price hike.

The increase had been scheduled for June, but at the event, which was held in Puerto Banus in Spain, Ricoh’s UK chief executive, Nigel Palmer, unveiled plans for a much smaller rise. There will now be no price increases on black-to-colour machines and parts, nor on colour toner. Large enterprise contracts that VARs have already agreed will also be exempt from increases.

Mono and printer machines and supplies will, however, be subject to a four per cent hike with effect from July. The price of other parts and supplies will increase by between 3.5 and nine per cent, although Palmer indicated he expects the final figure to be about four per cent.

He also revealed that the vendor plans to introduce a single pricing structure for Ricoh products and those of its subsidiaries, NRG and Infotec, over the next year.

“Everybody has been understandably concerned,” Palmer told partners. “I have met 30 of you face to face and I hope you think we have listened. You may not admit it, but some of you may think we have gone further than you expected.”

Ricoh UK’s director of marketing, Chas Moloney, told CRN: “Partners were not happy with what was happening, but from the feedback I have had, they now see it as a non-issue.”

Ian Morgan, managing director of partner Lynbrook, said: “It looks like we got what we wanted, but time will tell the impact. I was expecting a four per cent rise across the board.”

Partner Transcribe Thames Group’s Mike Lees said: “The pricing decision is welcome news. It now sounds far more fair.”

While group sales manager Jason Spencer added: “I am very pleased to see no i ncreases on the black-to-colour machines.”

Ricoh also used the event to give partners a preview of its new C900 line of multi-function devices, which will be launched later this year.