Westcoast offers print headache remedy

Distributor claims pre-delivery inspection service for printers will ease DOA woes for resellers

Theale-based distributor Westcoast claims it is the first in the UK to offer a pre-delivery inspection service (PDI) for printers.

The firm has opened a dedicated facility at its headquarters in Theale, and is offering the service on most major brands including HP, Lexmark and others not necessarily distributed by Westcoat.

In the past, the distributor claimed the onus fell on managed print partners to unpack, inspect, configure and test large printers at their own premises or onsite at their end-user customers.

In turn, this means they have to take full responsibility for the technology should anything go wrong. The service also includes site deliveries so that a new printer can be delivered on behalf of a partner to their customers and connected in situ, and Westcoast claims it can also offer demonstration and removal of old devices if needed.

Alex Tatham, managing director of Westcoast, said: "I could not be more excited about offering this service. It eliminates DOA headaches for resellers at a stroke.

"We have already delivered more than 100 large-format printers to retailers' shops across the UK, configured a bulk order on behalf of one of Britain's largest managed print providers, and are working on a large order for a brand not even distributed by Westcoast for a chain of betting stores."

Tatham added: "Every print provider we have engaged with has welcomed this move as they frequently hit periods of high demand or skill shortages. We have invested in dedicated resources, project management and skilled engineers. I can only see this new service growing as Westcoast becomes the UK's managed print fulfilment partner of choice."