Everyone has watched NBC’s “The Office”. Released in 2005, this TV series chronicles the antics of the staff of Dunder-Mifflin in Scranton, PA. Dunder-Mifflin is a Value-Added Reseller of a very simple commodity: paper.
Much of the comedy in The Office comes from their outdated tactics to sell a simple product like paper. To add to the fire, Dunder-Mifflin is depicted as a bloated, high end business enterprise. Their corporate office is in a Manhattan high-rise, their Scranton branch has THREE accountants, and their sales force doesn’t seem to do much actual selling.
The Office and Dunder-Mifflin are excellent examples of a FICTIONAL Value-Added Reseller; the key word being fictional.
Dunder-Mifflin: 3 accountants, one manager, and a small sales force.
In reality, there are a variety of reasons that you, the customer, should buy from a reseller.
3 Reasons to Buy From a Reseller
The modernization of the business world has implemented many productive changes, none more popular than the concept of buying directly from the manufacturer.
This concept has some merit; a consumer would be wise to buy certain items directly from the manufacturer when the opportunity presents itself.
A great example of this would be Tuft & Needle in Phoenix, AZ. Tuft & Needle is a mattress manufacturer, and their business plan to sell directly to customers has attracted lots of media attention and has generated lots of revenue for them.
Mattresses are a simple commodity. Printers and Printer Media are NOT a simple commodity.
Let’s get started on the 3 reasons you should buy from a reseller.
1. Manufacturers are difficult to deal with; Resellers are not.
There is a reason that many manufacturers do not sell directly to the public.
Manufacturers understand the complex nature of their products; they understand that their main job is to “manufacture”, and not to sell, the product. This allows for less overhead and higher production rates, which in turn create more profit for the manufacturer.
In addition, manufacturers operate on a tight schedule, with even tighter margins. They don’t always have the time, resources, or funds to invest into customer service/sales departments that can accommodate the enormous demand for their products.
Can you imagine trying to buy a laptop directly from a huge manufacturer like Hewlett-Packard?
This is where the Value Added Reseller steps in. As resellers, it is our job to ensure that you, the customer, have an amazing purchasing experience. This means that we help you select the correct hardware for the job, and that we immediately address any questions or concerns that you might have.
Essentially, the VAR adds “value”, in the form of consultation, packaging of products/hardware, and customer service. This will allow the customer to select the perfect combination of products EVERY SINGLE TIME.
You should buy from a reseller because they will offer you something that the manufacturer and Amazon cannot: customer service, advice, and the personal touch.
2. Websites like Amazon and Newegg Do NOT Offer Support; Resellers DO.
Did you know that there are several different versions of the Zebra QLn420 Mobile Printer?
Did you know that each version of the QLn420 has different features unique to it’s part number?
How can you make sure that you are purchasing the correct printer for your application?
It would be a disaster to order a printer for a mobile application that does not have all the features required for your application.
And yet, this scenario is not unheard of. Situations like these happen ALL the time, as a result of a customer buying from websites like Amazon and Newegg.
Printers and printer media are complex products; they are not all the same.
One of the most important reasons that you should buy from a reseller is that they offer exceptional support for the products they sell.
Enormous websites, quite simply put, cannot compete with Value Added Resellers when it comes to customer service and support.
If you have a question for Amazon, who do you have to call?
Will you automatically speak with an ACTUAL sales rep?
Or will you have to navigate through a complicated automatic answering system?
How many hours will be wasted trying to get in contact with an actual person?
In contrast, calling a Value Added Reseller is a simple process.
In the case of PLS, you will ALWAYS be able to speak with an actual person, and not a machine.
In fact, PLS offers FREE consultations to customers before they buy any products or services. We want to make sure that you purchase the correct items for your application, and we go out of our way to provide the BEST customer service possible. This ensures a happy customer every time.
3. You Cannot Order Custom Media from a Website; A Reseller Can Help You.
Custom media is a fancy word for custom labels, wristbands, and tags.
Many customers will utilize custom media in their businesses or organizations.
It’s easy to think of an application where custom media will be the solution. It’s not so easy to order the media itself.
At PLS, custom media is our specialty. We’ve written blog posts on it, and we’ve helped countless customers to select the right type of media for the job.
Custom media cannot be ordered from a website, or even directly from the manufacturer. There are simply far too many specifications to consider. This level of customer service can only be provided by a reseller.
You should buy from a reseller because they will help you to select the right components for your custom media.
Resellers can provide samples of material and adhesives. They can provide information and workplace examples. They can even provide you with demo printers to test out your application.
This level of service can be very difficult to receive from a website or manufacturer. As we’ve stated earlier in this post, the manufacturer’s job is to produce the product. The website’s job is to sell as much of that product as possible, with little to no overhead.
Value added resellers offer the best of both worlds. Resellers have the knowledge of a manufacturer, with the prices and huge selection of a website.
Dunder-Mifflin is Fake. PLS is Real. Buy from a Reseller.
Which are you?
Fans of The Office knew that Dunder-Mifflin was a poorly run operation. They had too many employees and not enough sales. They offered a simple commodity, and in the end did not add much “value” to the customer.
PLS is the opposite of Dunder-Mifflin. We are the real deal.
The next time you’re in the market for printers, printer media, software, or accessories, contact PLS.
Our phone number is 1-844-458-1078, and our email is info@professionallabelsolutions.com. We’re happy to provide customers with free consultations and amazing prices on products to help you manage your business/organization in the most efficient way possible.
