Maintenance contracts — when you really need one
An honest answer: not every device needs one. Here's the calculation that tells you which case you're in.
We'll be straight with you: if you have one printer at home doing a hundred pages a month, a maintenance contract is overkill. This is for offices and companies whose work stops when the printer stops.
The simple calculation
Work out what one day of downtime costs you — the invoices that don't print, the staff sitting idle, the customer left waiting. If that number beats the annual contract cost, the contract pays for itself.
What an ITCO contract covers
- Scheduled inspections and preventive servicing before a fault happens. Spare parts included — no surprises on the invoice. Priority response: contract holders are served first. On-site and remote support depending on the nature of the problem.
The benefit nobody mentions
Predictable cost. Without a contract, one major fault can blow your budget mid-year. With one, you put a single number in the budget at the start of the year and you're done.
More guides
How to choose the right printer
Five questions to answer before you spend a pound, and a guide to the right model.
Inkjet vs laser — which one suits you
An honest comparison of speed, quality, cost per page and maintenance — no marketing spin.
The true cost per page — the number nobody tells you
A 4,000 EGP printer can cost you more than a 14,000 one within two years. Here's the maths.