Channel Chat

4 Questions Every Dealer Should Ask a New Toner Provider

150 150 LD Products

 

When interviewing a new toner vendor for your dealership, asking the right questions can make all the difference. Taking the time to research and determine which inquiries will give you key insights into their capabilities, commitment level, credibility and cost-effectiveness is well worth it for a successful partnership!

Christian Pepper, President, of LD Channel Partner Division answers the question: What Questions Should a Dealer Ask When Considering Toner Providers?”

Here are the four questions that Christian suggests asking:

  1. Ask for References: I would first ask for a list of references of near-peer dealers that you know and trust and can speak about the company that you’re considering. 
  1. Ask for 3rd Party Test Results: The second question I would ask is if the provider has some independent and credible third-party testing of their products; an organization like Buyers Laboratory, for example. 
  1. Ask About Inventory Availability: Supply chain issues have been prevalent over the past few years, so I would ask how the organization plans its inventory volumes, how much inventory it’s carrying, and how long its supply chain is. That way, if you come on board with them, you know that you can depend upon them for the products you need.
  1. Ask for Performance Data by SKU: It’s not good enough to say you make the best quality products on the market and you have a less than 1% return rate. I would ask to see performance data by SKU so that you have confidence in the vendor that you’re thinking of working with.

At LD Channel Partner Division, we’re always happy to answer any questions you might have about our products. Check out our Channel Chat page to see what other dealers are asking. And if you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 866-780-9385 (toll free) or email cpd@ldproducts.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!

To see more dealer FAQs answered, click here for the latest Channel Chat videos!

LD Channel Partner Division at a Glance

We are a collection of experienced industry professionals that dealers know and trust. Working exclusively with imaging dealers, the LD Channel Partners Division offers the award-winning GOLD Line series of new build toner cartridges, a popular alternative to OEM and remanufactured toner products. Dealers enjoy BLI-tested, best-in-class new build quality cartridges that provide a competitive advantage, higher margins and advanced nationwide distribution capabilities.

How Should an Imaging Dealer Select a New Toner Provider?

150 150 LD Products

 

Finding the right toner provider for your dealership is critical to your success. It’s important to take the time to evaluate potential toner providers in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness to ultimately find a trusted partner whose product you can count on each and every day. Wise selection is key – so let’s explore how best to choose that perfect fit for your business!

We asked Christian Pepper, President, of LD Channel Partner Division to answer the question: How Should an Imaging Dealer Select a New Toner Provider?”

Christian’s response: The traditional way to choose a new toner provider is to first ask for some toner samples, then give them to a couple of friendly accounts and let them try them for several months. If they perform okay, then you change vendors. To me, this is a very risky way to choose a toner provider if you own a dealership.  

At LD Channel Partner Division we have a better solution. We built a system where we’ve tracked every cartridge we’ve ever manufactured and supplied to our customers. We also collect every return that we get and autopsy it to find out what went wrong so we can make improvements. All that data is available online to our existing customers and prospects so they can analyze any of the SKUs they are thinking about buying. And you can see collectively the experience that all 300 of our customers have had over the last five years of purchasing GOLD Line cartridges.  

You can still do your own testing if you want to reassure yourself, but you can easily see this data visualized in a graph format instead. Hopefully, that will help you make a better decision for your organization. And, if I might make one more suggestion, ask any vendor you’re considering working with to provide you with historical data of the SKUs you are interested in, including historical data, how many have been purchased, how many were returned, what the issues were and what the corrective actions were. That will give you a good indication of how reputable the toner provider is.

We know how critical a good toner partner is to the success of your business. That’s why at LD Channel Partner Division our goal is to help you make informed decisions about the toner products you provide to your customers.

To see more dealer FAQs answered, click here for the latest Channel Chat videos!

LD Channel Partner Division at a Glance

We are a collection of experienced industry professionals that dealers know and trust. Working exclusively with imaging dealers, the LD Channel Partners Division offers the award-winning GOLD Line series of new build toner cartridges, a popular alternative to OEM and remanufactured toner products. Dealers enjoy BLI-tested, best-in-class new build quality cartridges that provide a competitive advantage, higher margins and advanced nationwide distribution capabilities.

How Can Toner Quality Issues Affect a Dealership?

150 150 LD Products

 

You only get one chance to make a first impression. That’s why it is essential to ensure that all the products and services you offer are held to the same high standards that you have set for your dealership. You want to make sure that the overall impression you make is a positive one and leaves a lasting impact.

That’s why we asked Brett Noble, Sr. Business Development Manager, LD Channel Partner Division: “How can toner quality issues affect a dealership?”

Brett’s Response: Murphy’s Law tells us when a toner issue happens it’s usually on the most critical device, like the CEO’s desktop printer. When something like this happens, it reflects poorly on your dealership. We care a lot that something like this doesn’t happen to you! At the end of the day, your brand is your livelihood, and you don’t want a cartridge to be the reason that your business is negatively affected. When it comes to your brand, I think one of the most harmful things that can happen is a cartridge failure or toner issue.

In this competitive market, maintaining customer satisfaction and a healthy bottom-line hinge upon reliable toner products. Poor quality can lead to irreparably damaged relationships with customers who may look elsewhere for vendors and put your dealership’s profitability at risk. Not only do dealers have to compensate their clients or offer discounts, but they also risk draining resources trying to fix the problem. It’s in every dealer’s best interest to prioritize product excellence from day one!

65% of customers said they have changed to a different vendor because of a poor experience. (Khoros)

You worked hard to establish your business’ solid reputation, why leave it to chance? Selecting only the finest products and the best partners to represent your brand not only helps safeguard your hard-earned reputation but also sets the foundation for continued growth and success in the future. Don’t take chances with your reputation – choose quality at every front to secure a bright future for your dealership!

To see more dealer FAQs answered, click here for the latest Channel Chat videos!

LD Channel Partner Division at a Glance

We are a collection of experienced industry professionals that dealers know and trust. Working exclusively with imaging dealers, the LD Channel Partners Division offers the award-winning GOLD Line series of new build toner cartridges, a popular alternative to OEM and remanufactured toner products. Dealers enjoy BLI-tested, best-in-class new build quality cartridges that provide a competitive advantage, higher margins and advanced nationwide distribution capabilities.

How Can the GOLD Line Packaging Help Dealers?

150 150 LD Products

 

Packaging is a critical part of the marketing and selling process for any product. It helps to create a memorable and visually appealing experience for end users, while also serving as a practical way to ensure that products arrive safe and intact at their destination. Premium packaging can have a huge influence on the perception of a product and its value.

That’s why we asked Christian Pepper, President, LD Channel Partner Division to answer the question: “How can the GOLD Line packaging help dealers?”

Christian’s Response: We get a lot of complimentary feedback from dealers on our packaging. There are a couple of things that dealers comment on most. The first thing is that people buy everything with their eyes. First impressions are incredibly important, and no matter how great your product or service is, it won’t get a second look if the packaging isn’t attractive. We recognize that people are judging the quality of the cartridge before they even put it in the printer and test its printout. So, we want that outer box experience to be really good. Just like our product is called GOLD Line, we have gold foil on our box. We want to demonstrate that there is a premium product inside.

Additionally, other competitors in the remanufactured industry tend to use about 10 different box sizes for the 5,000 SKUs that they make. So, what you end up with is very large boxes with a lot of filler around small toner cartridges. By comparison, every single GOLD Line SKU has an individually designed box, and that box is designed to be minimal in size to ship cartridges safely and reduce shipping costs, which saves our dealers money. It also means less storage space is needed in customer storage cabinets.

72% OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS SAY THAT PRODUCT  PACKAGING DESIGN INFLUENCES THEIR PURCHASE DECISIONS (IPSOS)

The LD Channel Partner Division understands that packaging is a key factor in forming end-user impressions of their product. The premium GOLD Line packaging has been extremely successful in helping us differentiate our toner from other options on the market.

To see more dealer FAQs answered, click here for the latest Channel Chat videos!

LD Channel Partner Division at a Glance

We are a collection of experienced industry professionals that dealers know and trust. Working exclusively with imaging dealers, the LD Channel Partners Division offers the award-winning GOLD Line series of new build toner cartridges, a popular alternative to OEM and remanufactured toner products. Dealers enjoy BLI-tested, best-in-class new build quality cartridges that provide a competitive advantage, higher margins and advanced nationwide distribution capabilities.