"PC load letter? What does that mean?" Don't panic. It is only a copy machine. It can't hurt your feelings. You do not need to destroy it. OK, so copy machines have moved beyond the iconic scene in Mike Judge's cubicle farce Office Space. The advancement of technology lowers headaches and witty quips, but technology, copy machines especially, requires foresight and preparation. This can be an expensive endeavor if you are not prepared. So why not nip the problem in the bud and foster economic growth for your business, school, or home at the same time? Start by stocking up on replacement toner early on. Here are some reasons and suggestions to stay on top of toner supplies for your Brother, Cannon, CopyStar, Dell, Gestetner, H/P, Konica Minolta, Kyocera Mica, Lanier, Lexmark, Okidata, Panasonic, Riccoh, Riso, Samsung, Savin, Shapr, Toshiba, or Xerox copy machines:

Buying toner last minute is a hassle on the mind and wallet. If you find yourself staring at empty shelf space where the extra toner is usually kept and if you find a major copying project looming over your shoulder at the same time, you feel stressed. Making decisions while stressed is done primarily to relieve the stress and can lead to preventable expenses. Buying toner early will leave the shelf space prepared for your daunting copy needs and will give you ample time to shop around for the best deals on toner. Ten minutes a month spent shopping for toner could save you thirty minutes of headache when you see the emptiness on the shelf. Don't let your shelf, or your mental well being go on unfulfilled!

Buying toner over the Internet can save money. Large chain stores have very high mark-ups on toner. Purchasing from an online retailer can not only save you money per unit, but buying in bulk is an even better way to stock up and save. Buying one of something is often more expensive than buying larger quantities. This is a well-known fact throughout the business world. Buying toner in bulk saves, potentially, hundreds of dollars every year! Apart from wonderful financial benefits, online toner stores have exemplary customer service. Retail stores carry loads of different products and even a knowledgeable staff can be overwhelmed at the large amounts of office products. Conversely, online stores specialize in selling toner. The customer service is second-to-none in the toner world. Who would know more about toner than people who sell it almost exclusively?

Buying toner with regularity can be time and cost effective. Try to develop a system for ordering office supplies, toner in particular. Every two weeks or once a month, depending on your business or school's needs, order supplies. This will give you a solid projection of your expenses and it will be easier to allot monies for the periodical order than to cut into funds haphazardly. This plan works even better if you overestimate the use of supplies. This way running out of toner should never be a problem. Eventually, the extra toner you have stocked up on over previous orders will grow to a point when you can reduce the order size or even avoid placing an order for a period and save you money!

While shopping for toner, make sure you know exactly what you are looking for. Every copier has its own brand name and machine type. This will save you time, perhaps lots of it, and time is money! Buying toner early can help put a stop to copy machine scam artists. Of course, its easy to detect these scam artists. They call your office, claim to be checking on your copier, ask for a serial number, then mail copy supplies to your office with a lovely bill attached. If your office is well supplied, there would be no need to even answer the calls for copier representatives. This is a case when education and preparation can help maximize your company or school's financial security. The idea of being "always prepared" has been taught to Boy Scouts for generations. Many of us are not, or rather were not Boy Scouts. This certainly does not mean we cannot be prepared. Boy Scouts are not afraid of being prepared or planning ahead. Why should you be? Buy toner early on, and often enough to always be prepared. Don't fear technology. Don't Panic. The copy machine is here to help you. Now, educated consumer go forth and fill your office space with knowledge and preparation.