WHY KOPY-RITE?

There are certainly many options available when considering where and/or how to get copies of CD's, DVD's, etc., produced. Generally, though, the choices rapidly narrow to either in-house production, Kopy-Rite, or some other software manufacturer. Of the three we believe that the choice is clear! We have described below the things that we believe are important. This may be long, but it's really our best chance at helping prospects to understand why we believe we are the best, and we've got a lot of reasons!

Kopy-Rite compared to In-house Capabilities.

The choice of in-house production vs. outsourcing is an age-old debate that is not limited to our industry. That decision is really driven by perceived costs and management focus. The word perceived is used in the costing discussion because there are many intangible costs and hidden costs associated with software manufacturing. Intangible costs like the labor required for research on equipment purchases, time required for technical training and troubleshooting, and not least the cost of tying up capital or lines of credit. Some of these costs may come from not selecting the right equipment. Did the equipment investigation consider some new technology that is right around the corner? Can the equipment be upgraded? Is the equipment manufacturer in good financial shape and likely to be around for a while? What is their reputation for support (not to be confused with their reputation according to the salesperson!)? Other things to consider are who EXACTLY within the organization is going to operate the equipment? Who is going to be their backup? Who EXACTLY is going to debug / troubleshoot the equipment when it mysteriously stops working? How many spare parts need to be kept in stock? Finally, what happens when discs fail in the field? Who determines what when wrong and why? Who is financially responsible for fixing the problem? Most of these issues, unfortunately, bubble to the surface AFTER the equipment has been purchased. The whole manufacturing process suddenly begins to require management, oversight, and supervision. It may not be a constant need, but it becomes a management distraction nonetheless.

Kopy-Rite compared to the "rest of the pack".

Our industry is very similar to many others in that there are essentially different tier's of vendors as defined by price and capability. In retail, for example, there are low cost warehouse stores and high end department stores. You don't expect great service from the warehouse store, and don't expect deep discounts from the department store. We are positioned somewhere in between, although probably closer to the high end store. We believe that all things considered we offer the best balance of fair and competitive pricing coupled with professional service, diverse offerings and substantial capacity. In some cases we may compete with smaller (or larger) companies whose hallmark is incredibly low pricing, but might be lacking in service or quality. In other cases we'll compete with companies that have similar pricing structures and good quality, but won't do fast turns, or have fewer capabilities, or are less professional. In any case we believe that if you look at the whole package it is difficult to choose anyone else!

Low Cost, but how?

One of the challenging aspects of our industry is that the barrier to entry is relatively low. Anybody can go out, buy a small tower duplication system, set it up in their basement, garage, or backroom in their office, and then proudly proclaim that they are a software manufacturer. Their volume is low, so they don't have a lot of capital equipment costs, staffing requirements, or overhead. We believe that while all of this translates into potentially lower prices, it doesn't not necessarily translate into better VALUE. Pricing is certainly important, and we believe that we are competitively priced. However, we believe professionalism, quality, and overall service are far more important. We strive to provide exceptional value at a fair price. Being the cheapest around is great until there is a problem, at which time the nickel savings per unit doesn't seem as important! Pricing is simply based on material cost, processing cost, and profit margin. Now, this is America and we do make a profit from our services, but it is nothing outlandish (and we certainly wish it could be more!). We know what materials cost, and it will generally be as low as any other high volume manufacturer, assuming similar materials. We also know what it takes to process jobs correctly and efficiently, and we know the costs associated with doing it right. So, if someone is selling for less then they are either willing to work for little or no profit, or they are cutting corners somewhere. If they are working for little or no profit then where will they get the resources to back a warranty claim, let alone consider expanding with your needs? If they are cutting corners, then what is being cut? Are they using premium media, or at least reputable generic media? How much testing is done? Do they even do testing? How about media verification? We're not saying that everyone with a low price is producing junk, but we'd certainly suggest a close scrutiny before placing any "mission critical" orders.

High-End Manufacturing...

Kopy-Rite's production facility is neat, organized, and professional. Incoming inspection is done on media, including testing on digital and/or analog CD Testing equipment. Production capacity is calculated and scheduled based on duplication and verification / QC time. Logs are maintained. In the unlikely event of a problem KOPY-RITE has the technical ability to identify it, the production capacity to resolve it quickly, and the financial resources to offer a meaningful warranty to make it right if it is a material or workmanship defect. Note, however, that not all problems are necessarily related to production. More often than not the problems found are not KOPY-RITE errors, but are instead those caused by unforeseen programming bugs or last-minute changes to the product, and that is where Kopy-Rite's ability to produce can really shine!

The Tough Jobs...

Another important aspect is our willingness to take on the real tough jobs. Whether it is a seemingly impossible deadline or a tricky print job, we truly excel at the challenge! We understand the business well, and are willing to "push the envelope" to meet your timeframe. We know the risks and will discuss them with you IN ADVANCE. We understand project management, and know that it's wise to have a "Plan B" just in case. We recognize the need to consider alternatives, and know that when we've made a commitment we have responsibility to meet that commitment. We want to EARN your trust.

Professionalism and Pride...

Finally, Kopy-Rite takes great pride in it's commitment to excellence, especially as it relates to the customer. The KOPY-RITE Account Managers are thorough, knowledgeable, and professional. The objective is to understand your job, and not just to "take an order". Any call you place to our company should be treated with the importance it deserves. Questions should be answered promptly and accurately. Other companies may have lower prices, or larger facilities, but nobody has better Account Managers! We are proud of our company, and would appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you and your organization!