Texas Document Solutions Caution

If you're a small business and it's your first time to get a printer with a service contract, be super careful. I'm writing this thorough review to help educate local small business owners after my experience with Texas Document Solutions. I have paid 4x more for this single printer in our Austin, Texas office than I did for my 4-year college degree. I should add the contract I signed with Texas Document Solutions was for a few hundred dollars per month, until it ballooned out of control costing me tens of thousands of dollars

As a young entrepreneur with a rapidly growing business there are things that fall through the cracks and things you think are "small necessary expenses" that don't need your utmost attention. When your growing rapidly you don't really think to yourself I need to be educated on the pitfalls of these printer leases and service contracts.

As a small business owner in Austin, when I signed my contract with Texas Document Solutions, I was super ignorant to the printing world and what to look out for. It's a couple hundred bucks per month, no big deal, right? The 5-year term requirement with a "personal guarantor" definitely made me a little nervous because what small business owner has any idea where they'll be in 5-years?

To counter this point of concern, the Texas Document Solutions salesperson told me I would be on a "flex" contract. I was told it would help "keep my costs down as my business grew" and I wouldn't have to be concerned with my "printing allowance".

Unfortunately, in 58 months I have never seen this "flex" part of the contract ever executed upon, by an account manager at Texas Document Solutions. In fact, after 58 months, no account manager has made any adjustments as our business expanded and our printing requirements increased.

I've now talked with multiple printing vendors in Austin as our contract expiration is coming to an end. It's been an eye opening experience. All three of the competitors to Texas Document Solutions have offered plans that are half.. yes half the cost.. I have over-spent by an estimated $20,000 over the course of the lease term with Texas Document Solutions if I use their competitors as a base line. Yes, $20,000.

You're probably wondering, how did the charges get so excessive? My original contract gave me a very small printing allowance and when I exceeded that printing allowance, "overage charges" kicked in and their "flex option" never did.

I don't blame Texas Document Solutions, I should have done a better job educating myself and so I hope this review serves you well in a decision on your printing vendor. The impact of that decision will be far larger than you could have ever imagined.

I usually don't have time to write reviews, good or bad. But they did a great job going the extra mile to make my experience "extra special" so I feel incredibly compelled to share my story to educate other local business owners.

The "extra special" TLC they delivered came to my attention when I recently sent 60-days notice via email to terminate my lease after making prompt payments for the past 58 months. I told my account manager I was considering other options over 3-months ago. The sales rep & district sales manager of course never mentioned that if I didn't terminate my contract with 90-days notice I would be locked in even further.

Bottom line, the sales team at Texas Document Solutions is not in the business of educating you the customer on what will best serve your business. Take your time reviewing the contracts. Educate yourself and don't count on them to look out for your best interest. Best of luck to you.