IKON Reviews

Pros

IKON has good insurance benefits. Although they have recently changed providers, they still provide average options. If you are able to work from home, you will have a good amount of freedom.

Cons

IKON is a complete nightmare to work for!

There are way to many policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are complete deal killers. You will have to go back to your prospects multiple times to have them sign documents and resign contracts. IKON makes their sales people look like incompetent morons. Managers are very unorganized, unprepared, and unknowledgable about the companies policies and procedures.

IKON handcuffs its sales people from being successful! They require way to many online classes to be completed. There are weekly web conferences in the middle of the work day. They require you to complete useless assignments. You are berated with daily emails informing you of changes in policy and procedure. It is impossible to keep up with all of policies associated with selling or leasing copiers. The procedures and programs you have to go through in order to draw up contracts is an absolute joke. To place one order will take you 3-4 hours of computer time and weeks of back and forth e-mails with irritable and underpaid order processors who always find something wrong with your documents. Instead of being excited to make a sale you become depressed, because you know what drama and problems lie ahead. I can't believe a sales company makes it so hard for their sales force to sell their products. It almost seems like they want people to fail!

IKON does not pay you for mileage or provide gas money. They expect you to drive your personal vehicle all over the place to sell their product, but do nothing to help you with the expenses associated with the driving. When interviewing they tell you they provide $200 a month for driving expenses. This amount is taxed and you will spend what's left after taxes fueling your car after two days in your territory.

IKON is now trying to get into IT Services. They are way in over their heads! They have one IT rep for major metropolitan areas that is also responsible for hundreds of miles of rural areas and multiple States. There is no way that this one person can give your prospects the attention they deserve. IKON also thinks they can service customers IT needs, 3-5 hours away from tech headquarters. IKON is requiring their reps to sell IT services, it is part of the sales reps monthly quota. They feel they can provide IT services over the phone.

IKON needs to stick to selling copiers/printers. They are not HP and will never be!!!

High Employee Turnover Rate! I don't know anyone who stays longer than 2 years. Everyone who begins work at IKON eventually realizes what a complete nightmare it is to work for this company. I personally know of 30 people who have quit in the last year.

My advice: Do Not waste your time working for this company. I have wasted a year of my life, thousands of dollars in gas money, thousands of miles on my vehicle and unneeded and unwanted stress working at this dead end job.

Advice to Senior Management

Reduce the policies and procedures associated with selling/leasing copiers. Make it easier for sales people to place orders, so they can spend their time selling and making money for the company. Make sure your office managers know what they are doing. They should be required to pass tests on the basics of using Web Sales Forms and the policies and procedures of the company. Pay for mileage!!! You might keep your good reps from jumping ship. Stop the weekly nonsense of huddle calls, tests, web conferences, policy changes, etc. etc. etc.

Pros

Intensive training program, entry level sales support, great way to learn sales basics, highly respected in sales industry by other employers (resume builder), competitive first year salary potential, professional environment.

This is fantastic first job. You get great on the job experience and it really prepares you for working in the corporate world. There are often opportunities for advancement very quickly, and regular sales contests are motivating.

Cons

equipment service/ support, upper management sometimes disorganized, disorganization through out the corporate office, lack of professionalism among co-workers, high turnover.

Pros

Large company, won't be going under

Cons

If you aren't one of the "good ole boys" who have been with Night rider and Ikon for atleast 10 years, you will NOT get promoted or recognized. They have their favorites and it shows.

Advice to Senior Management

New Manaqgement. Especially at the RSD positions, the" GOOD OLE BOYS"

Pros

It could be a good place to start for someone interested in sales. They have a good training program. They can be fair.

Cons

They don't provide the same salaries of other sales jobs. They don't provide a company car and the mileage allowance is not enough.

Advice to Senior Management

Be competiitve with your salaries and mileage allowance. Also, be honest to what is expected of performance and compensation. More training.

Pros

Great environment to work compared to other print company's

Cons

Dont really have any except standing can be a pain sometimes

Advice to Senior Management

DO not talk down employees

Pros

Big company not going to close doors. Decent benefits.

Cons

Management does not treat all employees the same. People are promoted due to relationship with their boss and not performance. No consideration for employee's professional growth or personal needs. Senior management requires middle management to micro manage. Expected to work 60+ hours per week. No problem in expecting you to work Saturdays and Sundays.

Advice to Senior Management

There is a reason you have only two types of employees. Those who were acquired through acquisition and have been there 15+ years because they have an existing book of business
and those who make it about 18 months before they leave. You expect people to grow the business at 20+% without giving them the tools, resources or training to succeed.

Pros

Good leadership in my department

Cons

Need to work on developing employees
More promotion from within

Advice to Senior Management

Better communication down

Pros

Good group of people, that is probably the thing that keeps most coming back day in and day out. The ability to make a decient paycheck is there although it decreases each year.
Benefits are good.
If you are going to work in the industry this is the 600lb. goralla.

Cons

Manage by spreadsheet
Too many meetings and conference calls
Area leader claims to be supportive of a work life balance but in actuallity nothing like what is said
How many different excel call reports can you really expect
Most everyone in managment will sell you up the river to advance or protect themselves
Leader will tell you one thing to your face and the complete opposite to others

Advice to Senior Management

Respect your employees

Pros

Selling a product every business needs

Cons

Very competitive market, cheap knock off companies manage to sell the "penny-wise, pound foolish" philosphy to customers. Makes it difficult to sell real quality.

Advice to Senior Management

More hands-on support to reps

Pros

Very good people working for IKON. Wonderful coworkers. Some of the most knowledgeable and experienced people make is enjoyable to work at IKON. It used to be a better place to work but much uncertainty about Ricoh takeover and transition ("Integration").

Cons

Old Boy Network alive and well @ IKON (NorthEast connection in particular). Interview process a joke for many posted promotional positions. Who you know, not what you know. Inside connections used for most job fillings regardless of seniority, achievement, ability to satisfy customer etc. I have not seen accountability for people who make hiring decisions based upon connections. Major steps overlooked, omitted or simply ignored because decisions made prior to open postings.

It is disheartening when people work for a long time for certain positions which are filled before they are opened.

NY Sales force has been a revolving door for more years than can be remembered. Higher turnaround in NYC than any other marketplace.

Advice to Senior Management

Clean up the interview process. Too many uninformed people in the process for no good reason.
Promote quality people instead of cronies or outsiders.