What are my scanner options?

I just signed up for and was assigned a revealed photo audit. After reading through all the instructions, they also require me to collect specific forms and materials and SCAN them (not photograph them) and upload the scanned items along with the photos.

I have not had the need for a scanner in 8-10 years since my pro digital cameras always get the job done. Without having to buy a scanner, what are my options? Does Office Depot, Office Max, or Staples offer scanning services? What about a Kinko's or FedEx? I know it will cut into my profit margin but I don't want to turn down the job.

EDITED: Or should I call the MSC/scheduler and tell them that I have high-end camera equipment so I can take quality photos?

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2013 05:23PM by Shop2LiveinFL.

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They specifically say you cannot photograph the items? I had an ongoing audit project ask for documents to be scanned and they were hesitant about pics until I uploaded some samples.

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I generally use my Nikon D-60 for any images I need to upload. I do have an Epson flatbed photo scanner for when I need to scan.

There's also the Neat system which might be worthwhile.

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Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
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I would contact the MSC/scheduler with good images of documents captured by my camera to show how clear they are. If the MSC/scheduler insists on scanning, then, yes, you can scan documents at many copy places.

I agree with Lisa and Busy. I'd email some photographed items so they can see the quality and then ask if that was acceptable.

jpgilham Wrote:
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> I agree with Lisa and Busy. I'd email some
> photographed items so they can see the quality and
> then ask if that was acceptable.

Me too. I'm confident that MSCs do this because they've had bad experience with terrible photographs, so if you can prove that your photos will be high quality they'll likely work with you.

I love, LOVE my Canon LIDE 110. I have scanned hundreds of documents, receipts, business cards and this baby works like a horse!

I think it cost about $50 and that was two years ago.

Proper cropping and they wont know if it was photographed or
scanned : )

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When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody

@ techman01 ~ But that would be dishonest. I would rather be upfront with them and work it out ahead of time.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I will try to high quality photo examples first and see if that will pass muster.

Good point about honesty. Also, if anyone at the MSC happened to look at the properties of any of the image files, it would be easy to see that the images were captured by a camera, not a scanner.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2013 04:42AM by BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz.

Not if you remove all the information from the file

That would definitely be proof of trying to deceive the MSC.

It would be too costly to have scans done at Staples,etc.

Buying one will pay for itself within a matter of weeks and they are relatively inexpensive.
Forgot which msc it was, but one of them refuses to accept receipt pics. It might have been Intelli-Shop.

Some public libraries now have scanners.

You can even get them for free off craigslist.org ( free section), freecycle, etc.
Just be sure it's compatable with your pc operating system. But if you are not tech savvy,
it will cost $50.00 for a pc geek to hook it up. This is still well worthwhile.

It is not Intellishop because I always photograph receipts and business cards for them. In fact, I have yet to have any MSC refuse a picture.

If you can print out one of the forms, I would actually use their form to send in the example. Send it in when you ask the question to see if it is of acceptable quality. Make sure you use the macro setting on your camera. I think too many people have sent in a blurry picture and then complained when it was not accepted.

If they turn it down, you need to weigh the cost of getting the info scanned. If it is just 2-3 pages, it may still be worth it. It is more, a copy/print store may be to expensive.

I work in a school and the copy machine we have does have the option to scan and email. We do let community members use it for copies at a cost of 10 cents a page. Do you know anyone with a small business that might allow you to use theirs?

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not if you remove all the information from the
> file

And who has time for that? BTW, congrats on reaching the 10,000 mark...

LisaSTL
Posts:10,010
[ PM ]

UPDATE: I called the MSC today and since I have pro camera equipment, she said that it will not be a problem for me to send photos instead of scanning. The MSC puts the scanning requirement in their guidelines because too many shoppers are submitting blurry pics. I always review my images before sending them off.

BTW, it wasn't really a money issue in regards to buying a scanner. I just didn't want another piece of office equipment taking up space and collecting dust in my house. This is the first time in 8 years that the issue of a scanner even came up.

When they insist on scanned documents, I go to the public library. They usually have a scanner at one of the computers and I use it, for free.

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