In the previous PYW Asks, I asked readers if they still used a fax machine. This question was actually inspired by an article I wrote entitled “The Fax Machine: Reports of its Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated“. Here’s what readers answered:
Anne Wayman of The Golden Pencil came out with a strong “Heck no”, saying that she has only one client who requests that she fax a contract rather than email it.
Rob Mitchell had the same sentiments, saying that he’d rather not deal with faxes from other people. He also added that “Fax is a technology whose time has gone. Put the fax machine with your rotary dial phone and your cassette recorder”.
Sandie Law from Geekedoff stated that she can receive faxes through email, so she occasionally receives a fax. However, she pointed out that “The fax is mostly used by people who don’t comprehend how to use the printers to scan things at work.”
I mostly concur with what Sandie said, although there are some industries that require a paper trail, hence the necessary faxing. These industries include finance, health, and pharmaceutical companies. Which is why, as Ian Furst from Wait Times pointed out, he frequently sends and receives medical reports through fax.
As for me, I have to send or receive faxes roughly once a year. Some of my clients don’t have scanners, so they can’t send back signed contracts that way. I’m thinking I might try out an efax account, just so my potential and current clients have other ways to contact me.
How about you? How often do you use a fax machine? Do you think it’s obsolete?
Photo Credit: Image by Joanna Kopik from sxc.hu
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