Thanks for the intro, MacGyver. We have approximately 380 of these systems installed in the Virginia, DC and Maryland areas. We have had about five of the main control units fail in three years, most due to flooding or lightning. Yes, in a restaurant environment, phones are going to fail due to abuse. The good thing is that the phones for the STSe systems are inexpensive by industry standards to replace.

Of course the system has a five-year factory warranty on everything but the voice mail. Your installing company might not extend this to you for the entire factory warranty period, but you always have the option of sending broken components to Vodavi's repair facility on your own. They are located in Connecticut, so turnaround time to your location will be faster if ever needed.

There are also members here who can provide rapid repair turnaround on items that might be out of warranty. They too are in your same geographical region. Vodavi's parent company, Vertical Communications, is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. All in all, I think that an investment in a Vodavi product will prove to be relatively safe to say the least.

As we tend to say here time and time again: The important decision-making factor is the installing company. You are entering into a long-term relationship with them. If you find that there's something about them that concerns you, by all means be up-front about it. Ask for references and CALL THEM. Make sure that the installing company is properly licensed and insured. If you can, arrange to visit one of their reference sites and see how neat their workmanship is. Ask the reference a few questions. You need to protect your investment for years to come.

Vodavi maintains a network of authorized dealers nationwide in the event that you find that the original installing company has let you down. They will gladly put you in touch with other dealers in your area if needed.

In a nutshell, the product has served our company and customers well. There are many systems out there that are comparably-priced, so keep in mind that the working relationship with the installer is by far the most important part of a satisfactory transaction.

You've certainly come to the right place for questions such as yours. There's also plenty of archived and FAQ information available that will help you keep your system running smoothly.

Ed Vaughn, MBSWWYPBX