<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by JWRacedog:
i agree about the systems having alot of the same features and the importance of the company that sells & supports the equipment. I'd like to take a different tack here---what I do as a small business owner is to pick my customers. Sure, some of them pick me--and I go along with doing business with them---but in reality, when it's not a good fit---I walk away. JS--who is maintaining your present system, and why aren't you just going with them?? I maintain a trusted relationship with most of my customers, and am asked all sorts of questions, because they trust my opinions. I would really be suprised if one of my better customers would make me go into a bidding war with 3-5 other commpanies. I feel I can stop by or call up anytime and present a new idea, without having them look at me like I'm trying to steal their money from them. They are truthful with me, and have tried to the best of their ability to understand my business, and the technical terms of my business, so that we can communicate in a coherent manner. There are customers who willingly pay for everything to be done--and others who want to do things themselves so want to be trained. Either way, we both win.
I am very leery of prospective clients who just want the "basics" but end up talking of IP, DIDs, PRIs, Voice Mail, outgoing page notification, answering positions with cordless phones, external call forwarding --etc. Not that we can't provide those features-it's just that I get a feeling that the client is wanting something for nothing right off the bat. I also try to find out why he is leaving his present vendor. That question really gets me a lot of information ---so that I can make MY decision. So, JS--would you make a good customer???
"We are a very busy office.------" ALL of my customers, 100 circuits or 2 lines ALL think that their phones are important to them--and they are---but if the phones are important why are there only two options for you after 5 years of good service--1. Pay 80.00 to fix something or 2. Not be able to run your business. I would think that after paying for (after all it's not free)a five year Warranty --(probably that's really a service agreement)--80.00 to repair a phone(or a problem) is not really that bad. I mean, afer all, on one hand you say that your phones are going to get an extreme amount of use, but you don't expect anything to ever go wrong with them. Maybe that's not what you mean, but some of your statements would make me think twice about picking you for a customer. Please take this in the way it is intended; ---a relationship is two-way. You have to bring things to the table too--not just a demand for quality equipment but a realization that this will be sort of a marriage---you're going to be stuck with each other for 5-7 years or more. Hopefully you & your vendor pick each other by seeing something in the other that you really like. The vendor--not just the salesman, not just the phone system--but the whole package. Good Luck.
</font>
Why are we looking at a new vendor. We have had a phone system for 11 years now. Works great but the company that provided us with this system has changed its approach to working. They don't want a relationship but just the ability to find everything they can to bill you for things that can be addressed in a different manner. They are not in it for the two way relationship. If something goes wrong it is how can we weasel the most out of you. Not one to do business with. Expecially considering we have sent them a lot of referals over the years.
Now about us and if we are a good client. We are the type of client you want. We want to be self reliant and know how to use the product. We pay for things up front and you never have to worry about us leaving you hanging. We are in the business of doing what we say. We are one of the largest Insurance offices for our state for the company we represent. You don't get that way unless you know how to have good relationships.
When it comes to phone systems, many things have changed since we last looked 11 years ago. We also know that who you buy the phone from has as much to do as the product. But if you notice my orginal question, I want to know IS THIER A DIFFERENCE between the systems. Things go wrong and have to be fixed but I want to know is it a product that will be reliable, user friendly, able to keep pace with our business. I hear sales guys in this business talk about how it is similar to buying a car. It is, you have to test drive the systems and make sure they fit your needs. Sometimes though you can buy the Jaguar and it is always getting serviced or you can by the Lexus and drive it for a few years and enjoy the ride.
