sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information System recommendations

I have a freind/customer that is looking for a phone system for a small office.

I am a low voltage installer doing mainly satellite, data, and voice cabling installation. I have no problem installing phone equipment but I don't have the sales knowledge to make a reasonable mfg./model recommendation for him. I am trying to keep him from buying a bunch of junk online.

What he is looking for is a system
1. that can handle a min. of 8 lines expanadable to 12.
2. that has 10 stations and can be expanded probably to 12-16.
3. Auto attendant, mostly for night use.
4. Voicemail with min. 2 ports 2 hours - CO lines are maily for outgoing with very little incoming messages, mostly after hours.
5. simple to set up and program, prefer PC based (my preference).
6. would be very willing to use refurb equipment if complete and can purchased from a reputible company (my criteria).

We are in a rural area and that is one of the reasons he wants me to install and maintain this.

I am not looking to make the sale on the equipment. I am just doing some of the legwork to try to keep him from getting burned.

If you have any recommendations please let me know. I have looked into the Panasonic KX TA824 because several of my distributors carry it, but I do not have any experience with it and I would prefer to stay out of the equipment sales end of this.

If you sell something you think would work please send me an email or PM. I understand that we cannot discuss prices in the open forum.

Thank you.

You're going to get a lot of recommendations, as a lot of systems fit your needs. You're close enough to Austin there ought to be plenty of dealers to choose from. Check the Installers link at the top of the site. You can also click on the equipment link and get some expert answers to your system needs also.

Barry, you are going to get a lot of recommendations as Bill said, and if you don't want to get to involved you should direct him to a dealer. Having said that, you really can't go wrong with the Panasonic you have access to, and the learning curve will be no more or less then with any other. I would expect it would also be priced very similar to the other systems as well.
Mark

We do alot of sales/installations in the Austin/Bastrop area. If you wish to PM me with your contact info I can have someone give you some ideas and suggestions/pricing.

Dave

I have sent Dave a PM, Thanks for responding Dave.

...You're close enough to Austin there ought to be plenty of dealers to choose from.

Yes there are...
1. I would like to find someone on the board, It has helped me in the past so I would like to return the favor if I can.
2. He has already experienced using someone from Austin. Mainly high trip charges, limited support, not leaving programmming manuals/software or documenting the system, etc.
3. Bastrop is treated somewhat like the red-headed step child. :confused:

...if you don't want to get to involved you should direct him to a dealer

I am already involved.

Part of the PM I sent to Dave...

I do need to clarify that I will be doing the install/programming of the equipment. That is why I would like to get something simple without alot of bells and wistles. And does not required a certified tech/installer to maintin the warranty.

My main objective is to steer him to someone that will sell him either new or refurb equipment with a warranty. I am not looking to make any money on the equipment, I am trying to get him something that will do the job without costing alot for things he doesn't need.

I understand that some dealers do not want to sell the equipment only. If I can find someone that will and stand behind the warranty even though I am not a certified tech that is probably where we will end up. If not then I will see what I can get him. I just don't want him getting burned on e-bay or something similar and then him expecting me to bail him out, been there.

Again guys,
Thanks for the responses.

I haved used this forum for other research related to a Toshiba system, it was extremly helpful. This board and its' members are great.

I understand where you're coming from, but it might be hard to impossible to get a warranty on something that you will be installing and maintaining. Might be worth paying the extra IMHO.

Dave

Do the cabling and get someone on here to do the rest. If you aren't familiar with what you're doing, you will live a nightmare...and lose a lot of money.

I am not local to you, but sell Panasonic systems nationwide to do-it-yourselfers. The 824 would probably be great for the application. PM me for more info.

An interesting post. You pretty much have put yourself into a Panasonic. The problem is that you've managed to put yourself into a TDA-50 as a minimum system.

Which is why you ought to let the customer pick his own poison. If the customer really wants Voice Mail, AA, and 8-12 lines, you would be doing an injustice to put him into an 824 system, especially since it maxes out at 8 lines!

In a Panasonic, VM ought to have at least 2 dedicated buttons for VM Transfer, 2 Way Record.
An analog phone with 8 lines would already start by using 10 of the 12 available buttons. A TDA digital phone for $10-20 more has 24 buttons and has the capability of 36 buttons with an add-on strip.

Now, there's a chance for a used Panasonic, but then you get into trying to find obsolete phones via the TD-1232 and 74xx series sets.

If you're thinking Nortel, you're into the BCM or MICS. There's a chance for the NEC DSX family, which has the LAN interface and can grow beyond 8 lines. For about the same money, he can get into a Partner 6.0 processor. The VM is a bit pricey, but outside of that, it ought to fit your application.

Your problem is that if you have no knowledge of systems, you can't very well compare or recommend any of these solutions. Yet there are plenty of posters here giving you free advice on systems that don't meet your criteria.

Geeze, I'm in the market to move iron; would you buy my <insert system name here>?

That takes care of the top 4 brands. Don't expect PC programming without a premium.

Carl

The 824 actually can be programmed via PC and a USB port, software included