Regardless of the brand of systems you sell or work on I would like to get some opinions from other dealers as to what you tell your perspective clients when they ask "what's the difference between digital & analog" and "which one is best"?
Do you have a standard reply or a fact sheet you give them and how technical do you get?
Thanks, Gem

Well I always told them "nothing" as far as they are concerned, the phones act and work the same, and that the customer won't or can't tell the difference. The only difference I could fine was it's easier for the installer to install (wires and all..ya know) and the programming is a bit easier...usually.

Hope that helps.

its all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

lets face it the customer sees it as a phone.......most of the questions pertain to voice mail.........

but most of the time its money money money......

Mitch
I think he's asking this. When a customer or potential customer asks what the difference is between Digital and Analog, what do you tell them. You don't say it's all about $$$$, ask me about voicemail...do ya?
Your comment doesn't make any sense what so ever.

Yes... I'll have to agree with test-ok on this one.

What does that have to do with anything?

Digital vs. Analog I think mostly has to do with features, ya know?

It depends on the system, with Comdial we tell them that digital is better in areas where RFI is a problem, such as doctors office with Xray equipment. Today most systems we sell are digital for propritary sets so we tell them that analog is for the ist phones and fax machines. Of course all phone are analog when you get to the handset!
We try to keep it simple, you don't want to melt their brain when you are trying to sell

Ya don't want to give the potential too much phone jargon or talk too technical...when selling, I would mainly talk about the features and how they can be used or the scenario of how a call will be routed. If you talk too technical you'll come off sounding like a doctor. The doc will explain something to me then my wife asks me what he said...my response, beats the hell outa me.

I will tell ya this, if you have a customer who's main concern is $$$$$$$$ and that's it....they will run ya ragged (wanting everything for nothing) I ran into em all the time. Ya get what ya pay for is a good remark to say when ya get one of those.

I agree with TEST-OK.
Every customer that is concerned with $$$ is trouble. When the job is finished there is little if any profit and they will continue to call long after the install. We are starting to let this type of customer go elsewhere.

My mistake...sorry...

People dont $$$ to death, they are just concerned about over spending for something they dont need.

I installed a NEC DS2000 system with INTRAMAIL VM. Somebody else proposed a Panasonic 816 with remote modems and dss'es and all kinds of add/ons...the customer didnt need all that stuff. This is what I mean about $$$.

I agree with most. But I always try to get in what I feel is most important-
1. You can't fight technology. If the technology is digital---then that's what eventually (if the dollars are right) is what your're going to be using. If a customer wants to save money--he can't be leading edge---but he can't be 20 years behind either. He's got to be mainstream. In telephones---the time for digital systems is NOW--if a change has to be made for other reasons. Don't switch to digital just for digial's sake.
2. Digital means two wires---not 4. A person just by switching to a digital system can DOUBLE the amount of wire in his building. How much is THAT worth? Even in new construction, it really is a good deal to have 2 or 3 times more than what you will need for one phone. There are always add-ons(cordless phones, modems, faxes etc.) Not having to run new cable makes a guy look good.
3. Digital integration of voice mails is very nice. This technology has been very popular for at least 10-12 years now. It's so nice & easy for the customer and tech alike.

I would have to agree with JWRacedog mostly concerning the pairs 2 pairs is much easier to deal with then 4

1. IF you have digital phones you are only dealing with 1 pair and in a cable that means 4 phones in one location and long as they are close to the original jack (you can also use a long line cord well hidden). As long as you have an honest Vendor/Tech he will use on of the pairs to hookup another Ext/Phone for you (Some companies will tell you that they have to run a new cable no matter what you have it's always best to know what you have and what it's capable of)

2. CMDL_GUY pointed out RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) I had a customer with an analog system that would always pickup the gospel channel an AM station in our area and would get yelled at by customers saying are you making me listen to religion (it was also picked up when customer was on hold) after putting filters on everything you could still hear it in the background but not as loud. We recently upgraded the customer to a digital phone system and no more RFI.

Those are two reasons based on your comments that digital would be my preference.

[This message has been edited by WhiteStar (edited August 09, 2003).]