I'm going to go on a rant...forgive me.

This seems to be the norm for any capital equipment nowdays...I think it
sucks! I wonder if anybody has addressed this issue face-to-face with the
exhibitors at APEX.

I know I'm not the only one who has taken advantage of the buyers market for
pre-owned equipment over the last couple of years.

What I find is obscene, is that these OEM's are penalizing all of us for the
downturn in the economy when we don't buy directly from them. Registraton fees
in the thousands of dollars for any phone support, or even the privilidge to
buy spare parts from them. I would think that they would be happy that a
customer has chosen to buy and use their platform, although it be pre-owned, and be
eager to support them so that they would stay with them in the future.

Sure, the arguement comes up that when you buy from someone else other than
the OEM, you can't be sure that the machine is to factory spec's. But what is
reality, is that there are a LOT of field service technicians, people that
worked at building the machines, that have been laid-off and forgotten by the
OEM's. They're working at used equipment dealers to survive, using their skills to
make sure the machines are up to snuff.

In closing my rant, I wish that capital equipment OEM's understand that they
may be driving away future business by playing hardball with customers that
buy pre-owned systems from someone else other than them. Because one will base
their decisions on the support that they get when dealing with them when they
couldn't afford brand new stuff...and support is so very, very important.

I know when it comes time for me to buy something new (and that time will
come, trust me), I'm going to remember how I was treated when I needed support
and help.

When it comes to buying a new machine, who do you think a customer will
choose?

My 2-cents...

-Steve Gregory-
Thanks Tom. I talked to them today and they informed me that since I wasn't a
customer I would have to pay nearly double the cost. Minimum pricing you
know. When I was able to convince them that I had been buying their diazo
every
year for over 20 years they then told me, well, you don't buy enough. That
kind
of ruffled some feathers around here and the hunt is now on for another
source.

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