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Realize that the equipment itself is not the only thing
you’re purchasing; just as important is the knowledge
and experience of the supplier. Most important, by a
long shot, is the service they're prepared to provide
to you and your business.
Your business is not about a piece of equipment.
Your business is about marketing – the process by which
you offer your product and service to your potential
clients. When you think about it, isn’t it worth your
while to find a supplier who will be willing to assist
you in reaching your goals? You might even
like a supplier who can help you to further your vision
for your business. Your supplier should be an
integral part of your sign business team. You should
consider your supplier to be one of your best friends.
If you can’t say this about the supplier you’re
considering, or heaven forbid, about the one you’ve been
dealing with for years, then it’s time to change the way
you choose your supplier.
Ask
the following 14 questions when choosing a supplier for
your next purchase:
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Do
they seem dedicated to helping you, or are they only
interested in taking your money?
-
If
they’re selling on the internet will they also take
your phone call and speak to you personally?
-
Are
they quick to answer your emails and/or faxes?
-
Will
they send you samples produced on the equipment
you’re considering purchasing?
-
Do
they have a showroom, and are they willing to
schedule demonstrations there?
-
Do
they do installations of the bigger, pricier
machines?
-
Do
they do on-site service and repairs of the larger
equipment?
-
Are
they upfront about any training which might be
necessary, and are they willing and able to provide
it?
-
If
training is required, what is the extra charge?
-
What
is their policy concerning exchanges or upgrades if
the equipment you’ve purchased doesn’t meet your
needs or expectations?
-
Do
they have their own service depot?
-
What
is the expected turn-around time for equipment sent
in for service or repairs?
-
If
your equipment is going to be tied up for repairs
for any length of time, how will they help you
overcome downtime?
-
Is
telephone tech support always available?
Don’t be afraid to ask these questions, and always
expect the answer you're looking for. If they are
not willing to accommodate your expectations, they may
not be a suitable member for your team.
At
SignEquip we strive to satisfy all of our customer’s
needs. It is our intention for our customers to be our
friends. Not only is it much more mutually satisfying
when this energy is present, but it also inspires mutual
success. In the spirit of friendship we like to see our
friends succeed. We want to help your business
grow - there's absolutely no other reason for us to be
here. If there is anything we can do under
the auspices of our business, to encourage the growth of
your business,
we will happily do it.
Business at SignEquip is all about the service.
What we sell are sign equipment, supplies, and
accessories. What makes us happiest is helping our
clients' businesses to flourish
and grow. Products are seldom perfect. All too
often they present challenges. What we do after a
customer purchases a product from us is more important
than the sale of the product itself. We realize that
in order for our clients to succeed you need our
ongoing
support.
We’re always as close as the phone. We enjoy
answering your questions and helping you solve your
problems over the phone. We don’t have an electronic
operator; a staff member always answers the phone,
unless of course, all our lines are busy. In this case
you will get our voice mail box, but we do our very best
to answer your messages in a timely manner. We
understand that you need answers NOW. If for some
reason we don’t immediately know the answer to your question, we’ll
do our best to find it for you.
We
also answer our emails and faxes as soon as is humanly
possible. However, because we like to answer the phone,
you are more likely to avoid a lengthy electronic
queue by simply giving us a call.
SignEquip has an actual brick and mortar location where we are
pleased to schedule product demonstrations for your
edification. We love it when our clients,
a.k.a. our friends, drop by just to chat. Obviously,
since we do business world-wide, this isn’t possible for
everyone, but if you happen to be in the neighbourhood,
please drop in and say hello.
Even
if you can’t come by for a demo, if you want samples
we’ll get you samples. Our technical and client
service staff will gladly produce the samples you
request on any equipment in our showroom. If the machine
you’re considering is not on our floor at the time,
we’ll do our best to get samples to you one way or the
other.
We
don’t just crate up and ship out the larger, more
electronically complicated equipment to be dumped at
your door, and leave you wondering what to do next. Whenever
necessary,
SignEquip's technical experts offer free basic training at our
depot. Sometimes we'll even install the the bigger
equipment on your site. We realize that expert
set-up is necessary for optimum operation of high tech
equipment.
After you've completed the training, you’re still not alone. Phone, email,
or fax us with your questions.
Utilizing
the phone or internet, we can help you run through the procedures as often as it
takes.
When
it comes to smaller, more common equipment, for instance
some vinyl cutters, we are always available by phone
or internet to help you set up and start operating. If you are
able, we appreciate having you drop by for a free
basic training session on your equipment. Either way, we
make sure things are running smoothly for you. As many
calls as it takes, we expect to hear from you until you
are comfortable with your purchase, and it’s making
money for you.
Our technicians are trained to service
the equipment we sell. If you have a larger machine,
we will normally send a technician to your site to
service and repair it. One way or the other, we’ll take
care of you to make sure you’re up and running as soon
as possible.
We
believe that a customer’s purchase should be a low-risk
investment. Many of our products have a 30-day
money-back guarantee, or a fair trade-up exchange value.
Other situations are evaluated on a per case basis. We
realize one shoe does not fit all. If you’re not
absolutely thrilled with your purchase from SignEquip,
we’ll always work with you to change the
situation. This may mean further training, or sending
someone out to trouble-shoot and rectify the problem.
Occasionally, depending on the time you've owned the
product, it means a full or partial refund, in order to
provide you with a more suitable product. Whatever it
takes to make you a winner, we’ll do our best.
We
do have a service depot on our premises for
repairing cutters and smaller equipment. We can
usually get the job done within 48 hours. We know
your time is valuable, and downtime is not helpful to
your business. While we do emphasize that back-up
equipment is an important insurance policy for your
business, we do understand that in certain situations,
such as brand new businesses, this may not be feasible.
In some cases, when a lengthy service time is indicated,
on a product with a current warranty contract which has
been purchased from
SignEquip, we will authorize a suitable equipment substitute on
loan until the repair has been completed.
As
previously mentioned, we’re always as close as your
phone. Real people answer our phones, and real people
are happy to help you solve your challenges. We have
a toll-free number, and our tech support is second to
none.
If the product you’ve purchased from us is
still under warranty, we’ll answer your questions and
help you get it working as often as necessary, at
NO EXTRA CHARGE. If the warranty is expired, and a
lengthy call is required to solve the situation, you
will be advised whether charges will be levied.
If
you like the answers we’ve given to your questions,
please consider letting SignEquip join your sign business
team. If you’d like more answers, please contact us and
ask away! You deserve a supplier who has the answers
you’re expecting. If we fulfill your expectations, we’d
be thrilled to be your supplier. What can we do for
you? Get in touch with us now, and let us know. Happy
sign making!
- By T. Raven with
Blair Corbin
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