Re: Service costs

HI ALEX:
WE HAVE 4 BENCHTOP CYTOMETERS AND A SORTER AND I DO NOT HAVE SERVICE
CONTRACTS ON ANY OF THEM. WHAT WE DO IS BUDGET AN AMOUNT FOR EACH INSTRUMENT
WHICH IS ABOUT 80% OF THE COST OF A SERVICE CONTRACT WHICH ALMOST ALWAYS
WILL COVER WORST CASE SCENARIOS. WE HAVE YET TO COME IN OVER BUDGET FOR
SERVICE REPAIRS FOR ANY OF OUR INSTRUMENTS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REGULARLY
SCHEDULE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE (FREQUENCY DEPENDING ON USAGE) ON THE
INSTRUMENTS AND TO BE METICULOUS IN THE DAY TO DAY MAINTENANCE OF THE
INSTRUMENTS. ON AVERAGE, YOU WILL ALWAYS SAVE MONEY WITH PMS AND TIME AND
MATERIAL. THERE MAY BE AN OCCASIONAL YEAR WHERE YOUR SERVICE COSTS MAY
EXCEED A SERVICE CONTRACT AMOUNT BUT OVER THE LONG RUN I GUARANTEE YOU YOU
WILL SAVE MONEY. THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT RESPONSE TIME WHEN REPAIRS
WERE NEEDED DUE TO A NON-CONTRACT STATUS HOWEVER FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM
COLLEAGUES WHO DO HAVE SERVICE CONTRACTS, THEIR REPONSE TIMES ARE NOT SO
GREAT EITHER. THERE ARE OTHER LABS AT THIS INSTITUTION WHO HAVE THEIR OWN
CYTOMETERS AND HAVE SERVICE CONTRACTS WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO HAVE WAITED
1-2 WEEKS FOR A SERVICE ENGINEER.
THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT GOING WITHOUT A
CONTRACT IS THE USE OF THIRD PARTY SERVICE COMPANY WHOSE LABOR AND TRAVEL
RATES AND SERVICE CONTRACTS ARE MUCH LOWER AND OFTEN THEY ARE ENGINEERS WHO
HAVE PREVIOUSLY WORKED AND HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY THE MANUFACTURER. OF COURSE
LIKE ANY THING ELSE THERE ARE GOOD ONES AND BAD ONES AND YOU SHOULD CHECK
REFERENCES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THESE COMPANIES BEFORE USING THEM.

Joanne Lannigan, MS
Director, Flow Cytometry Core Facility
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 800734
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0734
Office: 434-924-0274
Lab: 434-243-2695
Fax: 434-982-1071
email: joannelannigan@virginia.edu



> From: Alexander Astrakhan <astrakhan@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: Alexander Astrakhan <astrakhan@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 14:05:32 -0800
> To: Cytometry Mailing List <cytometry@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu>
> Subject: Service costs
> 
> Dear Flowers
> 
> My facility is considering dropping the service contract for our
> Calibur, and I need to devise an slush fund for repairs and
> maintenance.	 Can I get some cost feedback from people operating
> without a service contract?  What are approximate costs per month for
> maintenance, parts, service, etc.  What company are you using for
> service: BD or third-party contractors?  Is this a cost-effective
> solution or do you regret not having a defined contract?
> 
> I realize the costs will wary greatly from month to month, instrument
> to instrument, but any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
> 
> Alexander Astrakhan
> Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center
> Seattle, WA 98102
>