berryh@udel.edu (John Berryhill) (05/29/91)
If you or someone you know is considering buying a laser beam analysis system, you should be aware of the fact that it is quite possible that the vendor that you are considering working with may be somewhat less than honest in their relationships with their customers. If you have been dealing with a commercial representative of the company, ask to speak to one of the manufacturer's own sales people. The rep will still get his/her commission for the sale, and you could find the conversation to be rather enlightening. Laser beam analysis systems are not cheap and you don't deserve to buy junk. Be sure that you have firm answers to the following questions. 1. Has your company ever knowingly shipped a defective product to a customer? 2. What tests have you done on your product to verify that it will perform under the stated thermal conditions for the stated lifetime? 3. Exactly how is the product calibrated to give absolute power measurements? 4. Can you guarantee a delivery date? 5. If the product is not delivered by the guaranteed date, how will I be compensated? 6. Will the product that I receive on that date be in full working order and not a "test" system? 7. Is the system portable or will I need a separate one for each site in which I would like to use it? 8. Why don't you consider your system to be portable? I would be interested in hearing the responses that these questions generate from your potential vendor. Good luck. -- John Berryhill 143 King William Newark, DE 19711