If
we were buying a new potentiostat, here's how we would go about it...
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There are probably over 20
suppliers of potentiostats and it's not reasonable to consider all of
them...there's just not enough time. Reduce the number to 3-5
suppliers based on comments from your colleagues, suppliers you see at
exhibitions that you attend, and suppliers who advertise in magazines that
you read. Why? A potentiostat supplier who invests in these exhibitions
and advertising is committed to your kind of electrochemical
measurement. |
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Contact these suppliers and
request product literature. Go to their website and check it out
thoroughly. The literature and website should give you an idea of the
culture of the company. Is their product suitable for your
application? Is there application information
available on their website? Try to get a feeling for their
dedication to technical support, because you'll almost certainly need technical
support at some point. |
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After you reduce the number of
potential suppliers to 1-3, contact your colleagues and ask their opinion
of your candidates. The opinion of a user is one of the best measures of
a potentiostat supplier. |
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Contact your potential
suppliers and talk to them about your electrochemical experiment. If
you know what you want to do, ask them if they can do it. Be
explicit! You can't hold a supplier responsible for a unique
experiment if you don't address it up front. Whether you are an
electrochemical expert or a newbie, you should feel comfortable with the
person on the phone. That means different things to different
people, but it should mean something to you. You should come away with a good comfort
level and some confidence that the supplier may be right for you. If
not, go with another supplier. Was it easy to reach someone on the phone or via email? If you left a message, did they call you back promptly? If the answer to either of these questions is NO, find another supplier...quickly! |
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If you are located in a
country other than the country where the product is manufactured, then you
will probably talk to the Distributor or Agent in that country. What is their
relationship with the Home Office? What is the level of technical
support? What happens if your instrument needs repair? What
does a repair cost? Again, you're looking for a comfort level that
confirms that the Distributor has a good relationship with the supplier, a
commitment to their users, and will be there for assistance when you need
them. |
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If you're still not sure about
a supplier, then you should request a product demonstration. A
supplier who is serious about earning your business will be able to show
an instrument to you and may be able to leave it with you for a few
days. You should find the instrument easy to use and you should be
able to get straight answers on any questions that arise during the
demonstration. |
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The price of the instrument
may be a factor. Do you want the lowest price? Maybe. Maybe
not. Do you want a fair price? Yes. Prices of
electrochemical instruments vary widely (VERY widely!), so request
quotations from several suppliers and compare them. Compare
technical specifications. How long is the
warranty period? If you need out-of-warranty service, what does it
cost? How do you obtain technical support and from whom? If you like the product with the lower price, then buy it. This supplier deserves your business; it's easier for a manufacturer to simply raise prices than it is to manage the business to keep costs under control so they can maintain profitability with a low price. What about negotiating a lower price? Different manufacturers have different attitudes about the firmness of their price. We can only speak for Gamry and we set our list prices aggressively low. Keep in mind that a price discount directly affects profitability and every potentiostat manufacturer is a commercial company and must maintain profitability to survive. You definitely need your supplier to be profitable, because you will need them for technical support in the future! Some of us have been conditioned to believe that a high-priced product is the best. You know the old saying, "you get what you pay for". Others will only buy the lowest-priced product. We feel comfortable telling you that both of these approaches don't work with electrochemical instrumentation. Yes, price is a factor. But so is performance (compare specifications and get a demonstration) and technical support (call your potential supplier and talk to your friends who use electrochemistry). A low-priced instrument isn't a bargain if it doesn't perform well. And a high-priced instrument is a poor choice if you can get equal or better performance at a lower price. |
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Purchase your new instrument! |
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