Thoughts on purchasing analytical instruments

This is a very simple question, because among instrument sales staff, especially those working on the front line, few stay in their positions for more than three years. The reason for this is, firstly, that it’s not convenient to disclose such information, and secondly, it would lead to a loss of resources. So, you generally rarely see the contact information in instrument brochures. Finding a contact person is actually simple; once you locate the manufacturer, you’ll find a contact there, and making a phone call will resolve the issue. If your procurement department is unwilling to do even this, then there’s no need to carry out the task at all. Don’t be dogmatic about anything! I guess you just need to follow the procedures – providing the initial information is sufficient. If a detailed explanation is really needed, the only way is to call for verification. By looking at the process flow, one can understand a company’s management style. If one is too dogmatic, it’s best to plan ahead. The world does not revolve around corporate models; instead, companies need to keep up with the laws of society. Those who go against these laws will be punished – this is a natural law, regardless of the size of the company. There are many companies that are of a certain size and have certain “advanced” models; after that, they stop making adjustments, or it becomes very difficult to make such adjustments. And then, it collapses. After all these years of reform and opening up, if you count how many brands have managed to stand the test of time, it’s clear what the answer is. Yet many business managers still fail to understand this! It’s like a tall tree covered with many vines; when one vine falls, another takes its place – this is the mindset of many business managers. These are personal reflections derived from the original poster’s procurement process.

It’s difficult to buy instruments when you don’t know anyone in the industry, as it’s easy to get scammed. It’s recommended that the original poster look at various quotes before making a purchase

Back to floor 2. Actually, I thought the same thing. Since we have the manufacturer’s contact information, we’ll just call to find out who the specific contact person is. But sometimes, programs can be disastrous and cause delays. As a newcomer to the workplace, I’m quite helpless too. But I’ll discuss these matters with my superiors. Thank you all! Handshake. I still need to ask for your advice more often in the future

In fact, it’s not a disadvantage for a company to work with all three parties. Your task now is simply to determine the model and manufacturer of the instrument. Here are some points to consider: 1. Try to purchase the instrument from the same manufacturer, as this ensures the best possible prices and after-sales service. 2. Many manufacturers’ sales staff receive commissions based on sales volume, so try to get the lowest price possible. At the same time, imply to them that if the instrument performs well in our facility, we might need to purchase more units. I bought a chromatograph in 2005; the price they quoted was already the lowest, but I managed to get it even cheaper. 3. Generally, large instrument manufacturers have distributors, and sometimes the prices offered by these distributors are even lower than those of the manufacturers themselves; you can choose between the two options. 4. Make more calls to gather more information, send a fax of the instruments you intend to purchase to the supplier, ask them for a detailed price quote, and then tell them that another supplier is offering a much lower price – let them know how much lower. Usually, suppliers in the same industry are aware of such prices. 5. Remember to provide your supervisor with all the relevant details, present your opinion, and then let them make the decision. 6. When planning to purchase instruments, pay attention to the need to acquire accompanying accessories; generally, manufacturers do not provide these, and the cost of these accessories can be quite substantial

Another very important point is that when you buy instruments, you need to have some understanding of their structure. Let me give an example: say you want an ultraviolet instrument that might cost 400,000. But because you don’t understand the details and only focus on lowering the price, the seller might originally intend to provide you with four absorption cells. Due to your lack of knowledge, although you managed to lower the price, they only give you one absorption cell. When you go back to the analyst, they tell you that two are needed, so you have to buy them separately. A light path cell might be several thousand or even tens of thousands of years old, and it may not even be compatible. Therefore, it is quite necessary to understand more about the basic structure of the instrument

I think manufacturers are quite enthusiastic these days; if you get in touch with their sales staff, they will do their best to help you find a suitable one for you. As for the price, you’ll have to negotiate it yourself. Buy what you want, and try to keep the price at a reasonable level.

I forgot to tell you – according to the procurement process, there must be at least three suppliers for similar instruments. For initial purchases, one has to bear the cost of phone calls. To do things well, it’s best to maintain a relaxed attitude, focusing on doing a good job and learning from the experience. Since you are new, it’s best to talk to your supervisors as little as possible about complaints and difficulties. Most supervisors also started from scratch themselves, and they are well aware of the hardships involved, even if they don’t say anything about it. Although the program is unforgiving, bringing your work in line with the program is also a form of experience.

Both make sense. One is to compare different options, and the other is to have an understanding of the relevant equipment knowledge; this applies not only to purchasing laboratory instruments but also to buying household appliances.

The main thing is to conduct a scientific comparison of cost-performance

Overall, there’s a lot to do when purchasing new equipment. It seems that the most important thing is to understand the basic knowledge of the instrument itself as well as the value of its various components; one should choose equipment that is suitable for one’s own work, rather than focusing solely on devices with high performance or low prices. One more thing to say is that it’s best for the laboratory to purchase the experimental equipment itself, so as to facilitate maintenance in the future. We have previously asked the supply departments to purchase columns; the model numbers were provided by the laboratory, but the items purchased didn’t even come with any instruction manual! Not to mention contacting after-sales service or maintenance! Of course, it might be a special case, but such things do exist. Use it for yourself, buy it yourself, build a good relationship with the supplier, and there will be more people to consult when you encounter difficulties at work in the future~~