Best price microscope is very important in any deal. In any microscope demo, be there when it is scheduled. Give the sales person your full consideration. Consider the price offered, best price must be made. It is rude and costly to the dealer to send a person out on a demo and then no one is there to see the microscope. Have all the persons involved in the microscopes use there to see the demonstration.
Sometimes the sales person will leave the microscope with you for a period of time so that you can see how you like it. Before you accept the responsibility for the microscope check with the dealer as to their requirements and with your employer to see what their requirements are. Usually this is no problem but you want to know what your responsibility is if any thing goes wrong.
If the microscope is left with you, take the time to really try it out. Make sure all the potential users try it to. The purpose of the demonstration is for you to see how the microscope wears on you. If you have questions, call right then. Do not wait for the sales person to re-appear. If you call immediately, the sales person can correct the problem right then if possible. It will also tell you a lot about what kind of service the company really gives. If they are not quick to respond when trying to sell you something, they are going to be a disaster after the sale.
If a sales person makes you a guarantee that has a direct bearing on your decision to buy that microscope, make the person send you that promise in writing. This is true for any purchase of goods. If this promise is not in writing you may not be able to enforce it in court or arbitration if it comes to that. If the sales person refuses to write it down and asks you to take their word, then forget it. All you may be left with is words.
After the representatives have been picked up their microscopes, sit down and decide which one would be best for you. Include in your evaluation the ease of use, the performance, and the quality of the dealer. Once you know what you want, it is time to get the price you want.
You need to know whether you are a bid, contract, or private institution. The differences will affect your price negotiations. If you are a private institution, you can negotiate the price yourself. If your are a contract institution, there will be a contract price available to you, although usually this is a floor price with some negotiation you can do better. If you use bid, you will have to know the purchasing rules very well.
Most places use a sealed bid system to purchase microscopes. This can put you at a real disadvantage. The key to controlling a bid purchasing system is writing the bid specification. ,If you really want only one brand and model, you will have to write the bid specifications so that only that brand will win. Your sales representative can be a real help in writing what is called a lock out spec.
If you do not care what you get, then a bid is a good way to drive down the price. Specify the microscope as exactly as possible, use specifications of manufacturers. This helps you to get the features you want and stops the dealers from cheapening the microscope to lower the price. ,This is a legitimate way to win a bid. ,It is up to you to write the specs that will get you the microscope you really want.


