‘Bargain’ decisions costing contractors thousands

Every business aims to keep costs down, but for some, a decision that initially may save money can end up costing thousands – or worse. The adoption of technology in the construction and earthwork industry is accelerating fast and, let’s face it, it isn’t a cheap exercise, especially for small to mid-sized operators.

But some are finding out the hard way that buying this technology from non-authorised sources can lead to disaster. From second-hand equipment that gives up the ghost to pirated software that crashes and takes vital data with it, operators are taking huge risks with their business’ future – just ask Trimble’s Matt Rhyne, Regional Sales Manager – Australasia for Trimble Civil Engineering & Construction.

“It’s a big worry for us because we want Trimble users to experience the very best,” he said.

“And by getting gear from non-authorised sources, you run the real risk of costing your business tens of thousands of dollars, by damaging your reputation in the industry, losing clients and work.”

“Sad to say, we have many examples of things going very wrong for businesses when they don’t go with our authorised Trimble dealer SITECH.” On that list are businesses who had unwittingly bought stolen equipment, Matt said. If gear is reported stolen, Trimble has an online database for dealers to report the item as stolen on behalf of the customer.

“If that equipment is presented at any Trimble service centre the serial number is checked and if it is stolen, it’s the responsibility of the dealer to report it to the police,” Matt explained. “So the new owner is left with nothing – most of the time whoever they bought it from is long gone, giving them no recourse.”

There are also examples of operators buying hardware and software from online market places and the like, then when it arrives it is either not functioning or not working to its full potential. Because they have bought from a disreputable source they have no warranty so have to bear the full cost of repairs. Gear bought from overseas can be a whole other issue, including voided warranties and voltage issues.

“Hardware is specific to the market and location it is sold to in many cases,” Matt said.

“Buying from overseas means there’s no guarantee it will work where you are – unfortunately there are operators who’ve lost out because of localised compatibility issues.”

And, perhaps surprisingly to some, buying elsewhere doesn’t always mean cheaper.

“So while purchasing something that then needs repairing is going to cost you more, we’ve also examples of operators buying equipment thinking they have got it cheaper and it was in fact more expensive than through the authorised Trimble distributor, a SITECH dealer” Matt said.

The bottom line is that if you invest in technology from an unauthorised source you are taking a gamble – and it’s a gamble you don’t need to take. SITECH has a variety of options for operators including authorised and guaranteed second-hand equipment, including ex-rental gear as well as hardware clients have traded in. In both cases SITECH guarantees their operation and will correct any problems.

“We also offer a ‘hire to buy’ option which means you can be using the technology right now, reaping its benefits while not having to outlay the cost in one go,” Matt said.

“That’s proving popular with smaller and mid-sized operators as they can budget the savings they’ll make through machine control, for example, towards the monthly hire-to-buy cost.”

SITECH and Trimble want customers to get the very best out of their technology, and dealing with their local SITECH means just that.

Working with SITECH also brings its own rewards, including training, installation and support that can be relied on.  “At Trimble we require the dealers’ technical support team to undergo continual training,” Matt said. “Trimble provides huge investment in dealer training, running local ‘boot camps’ that give the dealer’s staff access to Trimble product experts, new technology and time on machines, ensuring the customer gets the best experience from their investment.”

To find out more about SITECH’s range of services and solutions, call 1800 748 324 or visit www.sitechcs.com