This is all to familiar these days, "I want it now, and I want it cheap" or "the other guys has it today for less". Ask yourself this, does he really? As the amounts of money people are willing to spend reduces and the economy continues to tighten more and more people and businesses are struggling. The public know this, our clients know this, they are not daft and they demand value and quality for their money, cheap does not always offer this. It goes back to my last post. However, some people want things now, for the lowest possible price, but they will pay you when they feel like it. Well I am afraid that does not always work either.

Firstly, a lot of smaller operators are desperate to secure your business. Thy will tell you they have everything in stock, they have it all ready to go and they can be on site tomorrow. Sounds good! More often than not, they have little or none of what you need. They will get it (or whatever they can that will do or is available) on overnight or express couriers. They are available because they have little else to be getting on with and this itself should lead you to ask why!?!? If this person is the cheapest, has a warehouse full of equipment ready to install and is available in the morning then alarm bells must ring. How can they have a warehouse full of equipment when they are giving the equipment away! How can they be available tomorrow for work if they are that good!

At AVL we are fortunate. We have been around a long time. We have a solid foundation. We are not recession proof but we are well grounded and solid. We are dependable. Most importantly we are busy. I keep trying to drive home the point that we are not busy because we are the cheapest! We are busy because we are the best.

So I have side tracked a little, recently we are hearing this "now, cheaper" mentality as I have called it. Well that mentality is fine for some. Cheaper brings with it it's own problems. Build quality, reliability, warranty and support must all be questioned if you have 2 products supposedly identical but one is much cheaper. Unbranded products can cause heartache for any owner, operator or client.

The "now" part is a little more interesting. Who are all of these people who claim to have warehouses full of equipment. During the times we are in even the largest and most valuable companies in the world will reduce their stock holding, maintain their bank balance and monitor cash flow instead of the full warehouse! Prudent management demands that instead of spending all of your money on stock you may or may not sell that you maintain your bank balance, monitor your clients and operate in a more managed fashion. This may mean that you do not have every product a client wants, or you may not have all of the products all of the time. However, in five years when a client comes to do another project you will still have a business! You see most clients can live with the "now" factor. If you are open and honest with them they will understand. If you work hard to supply quality service and support then a one day difference in the delivery will not be the end of the world. 

AVL Systems are here for the long terms. We are not here for the "now or quick sale" and we are certainly not here for the cheap products. Over time we have developed a strong business. Built on hard work, quality products, honesty and service. We recognize the fact that times are a lot different now when compared to previous years and like our suppliers we are adjusting. We are revising price lists, demanding better discounts when purchasing, purchasing in bulk to secure the best prices, consolidating shipments and many more things. We are not devaluing pur products. We are not selling poor quality products. We are not selling products for the sake of getting the sale "now". We will not compromise on the quality of the service or products we offer and deliver. To do so would be foolish and short sighted and would lead to our reputation being damaged. Through strategic management and careful planning we will offer the services and products our clients have come to demand and expect. We will offer value and we will offer quality. We will do our upmost to deliver it to you now and we will offer you value! People have to realize, it is often the case that now+cheap=disaster!

This mentality of "I want it now and I want it cheap", well more often than not we can do now but cheap, well that depends on how something is sold to you, what it is going to do and what it might cost you in the future. It might be cheap to buy something but will it be cheap to install, run, maintain and service? Will it be reliable? How long will it be before you have to replace it?

So you see cheap is not the answer to everything, the word we want is not cheap, the word is Value!

Stay safe.

AVL/M