So many customers call us saying they just want a cheap telephone system? But the real question is what does that mean? Are they after the latest state of the art solution at a discounted price, or just a cheap phone system that costs them as little as possible?
Be very clear that they are two very different things. With office phone system solutions the one truism is you get what you pay for. Say customer 1 bought a 4 handset solution second hand (that’s the best way to get a “cheap phone system”). They would pay anywhere from $800-1600 depending on the age of the system. But in this example the customer wants the “cheapest” so they pay $800. Now customer number 2 buys a new phone system and does a “deal”. They might end up paying about $2500-3500 fully installed depending on the brand.
It’s a big difference $1000 vs. $2500 isn’t it. However the solutions the two customers end up with are worlds apart. You don’t expect to buy a second hand old car and get Ferrari performance. However customers simply aren’t aware of what technology can do for them. Many customers that settle on a cheap phone system are actually doing themselves a massive disservice that costs them serious money in the short and long term.
Let’s dig a little deeper. If customer 1’s requirements are very, very basic (after knowing all the technology available) then that $700 system could be perfect. The only caveat here is as long as phone system spare parts remain available to them for as long as their cheap phone system is required to operate.
But what if they were informed about technology like:
- Cheap VoIP phone calls with the latest SIP trunking
- Free calls to mobiles
- Using your mobile phone as an office phone in or out of the office
- The ability for remote workers to work from home or anywhere effectively
- Call recording for staff training
- linking multiple locations together
- voicemail
- Auto Attendant for professional greetings
- Using your PC as a phone – don’t even need a phone
- and much, much more
Any of these features could literally save $1000’s in cost cutting as well as productivity improvements. Not to mention the improved professionalism and customers service offered by staff to customers.
When you’re looking to buy a cheap phone system make sure you understand what technology is available and what your definition of cheap actually is. Buying the wrong cheap phone system could actually cost you a hell of a lot more in the long term so do your homework!
