Getting ripped off by vendor? 1

[thephonefox]

Hi guys,

I am a Nortel girl but I have a couple of locations with Avaya Magix systems. At one of the locations, I need 1 phone programmed and 2 lines traced out, patched at the panel in the server room and ports labeled at the desks.

Would that *really* take 2 hours to complete?? I used to work on the "Vendor" side of things so I know how things can be padded. I have no programming experience on Avaya but I know it doesn't take that long to program a phone. and I know it doesn't take long to trace a line either...

Any thoughts??

 

[flyguy2]

Trace the lines yourself will save money or perhaps you can ask for a T&M bill. Just a thought.

 

[thephonefox]

I would if I was on-site but I am in Texas and the site is in California. I don't have anyone technical on-site to talk to about tracing out the line.

I wish I could do the work myself!!

I can't do T&M either b/c we have to have a quote to get a PO from Accounts Payable...I have to know how much to pay to get the PO.

Do you know if 2 hours sounds right for completing the job? I don't mind paying if it really does take longer to program a phone on the Avaya System then on a Nortel system.

 

[Telecomboy]

The programming isn't going to take the majority of the time. The tracing of the lines is. If you need a firm quote to create a PO, any vendor is going to quote 2 hours to make sure they are covered if the wiring is a mess. Could it take an hour, yes. But, what happens when they quote an hour and then it takes two? No vendor wants to eat an hour.

 

[kwing112000]

Telecomboy i agree. i would quote 2 hrs if it was site unseen.

Kevin Wing
ACSS Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Communications
ACS- Implement IP Office
ACA- Implement IP Office
Carousel Industries

 

[SYQUEST]

Judging from the lack of system documentation, things not being designated and labeled; yes it could take that long, since nobody wants to take the time to do things right, or for the next guy or gal!

I have had that happen myself, going to a new site, thinking it will be a piece of cake, and it turns out to be "horse manure"!

....JIM....

 

[merlinman]

I have the same issue with those type of things, and something as simple as remotely changing a Voice Mail MAIN Password.

That can take a short amount of time, but usually it takes a HUGH amount of research and help from the on-site person.

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

 

[Saiyan656]

Your complaining about two hours of time? What a joke. The work is taxable for the business. Why do you care? Its not coming out of your pocket!

 

[HiDesert]

You state that the Magix is in Calif...I'm sure one of our
esteemed guru's can help you with finding a realible tech who won't RIP you off...good luck with accounting.

 

[thephonefox]

I know that tracing a line can take ages in some instances, I really wanted to know more about the phone programming and how long that portion of it should take. Can ya'll tell me how long it should take to program a standard phone on a Magix system?


saiyan656
- Yes, I question every PO I put in and vendor invoice I receive. I always keep tabs on what we spend on maintaining our phone systems at each of our locations.

 

[SYQUEST]

Even though there are things that may be the same from system to system, every client can be different. For example, you say "standard phone". How do you define that? Do you mean a 2500 set or something else? Going into a system for the first time with no prior access can be a challenge, even if you have done a hundred Magix switches. Everyone can have different settings, access codes, or restrictions, etc. You have to figure it out, unless you have documentation or have downloaded or printed the configuration file, and then review it. So it is not "cut and dried". Also, some of the clients have no clue what is what, and that can take you on a hunting expedition.

If you want to better understand the Legend/Magix phone systems, download documents from their website: support.avaya.com, for free.

Happy reading!

....JIM....

 

[CarGoSki]

I always perform a system analysis of sorts by printing sys and gen trunk etc to get the full picture of what I am dealing with. That is how I roll.

You appear to be asking how long all technicians of equal ability should take to perform a cookie cutter task. I would argue that neither exist.

It's people like you who generalize.

 

[busster]

Check with the vendor. I have seen some that have a two hour minimum.

 

[thephonefox]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Textron68]

I work with vendors all across the country. Many use a standard two hour minimum plus a visit charge for a site visit until you build a relationship with them.

 

[TheMitelGuy]

If I was the vendor I wouldn't guarantee two hours. What if it takes five hours? I'm only getting paid for two. I've been in some massive operations and it's taken DAYS to tone out cables (especially paging in plants with food processing - water seems to always be an issue).

If you are getting quoted two hours, sign the flipping PO. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Just my life lesson; you have to watch your vendor - no one's questing that - however if you are constantly on top of the vendor about hours, hounding about taking too long, or question things like 120 minutes, you will end up with a vendor that won't care about YOU - especially when you desperately need them (a system outage). Remember, the tech always wins (think what you want; but I think most of us here know what I'm saying - only human nature).

 

[HiDesert]

Or...make the trip to Calif and do it yourself...problem
solved..then you'll know exactly how long it took to do the
job.

 

[thephonefox]

HiDesert!
Funny that you say that b/c I just found out a few days ago that I AM going to the California location at the beginning of Aug for some equipment setups in our warehouse. I already had the vendor complete the job before I knew I was going or I would have done it myself. Ahh well...what are ya gonna do?



The Phone Fox