TWO QUESTIONS....MLS 34D...Help! 2

[MarkIsTrying]

At our church offices our secretary had a Euro 34D phone on her desk...it was white (getting yellowed!) and dirty and we wanted to replace it with a black one but didn't want to spend the money for a brand new one that folks overcharge for. So, eBay here I come! I've bought a LOT of good equipment off of eBay with no problems so I do not have any qualms about buying from eBay sellers. If you don't use eBay, I encourage you to.

Anyway, to my questions...I purchased an MLS-34D black in color. I plugged it in and had to reprogram the buttons (of course) and all seems to be fine except 2 things:

1- Is there no backlight on the MLS-34D? I press "*" and the volume up or down buttons and all it does is adjust the ringer; no backlight. What's the deal?

2- We have caller ID and our secretary is practically obsessed with reviewing the call log all the time. We had a button programmed on her Euro 34D that she'd use. When I program that button on the MLS-34D and then press it I get nothing. The display doesn't change, no light, nothing. What's the deal on this?

Thanks for your help...
Mark

 

[kwing112000]

The MLS are very old and do not have CID or backlit displays. You should get a 34D EURO in black to get those features

 

[MarkIsTrying]

OKay, well I know that the CID display works when someone calls in but as far as reviewing the call log I guess is where it's lacking. Well, I got the MLS for cheap so I'll probably resell it or keep for a spare and get a Euro because I don't know that she can function without her Caller ID logs! haha

Thanks!!!
Mark

 

[skip555]

mls does caller Id , caller Id is a function of the processor and modules any display phone can display data
, just don't get two lines on the display as I recall

. no back light though that was one of the upgrades the euro offered

 

[skip555]

from avaya

All system display phones can display the incoming phone number. Phones with small displays (MLS-12D, MLS-18D, MLS-34D, Endeavor-18D, Endeavor-34D) will not be able to display the name at the same time, nor will they be able to work with the advanced Call Logging features on Partner

 

[skip555]

I wish you could edit here

heres a link to the whole caller Id as it relates to MLS phones

http://support.avaya.com/japple/css...documentID=111246&temp.selectedRelease=143457

 

[1043]

Caller ID log WILLNOT work on MLS style phones. Caller ID will but not log. Also no backlight.
LET THE BUYER BEWARE!!

 

[MarkIsTrying]

Ok, got it. Of course, we have an MLS-18D that has a backlight so go figure...maybe I read it wrong and you're meaning the 34D's don't have backlights but that seems backwards. If anything, the bigger and more featured phone should have it and the smaller not.

I just called the phone and when it is ringing it shows Caller ID on TWO lines - number and name both. Anyway, will be replacing this one with a Euro...

Thanks again,
Mark

 

[Dexman]

Refurbished Euro-styled 18D telephones are not really all that more expensive than MLS 18Ds. Here are 1 online dealer's listings for the Euro and MLS sets:

http://metrolinedirect.com/eurtel.html

http://metrolinedirect.com/partel.html

 

[hbiss]

but didn't want to spend the money for a brand new one that folks overcharge for.

Maybe if you bought from one of us folks that "overcharge" you wouldn't be having this problem. That's what you get for buying junk off Ebay. I have no sympathy and resent your inference that we legitimate dealers overcharge!

-Hal

 

[MarkIsTrying]

Let me rephrase...

The suggested retail prices of any telephone sets for any phone system are too highly priced. And this is probably from the manufacturer, not the dealers.

I equally resent your inference...

Mark

 

[hbiss]

Too highly priced according to what? Your opinion of course.

If you are comparing them to consumer products you are comparing apples to oranges. These do more, last longer and are made for a business environment specifically for the system they are connected to. So yeah, they are going to cost more than something at Radio Shack or Office Depot.

We have several churches as customers, nearly all denominations. Never has one even suggested that what we sell to them is overpriced. Because they are churches we do cut them some slack even though we don't sell to anyone at list price anyway.

As a local business we try to make all our customers know that we will be there after the sale to answer their questions and that they can count on us to handle their problems. Our customers realize the value of this and understand that it doesn't come without some cost.

Of course there will always be those who think anything is too expensive no matter how hard you try to convince them of the value. These are the ones that have to look for bargains in places like Ebay or the internet and come to places like this for free advice when things don't turn out as they thought.

Well, you get what you pay for and for a few dollars more you wouldn't be here and you would have had what you wanted in the first place.

-Hal

 

[MarkIsTrying]

Hal, I merely asked a question about the phone. That's what this place is for. I, in no way, am putting down any equipment dealer or installers. I am friends with 2, to be exact. They both say the equipment is a little steep and sell it at just a little over cost to their customers. If I was going to buy new I would get it from them, not an online retailer.

There are several dealers (just like you!) on eBay who sell brand new equipment. And yes, there are those who sell used. When someone buys used they know it's used. I knew it was used. I asked a question about the phone. I got the answers I was after. End of story.

To the others who responded, thank you for actually helping and answer the questions. This thread could've been half this long with just your helpful information. Thanks!

Mark

 

[hbiss]

I, in no way, am putting down any equipment dealer or installers.

Again- ... didn't want to spend the money for a brand new one that folks overcharge for.

There are several dealers (just like you!) on eBay who sell brand new equipment.

No they aren't just like me. I sell legitimate equipment with a full warranty both by us and the manufacturer because I am an authorized Avaya Business Partner. What you get from an internet "seller" is gray market, product that is not authorized by the manufacturer to be sold in that manner and not sold by an authorized dealer. There is no warranty other than what that "seller" provides and poor to non-existant tech support.

So again, you get what you pay for.

-Hal

 

[aarenot]

I am aware of a certain carpenter which as I understand the terms describing him was more so translated as a master technician, or master carpenter. I am sure that he was aware of what his services, skills, customer service, reputation, costs, investments, and products were worth. I believe that there were those that probably charged less than he did, and in his eyes were worth every mite. I also think since he was a carpenter that he also made a profit, and did so in the market in which he was working. If he was overpriced his competitors got the business, if not he did. There is no reason to have a dispute over what one feels is the worth of anothers service, and what that person feels their service is worth.
The choice of your service providor speaks that as loudly as need be without further explanation, or expression. That same reference document about the carpenter refers to there being a negative aspect to using to many words. There is wisdom in considering the cost, and time involved of a venture before we start the project in order to be able to bring it to completion rather than as with a carpenter leaving the building half built.

I believe that the avaya business partner has some point in that the service recieved was less than what would have been recieved from an official equipment providor channel. The consumer has also some point in that they have paid less than via that channel, although they are having some additional expense if in time alone. There is benefit for both here in making their case, as is evident.

I will also offer that using equipment not from authorized channels on warrantied equipment/systems may in fact void the business partner, or Avaya factory warranty on the warrantied equipment purchased via authorized channels, as is legitmate under the terms of warranty service.

In other words, when you plug in or connect equipment not purchased via an approved channel, you legally void the warranty on your system, and all of its components, possibly. That is the issue that I see was not communicated, and should be considered.

I have seen grey market equipment burn out equipment which was covered by warranty, until the grey market equipment was connected voiding the warranty.

 

[MarkIsTrying]

aarenot,

Thanks for your post...point well made and taken. Some things I had not considered before. However, I don't necessarily think the warranty issue is valid in my particular case because we'd had the system for quite a while and, as far as we know, there is no warranty anymore. But, I can definitely see your point regarding a newer system.

As far as eBay is concerned (regarding an earlier post) there are some online retailers that have been suggested to me in the past as "valid avaya dealers" or whatever that also sell on eBay..and sell brand new equipment with full warranty on eBay. So, a blanket statement that eBay equipment is "junk" is not exactly valid (and pretty juvenile, if you ask me). But yes, there are alot of used and so-called "refurbished" equipment on eBay. That's why you have to be careful. The phone I bought was not junk in itself, just didn't have one feature we needed (well, that our sec. thinks she needs).

Thanks again.

 

[aarenot]

Mark,
What I believe the business partner was trying to say is that as a business partner they are not authorized to sell Avaya equipment online in this fashion. This may mean that they are offering the warranty themselves, or possibly submitting the equipment in warranty situations to Avaya in violation of the terms of their agreement with Avaya. This may mean that the warranty Avaya provides is obtained through deception on the business partners part, making the consumer a part of that possibly questionable scenario. I am not sure of the specifics of the business partner relationship, or the terms of the rights to offer Avaya products for sale in different venues.
Maybe one of the BP's can clarify this for us, and shed some more light on the scenario.

Also, the system may not have a warranty now, but that does not lessen the possibility of the gray market equipment causing system or component failures whether under warranty or not. This may be something to consider in a cost/risk analysis.

Be well,

 

[TouchToneTommy]

Mark-

The eBay seller that you bought the phone from? Was it an eBay "store", or just a seller that had some phones removed from service?

I ask, because I don't think grey-market is even a consideration here, because of the age of MLS phones. They are from AT&T or Lucent eras, well past any manufacturer warranty, and I don't recall if there was ever a grey market during those times (I don't think so)

This is a case of buyer beware. You didn't research what you were buying before you bought it. Had you posted an inquiry of how an MLS phone works in comparison to a Euro or Euro-2 phone, you would have known ahead of time, and possibly changed your purchase strategy.

Certainly, there is value added by purchasing from your local Business Partner, but since you were simply replacing one set with another, it's hard to justify (especially if you were replacing with the EXACT same model, not necessarily a MLS for an Euro). If you were adding another set, or changing programming, or have personel changes that involve changing names on displays and desi's, we would come out and run wire/install jacks/run cross-connects/program/print new desi's/etc, and I think you would find that to be well worth the cost involved.

Churchs tend to think about being good stewards of God's resources and looking for the cheapest price. But consider the better witness of using a local vendor, possibly paying a little more, but having an inpact on people in your community for the Kingdom!

 

[MarkIsTrying]

Good point. I appreciate your level-headed responses, clarifying what you mean and clearly explaining how it all works.

Happy New Year to all...

MC

 

[MarkIsTrying]

TTT...didn't see your response before my last post; we must've submitted about the same time. Anyway, thanks as well. Makes alot of sense!

MC