[RASMB] Service contracts

[David Wilbur]

I am considering putting my XL-I back on a service contract.  The 
University Purchasing department is encouraging, but not requiring me to 
consider an alternate quote from a company called Specialty 
Underwriters.  Specialty Underwriters sells service contracts on 
virtually any laboratory instrument at lower prices than the 
manufacturers.  When my instrument requires a service call, Specialty 
Underwriters contacts the vendor, in this case Beckman.  Beckman 
provides the service and invoices Specialty Underwriters for time and 
materials.  In the long run Specialty Underwriters hopes to pay less to 
vendors for service on a time and materials basis than I pay them for  
service contracts.

I would like to solicit comments, positive or negative, on or off list, 
from anyone who has dealt with Specialty Underwriters or similar 
companies for service contracts on an AUC.

Thank you,
Dave Wilbur

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David J. Wilbur, Ph.D.
Instrumentation Specialist
Department of Chemistry
Tufts University
62 Talbot Ave.
Medford, MA 02155
voice:	617-627-2163
Fax:	617-627-3443
email:	david.wilbur at tufts.edu
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