[VoiceOps] Switch Pricing

[Sorensen, Marty]

Speaking as a FORMER sales guy, and having done the mating dance with at least two of the vendors named below, there are so many options with any of the switches its really difficult to get a budgetary number that's actionable for any of them without having at least a high level discussion with a sales team.

We generally get better information from a Systems Engineer if you can work that out. Also sharing the timeframe when you MIGHT invest helps, particularly if its not in their present fiscal year which is where most good sales persons are laser focused.

Just my two cents.

-----Original Message-----
From: voiceops-bounces at voiceops.org [mailto:voiceops-bounces at voiceops.org] On Behalf Of Richey
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 6:06 AM
To: 'Brandon Lehmann'; voiceops at voiceops.org; abalashov at evaristesys.com
Subject: Re: [VoiceOps] Switch Pricing

I am hoping it's not as bad as some vendors.  It seems like once you might have a small tad bit of interest the flood gates open.  Times are tough and it seems like I am bombarded with more sales related calls than ever.  In the last year or so I've tried to weed things out by asking questions like this so I don't spend half of my day talking to sales guys.

Richey

-----Original Message-----
From: voiceops-bounces at voiceops.org [mailto:voiceops-bounces at voiceops.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Lehmann
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 11:37 PM
To: voiceops at voiceops.org; abalashov at evaristesys.com
Subject: Re: [VoiceOps] Switch Pricing

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry at your synopsis.

Alex and others are right though. The only way you'll find even a ball park
price is to do the sales mating dance. I don't know how many times I've had
to talk to sales rep for 4+ weeks just to get a rough idea at what we
*MIGHT* spend. 

In all honesty, it is usually worth it as they are usually able to take
your requirements (A) your budget (B) and somehow find a product in their
lineup that combines the two into (C). Then again, since you are new to the
hardware; talking to them might be beneficial to you as you'll quickly
learn what you do and do not need. Some times a sales pitch isn't such a
bad thing.

Happy dancing.



On Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:48:02 -0400, Alex Balashov
<abalashov at evaristesys.com> wrote:
> You want actual $$$ figures?  That flies in the face of all market 
> segmentation practices in enterprise pricing.  Not going to happen.
> 
> The "process" is for the sales representative to talk to you, feel you 
> out, get a sense of the purchasing power and budgetary climate of your 
> company ("what you're worth"), and then generate a "custom" quote 
> "just for you!"
> 
> Richey wrote:
> 
>> I've been asked to start researching our next soft switch that will 
>> replace an asterisk based VoIP platform.   Currently were reselling 
>> service in other markets that are outside of our home market.    So I am

>> starting my research on Meta, Sonus, Broadsoft,  and some competing 
>> platforms.  What I can't find is what is the price range on anything 
>> without talking to sales and even at that it's usually a long drawn out
>> process at least that's my experience with other gear.  I would really 
>> like to find out the price range on some of these switches.  I am not 
>> looking for specific pricing just kind of a ball park.     
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Right now I am still in the idea stage.   We just started the process of

>> negotiating interconnection agreements so I don't expect us to get real
>> serious on a switch selection until early 2010.   In the meantime I want

>> to learn as much as I can about possible gear but I don't want to spend
>> time on something I don't think will be close to the budget.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Richey
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> VoiceOps mailing list
>> VoiceOps at voiceops.org
>> https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops

-- 

Brandon Lehmann
BitRadius, LLC
Email: brandon at bitradius.com
Web: http://www.bitradius.com
Phone: 567-255-3610x9500
Toll-Free: 888-608-7253x9500
Fax: 567-255-3611
_______________________________________________
VoiceOps mailing list
VoiceOps at voiceops.org
https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops

_______________________________________________
VoiceOps mailing list
VoiceOps at voiceops.org
https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops


This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any attachments from your system.