Joseph,

Thank you.  Very well said.

Vendors do want to know the problems as well as the good stuff.  The problems
help produce products that meet the needs of the end-users.

Reputable manufacturers and distributors do have quality control systems.  I
can't stress enough that before you look at price you make sure you are
pruchasing products from companies that are ISO certified or who follow GMP
guidelines to insure these systems are in place.  In comparison, ISO and GMP are
to manufacters and distributors what JCAHO or CAP are to clincal sites.  Don't
except anything else.

So don't waste  time posting product problems on the histonet when you can be
spending that time speaking to the only people who can truly help you, the
vendors and their technical service and salesforce.


Rande Kline, HT (ASCP)
Technical Services
EM Science/BDH






"Saby, Joseph" <Joseph.Saby@wl.com> on 03/31/2000 12:03:41 PM

To:   "'Glencross, Hedley'" <hglencra@mid-sussex.sthames.nhs.uk>,
      "'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'" <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
cc:    (bcc: Rande Kline/EMI/Merck)
Subject:  RE: TP 1050



Hello-

In this answer I see a major point of netiquet:  Talk to your vendor before
airing grievances.  This cannot be emphasized enough!

The temptation to air grievances when frustrated can be very harmful to a
vendor's reputation if carried out.  Many times the problem will be resolved
to your satisfaction.  But the harm caused by carry-over of venting may
cause the vendor to lose business for years to come.  And, I might add,
these very same vendors support not only the histonet but our conventions as
well.

I am pointing no fingers, but only reminding us of a very important rule
that we all should follow.

Joe

Joseph A. Saby, BA, HT(ASCP)
Parke-Davis, Pharm. Research Div. Warner-Lambert
Worldwide Preclinical Safety
2800 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone: (734)-622-3631
FAX:    (734)-622-3478
E-mail: joseph.saby@wl.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Glencross, Hedley [mailto:hglencra@mid-sussex.sthames.nhs.uk]
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2000 2:49 AM
To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: TP 1050


Hi everyone

As someone who has expressed concerns re this machine in the past over the
histonet, I feel I must add to the current debate again.

Firstly I completely agree, the initial point of call should be the "vendor"
when there are problems. Most good companies will respond quickly and work
with you the users to put matters right.

However, there is sometimes a feeling of helplessness when matters cannot be
solved quickly. There was at the time of our problems, various stories going
round about this machine, and I used the histonet to seek confirmation of
them. Like much of life, there was a lot of heresay and embelishment, and
whilst there were some problems they were not as fundemental or as common as
I first thought.

The response from the company following these on air discusions, was for a
high level visit, and much work on our machine, which has resolved most of
the problems. We maintain good reagent mangement and servicing schedules,
and although there is still the odd bad day ( a feature of all enclosed
processors I imagine), generally we are happy.

That makes at least two of us!!!

Regards

Hedley Glencross
Princess Royal Hospital
Haywards Heath  UK