Very well said, Jan.   Thank Goodness for these better instruments, they
make our lives a little easier and the lives of our patients better.
 
Debbie J. Siena
Baylor University Medical Center
Dallas, Texas

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	JanMinshew@aol.com [SMTP:JanMinshew@aol.com]
	Sent:	Tuesday, September 14, 1999 2:35 PM
	To:	histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
	Subject:	Equipment pricing

	Hello all,

	I have tried very hard to remain silent about the comments being
made about 
	the price of microtomes, but I just can't.  When I was in the lab I
didn't 
	have a clue about what went on in industry. After the last 15 years
in the 
	chaotic world of medical equipment sales I have a much better
understanding.  
	Hang on while I share a little insight.

	Yes, the cost of laboratory equipment is high but, then again, so
was the 
	household refrigerator that I just bought.  There are many reasons
for the 
	high prices in our field.  Most of the more established types of
instruments 
	(ie. microtomes, cryostats and processors) have been greatly
improved from 
	prior models and they continually offer the user more benefits.  New

	instruments have also been made available for the latest
requirements in our 
	rapidly changing environment, such as automated IHC and special
stainers. 
	Updated and new technology equipment is built with more precision,
greater 
	safety, more convenience and additional features that were requested
by 
	people in the field.  Most of the instruments require certification
from 
	inspection agencies so that they are safe for you to use.  You
wouldn't know 
	the products existed if we didn't advertise in the scientific
publications 
	and attend the exhibits at the various meetings.  We have sales
people who 
	visit your labs. We send literature overnight when you get the word
that 
	money is available, ship equipment in for demonstrations and
evaluations, 
	supply quotations for budgeting purposes and answer bid requests.
We make 
	good on our warranties, stock parts, supply manuals and provide
service as 
	quickly as possible.  (Don't tell our bosses but we don't always end
up 
	making every sale and we share the market with our competitors.)
All the 
	while there are people in the background who are trying to
anticipate your 
	needs and produce something that you will all fall in love with the
minute 
	you see it, buy it, love it, and tell all your friends to buy it
too.  Any 
	company that intends to survive for any length of time has to put
money into 
	research and development.  We do as much as we can to make you feel
confident 
	in our companies and happy with your decisions.  We want you to want
us again 
	next time.

	Thank you for listening as I rattled on.  I hope that this helps you

	understand some of the difficulties from the vendors end on the
pricing 
	issues.  

	Jan Minshew