http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/worth-paying-for-service-contract-on-Olympus-Fluoview-confocal-tp6592259p6592883.html
its nearly 11-year life. If your contract covers all parts including
long run.
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>We have an FV1000 and carry a contract for the confocal, but not the
>lasers. Your quote seems high, so does that $20k also cover the lasers?
>
>We average around 750 user hours per year; I'd guess you could add
>10-15% to that number and get the total number of "on" hours/year.
>Do you need a contract? It depends
>1. Rated lifetime on the lasers is accurate, or perhaps a slight
>over-estimate. I was foolishly running the system 24x5 during the first
>18months (newbie error), and we went through both the 405LD and the
>568DPSS. They were replaced under the warranty that came with the
>instrument. The engineer went ahead and replaced the 488 gas laser at
>the same time, as he wasn't satisfied with the output. My dean and
>chair know that we'll eventually need to pay to replace the lasers again.
>2. Aside from having a computer card replaced (again under the two-year
>initial warranty), a computer monitor replaced, and routine annuals and
>maintenance software upgrades, we've had no problems with the system.
>Unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea what it would have cost to do
>these things off-contract.
>
>I plan to keep the contract. We're a small PUI with a sizeable
>quantity of undergrad research going on, the confocal is rather heavily
>used, and we can't afford to have it down for three weeks while I wait
>for a non-contract service call. I also don't have time to try to learn
>to fix it myself.
>
>Julian
>
>On 7/17/11 12:38 PM, Vernita Gordon wrote:
>> *****
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>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am a new assistant professor still settling into my lab (and still
>>working
>> entirely off startup funds). A little less than a year ago, I bought an
>> Olympus Fluoview laser-scanning confocal microscope. This came with a
>> one-year service contract. Renewing that service contract for next year
>> will cost $20k.
>>
>> We don't do very demanding things on this confocal and so far haven't
>>had
>> problems with it. My question is, does anyone have perspective on
>>whether
>> paying for this service contract is worthwhile?
>>
>> I am leaning toward not doing so and hoping things continue to go well,
>>but
>> this is also my first time working with an Olympus confocal and I don't
>>have
>> a good sense for whether or not I should expect problems (and, if they
>> arise, if they're likely to cost more than $20k to fix).
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Vernita
>>
>
>
>--
>Julian P.S. Smith III
>Director, Winthrop Microscopy Facility
>Dept. of Biology
>Winthrop University
>520 Cherry Rd.
>Rock Hill, SC 29733
>
>803-323-2111 x6427 (vox)
>803-323-3448 (fax)
>803-524-2347 (cell)
>Research Website www.birdnest.org/smithj
>Personal Website www.rociada-east.net