Posted by
antonio Virgilio Failla on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/STEDYCON-user-experience-feedback-tp7588285p7588300.html
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Dear microscopists
Reading these messages I am a bit confused.
Personally having 20 year imaging experience I am convinced that when a demo does not work, not only a side should take the full blame.
Somewhere somehow some details from both sides have not being thought carefully.
I said that also because as facility manager in the big imaging facility I always felt my responsibilities and I avoid to give emotional comments about my experiences with microscopy companies that might influence the opinion of other users.
In details the following sentences impressed me in this post: "We have been very disappointed with the quality of their service", "we observed photoconversion of the STAR RED dyes".
About the first sentence I felt to live in a parallel universe since "a disappointing service" is normally related with comparison to a very good one.
Since two years I am client of Abberior but I am also or I was client of for example Leica, Nikon, Zeiss, Olympus, Visitron etc. etc... and to be honest by a comparison I felt that the service of Abberior is excellent. After that was my concern before we purchased their STED microscope and now I can happily witness you about the high quality of their service that in a couple of day is able to solve all possible problem I had at the setup. While big companies to repair small pieces like a safety interlock might need up to one month (but I will not write an emotional email about it in this context). Please feel free to contact me to have a review of Abberior service based two year experiences.
Moreover we are using many times probes labelled with STAR RED dyes and never experience any photoconversion problem or being reported off. Can you explain scientifically where this problem came from during your specific demo? and how you detected it? This dye, named originally KK114, goes back to 2009 and has been extensively used in independent STED-publications. To my knowledge, this has not been reported in the literature as well.
Finally if I have a problem with a microscopy company I try to solve it 4 eyes and if I wish to make a public statement I make in a context that allowed this company to reply my remark. Especially I will make detailed and precise remarks uncovering directly in the post the reasons of my not being happy. In other words I try to be fair and transparent.
I repeat feel free to contact me if you want to know my more detailed experience of the Abberior service and products (We also test positively the STEDYCON).
I would suggest please make your own opinion mainly using your direct experience.
Best wishes
Antonio Virgilio Failla (light microscopy facility manager at University medical centre Hamburg Eppendorf)