Agilent dealer experience - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Nermash
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 09:49:11 am
content: Warning: RANT ALL THE WAYSeeing the new Agilent promo with „free“ bandwidth upgrade, I decided against my better judgment, to try again to get custom quote for the DSOX2014. I have tried 4 times in the past to get quotes for various interesting items, like U1242A, DSOX2002, E3610 with free U1272A, and all I received was one quote and a whole lot of other apologies, information, questions, invitations, etc...So, I went to Agilent website, choose my country and requested a quote. Email arrived saying their business partner will contact me in 3-5 days. OK, fair enough. I know it takes few days to pass emails through various levels of distributors and dealers, small inconvenience compared to having one central site for information and quote requests.Two weeks later still nothing, I replied to original email and received a response that someone will follow it up. Another week later I got an email from one lady saying „we are official Agilent partners, if you want any info regarding DSOX2014 please contact us“.WHAT ? You know that I requested a quote and you are telling me to contact you? WTF!??? Why don’t just send me the bloody quote and be done with it?!Again against better judgment, I replied to them that I would like to know the price and gave them (again) promo code. Lady replies „we will send you the quote as soon as you tell us about your company“. I don't believe it, how many hoops I have to jump through to get a price?! Why does it matter what my company does, you have a product I am interested in, tell me the price and if I am interested take the money. That's it, that is what sale is. After all, you have my company name in the signature, if you are really interested in my company justfuckinggoogleit.com, and give me the quote!I replied that it is not my company but me as a private person that is interested in dsox.I swear I could hear some wheels spinning in placeOf course, no response at all after that, deep silence…I admit that I am not seriously considering purchasing DSOX now, but pricing of an ordinary item should not be regarded as state secret requiring multiple levels of checks and clearances?What would they require if I wanted to buy it now? What would they ask me then, my blood type and sample of my DNA? I can only imagine what ordeal it would be if I bought it and then had to ask for warranty support?So, Agilent, please use this bad experience to setup some guidelines for your dealers. Nobody wants to jump through hoops on one leg just to get a price! I have registered all my details on your site, send me quote via email and follow it up few weeks later, again via email! Nobody wants to be pestered with stupid emails asking for bureaucratic stuff and providing no useful and requested information !!!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 10:19:24 am
content: Have you actually contacted Agilent and/or the MD of the dealer about this ?Have you tried any other dealers?I doubt any quote would be much different to prices listed on Farnell etc.Phoning can be useful in situations like this - helps get through their "timewaster" filter.

author: Nermash
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 10:24:45 am
content: No, honestly I have lost all interest...Phoning would probably got me in exactly the same position, "send us written quote request" or simillar crapSiglent SDS2000 here I come!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 10:44:12 am
content: Quote from: Nermash on October 23, 2013, 10:24:45 amSo it looks like their not-serious-customer filter worked then...Do you really think service from a Chinese manufacturer will be better?

author: Nermash
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 10:56:50 am
content: In the past few years I have asked Owon twice for pricing, via their web page, and received a quote both times.In the same time I asked for 4 quotes on Agilent products and received only 1.Even if I am not serious customer now (which is true), I should be able to get a price for item I am interested in?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 06:21:11 pm
content: Quote from: Nermash on October 23, 2013, 10:56:50 amWhere are you located?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 06:23:48 pm
content: Quote from: Nermash on October 23, 2013, 10:56:50 amAh yes, the benefit of buying from a company that has to beg you to buy their crap.

author: Nermash
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 06:45:06 am
content: Quote from: nanofrog on October 23, 2013, 06:21:11 pmBosnia and HerzegovinaQuote from: c4757p on October 23, 2013, 06:23:48 pmIn my book every company should beg customer to buy their crap, whether it is Agilent or Owon. I lived in socialist utopia where customers often had to beg sellers to sell them goods or pull strings to be alowed to hand over the cash. Is that the right way?I wasn't expecting any kind of beging from either side, I simply asked for a price and expected to receive it. I wasn't inquiring about turbofan engine for a military jet or some other highly sensitive product that requires extensive background checks...

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 08:49:07 am
content: I can't stand when an established company turns its nose up at the little guy (where every company starts)That's fine, it just means Agilent is making room for its own competition.

author: con-f-use
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 11:21:41 am
content: I can see your frustration with that, but I only had good experiences with Agilent. So when I bought my MSOX2024 from Agilent (used) I experienced their service as exemplary. Here is a colorfull version how it went:Me: "Hey Agilent, I'd buy the MSO2024 for 2000 USD if you throw in the WaveGen, SegMem, LAN option and two fitting probes. Seeing how there is now calibration and no warranty, i think that's fair."Agilent: "Kay"Three weeks later it arrived but without a power cable, the probes and the LAN option.Me: "Wtf Agilent? I needed those immediately to get my stuff done here (balant lie)! Now I better get the Serial Decoding option as well.Agilent: "That's a bit much but okay, since we messed up"Another three weeks later the missing stuff got stuck in German customs.Me: "Customs wants more paperwork. I want my stuff. That's a bit disappointing, Agilent!"Agilent: "Allright we'll take care of it, do you want a compensation?"Me: "DMM, please!"...And that's how Agilent made me substancially richer.Can't believe it was that easy. I was being pretty annoying and practically they didn't have to do all that. But they did and kept friendly and professional.for Agilent Service in that respect!If you are in your right mind, you don't ask for quotes but look at tequipment.net, farnell, voelkner, batronix, ... to get an idea of the street prices. As a private person Agilent will not make you a better price than you'd find there anywas.

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 05:19:39 pm
content: Chinese companies are really good about giving quotes to non-corporations. They don't care who you are, if you're interested in buying, they're interested in selling. They also give better prices to individuals than corporations.Contacted FastAuto about an ATE in 2012 as an individual. Quote: $2000 FOB HKContacted FastAuto about the same ATE in 2013 for work. Quote: $7000 FOB HKNot sure if price was discounted for individual, or jacked up for large company.