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Mr Fleig, what is your function actually? Don't Siedle products last for ages?
Our systems certainly are long lived, but we are not in the business of building pyramids. At some time or another, repairs will be on the cards, spare parts will be needed. It is when this time comes that a manufacturer is put to the real test. Does the customer have to replace the whole system or only the defective part? That can make a huge difference of several thousand Euros.
Are there some questions you are asked frequently?
The most frequent question I hear is: How long do you go on repairing Siedle devices? There's a simple answer to that: Longer than any others. However, in individual cases it is essential to take a close look. Which device is affected? Are all the required parts still available? For a very large number of products, we create the conditions which will allow them to go on being repaired for decades. For others, we make available up-to-date exchange devices. What use are innovations if they are not compatible with existing systems?
Let us assume that a customer has a 40-year old Siedle system and needs a spare part for it. Will he get it from you?
Usually, yes. We consider ourselves as a sturdy port in the storm of today's short-lived communication market. Siedle will always try to help and make available a replacement. Sometimes even we have to admit defeat because certain electronic and mechanical components are simply not around any more today. But what is decisive here is not the individual spare part, but the retained value of the system as whole. For instance anyone with a 6+n system from the 1960s will be able to procure up-to-date telephones and door stations for it.
What does it depend on whether you recommend repair or buying new?
The work and expense involved, the condition of the equipment, the fault pattern and frequency of failure are all decisive criteria. Sometimes it is simply more economical to change over to a new system. Siedle also offers a wealth of possibilities for this. Using conversion kits and modern bus technology, housings and wiring can often continue to be used.
Does your advice come at a high cost?
That depends on how you look at it. If a customer needs us, we can help him save a lot of money. That is something a lot of people forget, who only look at the purchase price. The real cost only becomes evident over years. Siedle helps protect its customers' investments. Which is why my advice doesn't cost anything, but it's not for nothing.
And who does Lothar Fleig turn to when he gets stuck?
The fund of expertise held by the Service Department is not restricted to just one person. There are employees at Siedle who have been working for the company for over 30 years. Their experience and expertise about devices which haven't been around for ages is an inexhaustible fountain of knowledge.
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