Do you drive a 20+ year old car? If so, do you take the car to your local mechanic or to a dealer?
It depends on your situation and priorities. Which one you go with can make a difference in how much
you pay, how quickly you get your car repaired and the experience you have.
You may question my sanity, but I truly believe the same issues apply to telecom industry, especially
legacy TDM products such as Lucent 5ESS, Nortel DMS, DCO, EWSD, etc.
Which one is better?
1964 Chevy Impala
Nortel DMS-100 Central office
Here are a few situations where going with a dealership might be the better option:
• You only want OEM parts.
• You want a technician who is trained on your specific car.
• Your car is still under warranty.
• You need a loaner car while your vehicle is being serviced.
If you fit into one of these categories, though, you may prefer an independent auto shop:
• You’re on a tight budget.
• You want your car repaired immediately.
• You want to be able to speak directly with the people working on your car.
Pricing
Because of their large overhead and operating costs, dealerships tend to charge more for services and repairs than independent auto shops. Dealerships’ technicians are also more specialized, which often demands a higher fee. This can come in the form of hourly labor rates as well as markup on parts and materials. The cost of car repair can vary depending on the make and model of your car, the severity of the problem, and the location of the repair shop. However, in general, you can expect to pay more for car repairs at a dealership than at an independent repair shop.
Here is a breakdown of the average labor rates for dealerships and independent repair shops:
·
Dealership: $100-$150 per hour
· Independent repair
shop: $60-$100 per hour
This means that for a typical car repair that takes two hours, you could expect to pay $200 at a dealership and $120 at an independent repair shop. In addition to the labor rate, you will also need to factor in the cost of parts. Parts at dealerships are typically more expensive than parts at independent repair shops. However, some dealerships will offer discounts on parts if you have your car serviced there regularly. Overall, you can expect to pay 20-50% more for car repairs at a dealership than at an independent repair shop. However, there are some advantages to having your car repaired at a dealership. For example, dealerships have access to OEM parts, which are the original parts that were installed in your car. This can be important if you want to maintain the value of your car.
Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to have your car repaired at a dealership or an independent repair shop:
• Cost: Dealerships are typically more expensive than independent repair shops.
• Parts: Dealerships have access to OEM parts, which can be important if you want to maintain the value of your car.
• Expertise: Dealerships have trained technicians who are familiar with your specific make and model of car.
• Convenience: Dealerships are often located closer to you than independent repair shops.
Ultimately, the decision of where to have your car repaired is a personal one. You should weigh the pros and cons of each option and decide what is best for you. What do cars and legacy TDM have in common? They are workhorses that hardly fail and have been in service for the past 20-50 years. However, time is also an enemy. You want safe and reliable at all costs but not pay a king’s ransom for support. At the same time, you have lost much of your internal support expertise due to retirements, force reductions, etc. Also, you want to migrate off the legacy TDM products but key support personnel are gone.
Let’s examine the case of Nortel DMS support.
In conclusion, ZT Technology Solutions is the affordable repair shop that does quality work.
Mike Dazio
(908)403-0610