Don't Be An Iwish Buyer

An Iwish person has no specific nationality, special flag they fly, or national anthem that they sing. An Iwish person spans all income levels and can be a graduate of some of the finest educational institutions in the world. Iwish people are not judged by the homes they live in or the automobiles they drive.

Iwish refers more to a mindset and an inevitable regret after purchasing a product. Iwish people speak one universal language. It often goes like this:

"I wish I had known that before I purchased ..."

"I wish I had considered this before I bought..."

"I wish they had told me that before I paid for..."

"I wish I had asked more about the limitations of..."
"I wish, I wish, I wish..."

At some point in our lives, we too may have had some of these same Iwish tendencies. But, it's those that learn from their own negative buying experiences, or those of others, who truly break the Iwish spell. Where finishing equipment is concerned, it's really not that difficult to make an educated buying decision. When it comes to considering, and ultimately purchasing finishing products, here's a few pointers to keep in mind:

• Leave yourself plenty of time to make an educated, well thought our purchasing decision. In today's environment we have an "I need it today" mentality. With high dollar purchases, you should abide by the axiom of "hurry up and slow down".

• Don't be a victim of YouTube. Although YouTube is a fabulous tool for finding out information on a product, that's where it should end. Don't use YouTube as a replacement for a live demonstration running your application(s).

• Ask questions. Believe it or not, finishing equipment is evolving at a breakneck speed. Automation and different binding methods are evolving rapidly. Be sure to ask as many questions as you can, especially with regards to future growth and long term use of the product you are considering. Finishing equipment can get expensive- don't purchase a "dead end".

• Ask for referrals, speak with your peers, make use of industry specific blogs and users groups. This is where the rubber hits the road. These are the people who will let you know whether they had an "Iwish" moment or two. Good or bad, most people will give you an honest assessment of the equipment they've purchased when asked.

• Check out the competition! It sounds obvious, but many people will not take the time to do this. Vendors that feel strongly about their product line and are comfortable with the quality of the product they sell, will not only encourage this but actually insist on it. In most cases, it only solidifies in the buyer's mind what may have already been expressed about the product they are considering.

• In these challenging times, don't make price your biggest issue. Yes, obviously price is a huge consideration, but many other things might outweigh a "good deal". Consider some of these concepts instead: ease-of-use, economies of automation, product durability and longevity, production speeds, down time, quality of the finished product, resale value, upgrade path, and after sale service and support.

Purchasing regrets, and Iwish moments, are actually quite easy to eliminate. By planning ahead, doing some homework, and weighing your options in a disciplined and logical way, your equipment purchasing decisions can be productive, positive, profitable, and even fun. Take control of the education and decision making process and Iwish moments will be a thing of the past!