It’s easy to believe something you hear especially when you hear those same things over and over from different people. Some fake “facts” are so ridiculous that you just have to laugh. Who came up with the one about babies and storks? It makes no sense to adults; but to children, it’s perfectly logical. How do stories like this get started and why do so many people accept them as fact, then repeat them to other people without questioning their validity? Today’s technology allows anyone to search literally anything with a few strokes on a keyboard. But sometimes ignorance is bliss.
Here’s just a few that you’re probably familiar with:
Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Any Sweet Home Alabama fans in the house? It is actually quite common for lightening to strike the same place twice. The Empire State building gets struck by lightning between 20-25 times/year. Try staying away from tall buildings and trees during a lightning storm.
We only use 10% of our brains.
We may only use 10% of our brains at a given time, but over the course of the day we use 100% of our functioning brain.
Einstein failed math.
Nope! He was far beyond his years in mathematics. To simply solve this misunderstanding, the grading scale was reversed. A grading of “6”, which had previously been the lowest mark, was now the highest mark. And so, a grading of “1”, which had been the highest mark, was now the lowest mark. So anybody looking up Einstein’s grades would see that he had scored a lot of grades around “1” – which under the new grading scale read “fail.”
If you swallow your gum, it will stay in your body for 7 years.
Most people empty their stomachs in 30 to 120 minutes after eating and this includes gum. There is no evidence to prove otherwise. So, it’s safe to assume this one came from parents who wanted their kids to stop eating non-food items. While gum will readily stick to fingers, hair, or shoes, it doesn’t stick to the stomach wall or intestinal tract.
Repeating some of these fake facts at a dinner party and you may get you a few giggles or some curious glances; nothing bad usually ever comes from repeating them. However, misconceptions about your equipment service coverage can cost your business time and money. And that’s no laughing matter.
Let’s debunk just a few of the fake facts that have been circulating for years regarding equipment service agreements.
Software Upgrades are always covered in a service agreement.
One of the biggest misunderstandings is the difference between updates and upgrades and what’s covered under contract. Every equipment manufacturer defines upgrades and updates differently. Whether or not you need a certain update or upgrade depends on the type of equipment and how it will be utilized. Typically, software updates are for fixing bugs and are provided at no cost from the manufacturer. Software upgrades to a new operating level, are not typically covered. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. Some service contracts may include software upgrades or offer them for an additional fee. Software upgrades are sometimes included in service contracts for medical equipment with a significant software component. The most important thing to remember is, if the equipment service contract language is ambiguous about what is considered a software update or an upgrade, get written clarification from the manufacturer. What YOU may consider an update or upgrade may or may not align with the original equipment manufacturer’s definitions of the terms.
Response time is guaranteed if you buy the manufacturer’s service agreement.
If a guaranteed on-site response time was offered to you, it should be written and defined within the service agreement. Verbal promises not in writing, lead to unhappy service customers. Vague terms can be easily misinterpreted. You may have been verbally assured it will never be an issue, until response time does become an issue and your equipment is down. What about holidays and weekends? Question any ambiguous service agreement language. And don’t ever forget what your mother taught you about assuming.
You can terminate our service agreement at any time without a penalty.
Ever heard you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Never presume that you have the ability to terminate or cancel a service agreement before the expiration date without having to pay a fee. Some manufacturers will penalize their customer anywhere from 25% to 50% of the remaining charges due. Many long term or multi-year service agreements do not provide an “out clause” for customers, but the manufacturer reserves the right to terminate the contract for specified reasons. Be sure to always read the termination language and understand what fees are involved and what circumstances would cause the service provider to prematurely terminate the agreement.
It’s important to do your own fact checking on any contract terms that are unclear or difficult to interpret. While it may be okay to think that if you swallow gum it will take seven years to digest, fake facts surrounding service delivery can cost your business time and money. Know what you get and get what you need!
If you have any questions, please contact me through email at shelley.schuster@theremigroup.com or visit our website www.theremigroup.com for more information.