SALE! BOGO! 50% OFF! Let’s face it, everyone loves a good deal. And now that we live in the digital era, we can compare several offers to ensure one retailer’s “limited time offer” really is the best deal available. When it comes to outfitting your warehouse/distribution center with mobile barcode scanners, printers, and label media, however, sometimes the cheapest buys can become the most expensive in the long run. Please allow me to explain.

For more than seven years, EMS Barcode Solutions has provided full-service data collection and inventory tracking solutions to small-to-midsize businesses (SMB) in manufacturing, transportation, logistics and several other vertical markets. Sometimes customers prefer to purchase hardware elsewhere or perhaps they’ve already purchased their hardware when they contact EMS Barcode, and they’re just looking for software. Either way, there are a number of pitfalls we’ve seen companies fall into if they’ve made barcode hardware and label media buying decisions based on initial price alone.

In my previous article, I listed several common problems manufacturers experience when looking for the best deals on mobile barcode scanners and printers, such as choosing the wrong device form factor, scanner types, operating system, or connectivity; or choosing devices that aren’t rugged enough for your work environment. However, let’s say you get all those choices right (Hint: you’ll greatly increase your chances of selecting the right products if you first check out our custom landing page for Global Shop Solutions’ customers, where you can see several examples of products that are certified to work with your Global Shop Solutions ERP application.) There’s still one more obstacle you can’t afford to leave to chance, and that’s support. I know it’s hard to believe that those brand new handheld devices and industrial printers will ever fail, but believe me, at some point in the future they will, and you don’t want to wait until that happens to figure out a repair strategy.

Even if the online retailer you purchased the devices from offers repair services (read: rarely), chances are high that you’re going to pay for shipping both ways and you’re going to be without your scanner or printer for several weeks.

When you work with EMS Barcode Solutions, on the other hand, you’re never on your own. If you’re having problems, we’ll help with repairs and replacements. The process is simple, fast, and painless. We work with you to diagnose the issue (oftentimes for free) and then suggest the best ways to repair the equipment. If it’s still under warranty, we can help expedite the repair process by leveraging our contacts with all the major hardware vendors.

Out of warranty? No problem. EMS Barcode offers depot repair services on all the hardware brands we sell, and average turnaround time on repairs is just three to five days. And in many cases, we can provide you with a spare while you’re waiting for your equipment to be repaired.

If your equipment can’t be repaired, we’ll work with you to find the least expensive way to replace it. If the problem is software-related, we offer training packages, phone support, and remote setup. Our involvement doesn’t end until you’re happy with the solution.

When you have a problem with your barcoding equipment, getting fast, affordable repair service is a must. When you work with EMS Barcode Solutions, you can have peace of mind that you’re not going to have to jump through hoops to figure out a repair plan following an equipment failure or scrap your used equipment too early because the repair times and costs exceed the value of buying new equipment.

This is just a highlight of the complementary value-added services EMS can offer Global Shop Solutions’ customers. Check out our website to learn more and contact us with questions. We are available via web chat, email or phone, and our friendly and knowledgeable staff is ready to assist you.

Eric Sutter is a business development professional with more than 20 years of experience in barcoding, building solutions for asset tracking and warehouse management across a wide range of vertical markets. Sutter founded EMS Barcode Solutions on the premise that customers need more than data collection devices and software — they need solutions. By combining and integrating components such as mobile computers, software, labels, and ribbons with professional services, EMS delivers solutions that provide its customers with a tangible return on their investments.