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Translating Vendor pricing

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by hrhsoleil

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Our consortium is thinking about changing vendors for desktop management. We?re being pitched by more about ten vendors who all say they can give us the best price. All of them have different approaches to pricing and we?re having a hard time figuring out how to compare apples to apples. What?s the best way to get information from a vendor in a format that will allow us to really compare offerings?

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by gojints

Of the group you've talked to, select 3 or 4. Then present them with the same spec - whether it is adding new users/systems, upgrading network services, etc. Be as specific as you can, then ask for a quote for the work.

When you get the quotes in, review them all with an eye to consistency between them. When you find something in one that isn't in the others, ask about it. Take that information and ask the other vendors.

Make sure you request a copy of their contract/service agreement for review. Ensure you understand what is expected of them and you for work, invoicing, etc.

I know it is a pain. You may eliminate some in the first round, you may have to go through several rounds to get the information you're looking for. However, I have found it is the only way to 'compare apples to apples'. I went through it with a phone system.

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