Tag: Price

Finding a Bargain

Written on by frain-sales

Every once in a while in life you’re able to find a true bargain and it feels good to do so.

On the flip side, what you may believe initially is a bargain could very well be the exact opposite – a complete waste of time and money.

That’s often the case we hear from people who find “as-is” used equipment somewhere on the internet.

They find a machine at a fraction of the price (not cost) of new or certified pre-owned / customized as Frain provides.

The problem is that, as it is, the equipment doesn’t work for them. They need to reconfigure the machine to their packaging.

Take for example someone that called us regarding a labeler. It was set up to label a different package with different size and labels.

They called us because they really didn’t have much of an idea of what to do with it now.

At no charge whatsoever, we did offer them several tips on how to best move forward in re-configuring the machine.

The tone of this person was clearly that of “I’m in over my head.” A place where no one wants to be.  It ends up costing you far more than just the initial price you paid.

You can spend a lot of time in hunting down a bargain and then time in trial, error, and frustration in working with your machinery.  But, all of that will cost you with hidden fees that sometimes far outweigh the price you would have paid in getting the right machinery in the first place.

Frain doesn’t just sell you a machine. We sell you our full integration service or services to get the machine or complete packaging line running to your specifications.

Not only do we rebuild each machine, we reconfigure it to your application.

We have approximately 50 engineers and technicians on hand to service and reconfigure an inventory of 9,000 machines to meet your needs fast.

And, at a discount from new machinery prices – we’re a bargain.

Which Came First?  The Machine or The Price?

Written on by frain-sales

When buying, renting, or leasing machinery – start-ups or well-established companies will want a quick take on the price of the machinery.

Even if equipment buyers are in the early stages of understanding what they need, they will want to lock down some semblance of investment early on within their project.

It’s a chicken and egg scenario.  The answer to the question –  “How much will this machine or equipment line cost me?” –  is found only by knowing what exactly you want and what you ‘re willing to invest right now.

You can get a machine that is guaranteed not to work for very little cost.

You can also buy a brand new machine that is overkill for what you really need.  You end up buying too much machine.

 

The devil is in the details.  Here are some key questions to have answered before you shop your next machine:

  • What product are you running?
  • What size of your package or container?
  • What volumes/speed?  (10 per minute = 4,000+ units/day)
  • When do you need to have the machine or line up and running?

Additional questions:

  • How long will you need the machine?
  • Do you have any space / footprint limitations?
  • How are you handling this now / reason for change / people involved and level of experience?
  • What are your main questions / concerns / goals in deciding on the machinery?

 

Once you contact our engineers with the answers to these questions – we can comb our inventory of 9,000 machines and provide you options for one machine or entire packaging lines to best fit your specifications.  We can also provide you terms (rental, lease, purchase) and services (training, start-up) that put you in position to succeed.

 

Show Me The Money

Written on by frain-sales

There are many options within processing machinery, packaging equipment or complete packaging lines.

And, we appreciate the customer’s journey in exploring them all.

Minutes into many conversations we have at Frain, a common request from our prospective customers is:

Customer:  I just need a price.

We understand that you need to think things over and consider all angles.  We also understand that you may not be a first-time or last-time buyer.

That’s exactly why we don’t throw machines or prices over the fence.

Instead, we take two mins to verify your specifications and confirm that we have 90% of the machinery you need.

I say 90%, because no machinery leaves as is.

It would be a dis-service to PUSH equipment at our customers that won’t work for their application, arrive on time, etc.

Countless times, after discussing details with prospective customers, we’ve pointed them into a better and less expensive solution.

At the end of the day, we are a certified pre-owned equipment and machinery provider, but we don’t just sell machines – or, pass along prices.

Frain has grown and thrived for almost 40 years and has tremendous experience to offer.

We have a fully integrated, engineering services division to help you throughout your project, before and after you purchase and receive the machinery.

We do have 9,000 machines for rent and lease in 1.5 million square feet of storage.  And, we have a growing number of technicians, approximately 50 now, who work on machinery in 50,000 square feet of our main building.

Customer:  I just need a machine.

Knowing how Frain sets our equipment up, you may never buy again without checking with us first.

Many dealers and brokers purely sell on price.  They have one or two machines that they just sell as is – they plug it in and show you that the wheels go around.

We condition or customize the machine to your needs. We back it with a 6 months parts warranty.

If you’re not completely satisfied, you can send it back to us within two weeks, no questions asked.

We specialize in speed, quality, and customization.  We can get the machine to you quickly, working as intended.

All machinery that leaves our building is completely modernized.  As far as we’re concerned all the machines are 2017 when they leave our building.

Frain is not a company that’s easy to describe over the phone, video, or even in this article.  Not until you visit us, will you really get the surround effect of Frain.

Come in and visit Frain if you have the chance.  We’re different and invite you to see the difference – first hand.

Disrupting the Mold

Written on by frain-sales

You’re probably heard the saying that you can have two of the following – fast, good, and cheap – but not all three.

After posting Price Deal or Cost, we were reminded by our customer Thomas Ball that “Frain still doesn’t market its strongest concept…the three aspects of deal Cost, Delivery Time, and Quality.  You usually can have two of the three, but Frain can provide all three:  Lower Cost, High Quality Solutions, and Quick Delivery.”

More specifically, Frain provides equipment that’s fast, good, and cheap when compared to the price of new equipment.  Here’s more:

Fast – We inventory approximately 9,000 machines supported by a staff of over 40 technicians.  Our engineers will help match you to the best machine and our technicians will get it to you much faster than traditional methods.  We find that most companies are able to benefit from this speed in terms of revenue.

Cheap – With certified pre-owned equipment you get like new equipment at a discount from new.  Side by side, they work all the same for your job – only one doesn’t cost as much.

Quality –  Our machines leave the building fully addressed by our technicians and backed by parts warranty and the Frain guarantee. If you’re not 100% satisfied, you may return it within the first two weeks – no questions asked.

 

 

Price, Deal, or Cost

Written on by frain-sales

With the holiday season wrapping up, shoppers are still hitting stores – aiming to get the best deal available. Likewise, finding the best deal in packaging and processing equipment can be a game played in overtime, when you don’t have a second to spare, especially when considering all expenses incurred in finding the right machine for your project.

Equipment buyers don’t always consider the extra expenses that go into purchasing machinery. Getting individual machines or complete packaging lines late, without replacement parts / support staff, or getting the wrong machine altogether can affect:

  • Market share
  • Productivity
  • Downtime Costs
  • Net Revenue

Equipment buyers must clearly understand and equate value, not price, to the operation. Getting the proper machine, quickly, and fully supported will mean more to the bottom line than “saving” on the initial price of the unsupported, incorrect, or machine that arrives late.  Get an inside viewpoint on price from Katie Frain in our latest video:  The Question of Price

How do you define expense?

Written on by frain-sales

Paying different prices is a part of life.  Some prices are more obvious than others.  For example, the price of gas and time is not something you typically think about when you drive further to a certain grocery store to make a purchase.

Likewise, the price of a packaging or processing machine may not be apparent in the initial price tag of a given machine. The true price of the machine becomes clearer over time and many times too late.

For example, if you don’t get the machine on time, there’s likely an expense to your business in terms of market share, productivity, etc.

Furthermore, waiting months to receive a machine or replacement parts can also add to expenses in terms of downtime.  And, purchasing a machine that isn’t supported by an installation and/or servicing staff can also add time, frustration, loss of labor, and lost revenue.

In our 3rd Quarter 2016 Survey, 64% of our customers rated “time” as the number one factor for choosing Frain.  Our customers see time as an expense that Frain helps offset.  You’ve know the saying: time is money.  Our customers understand and appreciate this simple fact.

Frain is built to deliver our equipment faster than anyone else with the largest inventory of machines in North America.  Plus, we have over 40 engineers and technicians to ensure you get the right machine the first time.

Frain also has over two million parts to support our certified pre-owned machines and provide a 6-month warranty on all replaced components.  We back our equipment with 100% Guarantee.

All of our equipment goes thru Factory Acceptance Testing and approval from you before they ship.  And, if for whatever reason it doesn’t work for you – you may return it within two weeks from the order, no questions asked.

We like to think our machines and services are provided at a very fair price for what you ultimately get and avoid. Another saying you know: you get what pay for.

Contact a Frain Engineer today to get matched with the best packaging or processing equipment to match your project, timeline, and budget with flexible payment options.

The Power of Experience

Written on by frain-sales

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The story below has been shared popularly across internet and social media, and for good reason. It emphasizes the importance and value of experience. Enjoy reading it and please share!

A ship engine failed, and no one could fix it.
Then they brought in a man with 40 years on the job.
He inspected the engine carefully; top to bottom.
After looking things over, the man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer.
He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life.
The engine was fixed!
7 days later the owners got a bill for $10,000.
‘What?!’ the owners said ‘You hardly did anything. Send us an itemized bill.”
The reply simply said:
“Tapping with a hammer: $2 Knowing where to tap: $9,998”
Don’t ever underestimate experience.

In the packaging and processing industry, there are those that aim at a price or discount on equipment and those that understand true total cost of delays and especially inexperience.

Experience comes at a cost, and although most individuals clearly recognize the difference, they simply do not want to pay the difference…at least not in cash.  In the end, an erroneous perception of cost can lead to a higher loss due to an unforeseen delay in an unusable piece of equipment and plenty of fees that go hand in hand.

Frain’s 40+ mechanics and engineers have over 385 years of packaging and processing equipment experience.  This experience, our people, make the difference for our customers. We know precisely when and where to use hammers.