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Computerized Electro Dermal Screening Website
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So you want to buy your own CEDS equipment..... Here's the story of my equipment: I was excited and purchased my original equipment from StarTech Health Services of Orem, Utah. I bought the EQ4 System from them on May 31, 2000 for $17,070. I flew out to Utah for the crash course on using the system. I studied hard and was very excited when I brought my system home. Below is the original invoice.
Please notice that on the invoice that they supplied the computer and also it shows software upgrade to Orion was part of the purchase price. Also note the nice note "Thanks for your business Bill". Problems started when I got home. Back in those days Windows 98 was fairly new and DOS was still being used. The computer that StarTech supplied with the system had both operating systems on it. When you turned on the computer, you had to type in "DOS" or "WIN" so it would go to the right operating system. I still all the documentation. Computer worked fine. There were phone calls and emails that weren't saved by me. Below is a part of one email and a letter that I had sent them.
I got the new Windows Orion software that was part of the purchase price. I had hoped that it would work better than the DOS software that crashed continuously. I had to send the unit back to be repaired. That did not correct the problem either. I had the problem until I got the 4th upgrade of the Orion software - one year after my original purchase. The newest version isn't pictured. It seemed to work pretty well. But I really hadn't tested it thoroughly because by then I was the proud owner of the Avatar from VeraDyne. The Avatar was so easy to use that I put the StarTech system away and never got it out again until I was moving and decided it was time to get rid of it. And what do you sell something for that is 6 years old and was purchased for so much money? I listed it for $500 on Ebay along with alot of books on screening. It sold for $700. Unfortunately I forgot that my system was an EQ4 and listed it as an Orion (like the software). Also the packages had gone through customs and when the purchaser received them the power cord was missing (which might have been my error. But I can't find it.) He didn't get a schematic either because I never had one. So the purchaser was understandably upset. I apologized and refunded his entire purchase price and told him to keep the unit. He is going to try to make it run. He inquired at StarTech Health Services about the power supply. He wanted to know what voltage it used. He just wanted to go buy one at the store. They wouldn't give him the information but tried to sell him a new unit. I was rather upset when Al informed me that StarTech Health Services had told him that the unit was never meant to run under Windows. As you can see from the invoice that the Orion Windows-based software was part of the purchase price. I would never have purchased it if I hadn't been guaranteed that it would work under Windows. Here is Bill Clark's reply to the irate email that I sent him (I added the bold face and some comments):
December 14, 2006 Re: Your Email of December 13, 2006 Hello Barbara, Please let me address your concerns regarding your transaction with Allen Ramsey. Mr. Ramsey contacted us the 1st of this month regarding the purchase of an Omega System. His questions were answered and we were waiting a return call. He called today and informed us that he had purchased an EQ4 System off the Internet. He did not tell us how much he paid nor did he tell us from whom he purchased the unit. I was standing next to Stacy when he told the gentleman that we do not support the EQ4 because we can no longer obtain parts for repairs. [I know companies that keep the equipment that people use as trade-ins for parts. I guess they didn't want to do that. - bfg] {The same is true for most electronic devices in this day and age. The life expectancy of electronic products is 3-4 years. Computers are outdated before leave they store shelf. Try to find components for a computer that is over four years old.} Stacy never told the gentleman that the EQ4 was a "piece of crap". That, I assure you, were his own words, not ours. [Actually, Al never said that. I use colorful words when I write irate emails - bfg] We are proud of our past units and still have users working with the Listen and EQ4 Systems that do not want to go into newer Windows based hardware and software. They are very happy with their DOS systems and are aware that there are no replacement parts available and they will eventually have to replace their units. Perhaps it would have been in your best interest to have contacted our Service Department in advance of posting the device on EBay to insure a buyers needs could be met. Apparently Mr. Ramsey assumed that Star Tech could get him up and running. Star Tech offered to sell him an Omega [Cost is what - about $9,000? Gee, he should have jumped at that price! Why buy used equipment when new is so cheap? I had pointed out (in my irate letter) that I thought that StarTech should help Al get the unit set up and running because after he had used CEDS for a year or so, he would want new equipment and would probably buy theirs. Al told me later that he thought that I was probably right about that. But since they didn't help, he wouldn't be interested in buying from them. - bfg], minus the money he paid the seller, to allow him to work in a Windows based system. [You keep emphasizing that. Until I got this email from you, I had thought that I owned a Window-based system. I found it interesting to find out 6 years later that I didn't. - bfg] We did not know from whom he purchased the EQ4 so we were concerned when he told us the power supply and other important components of the EQ4 System, for which we could not provide any replacement parts, were not there. [The power supply was all that was missing. He didn't have a schematic and wasn't sure how everything connected - bfg] For obvious reasons, we suggested to him that he ask for a refund. He called back within five minutes and told Stacy that his money had been refunded. Our concern was that this gentleman had purchased an incomplete unit from someone that would leave him hanging high and dry. This has happened to other individuals who have contacted us 2-3 weeks after the purchase. We have talked to other manufacturers that have had the same problem. Although the price you charged for the unit was very reasonable, the cost to find and purchase a DOS computer and the missing parts may not have been a option he could afford. [If the unit had worked with the DOS system on the computer that they sold me, I would have sold the computer along with the system. - bfg] We did not think he was in a financial position to spend additional money and therefore, based on what he told us he received, we felt we were obligated to suggest he seek a refund. Since we do not have and cannot purchase an inventory of any parts relating to the EQ4 technology, which were designed in 1999, we are not able to provide any support for him. [He wanted to know the voltage of the power supply. You couldn't tell him that? - bfg] The first Orion System software came out in 2001. Early Orion software was found to be incompatible with EQ4 hardware. [I can vouch for that. It crashed repeatedly just like the DOS system they sold me - bfg] The EQ4 DOS software was updated until late 2001, after warranties had expired. By then, all users had traded into the Orion System that wanted to at the time. [Change "wanted to" to "afford to". Upgrading was hardly free. And if you do happen to have equipment that you are used to, works well, and meets your needs, why upgrade until you have to? - bfg] My last conversation entry for the record with you was dated 12/17/2001. It noted that the issues between us had been resolved. I do not recall the discussion in it's entirety, but I believe it covered the items you have mentioned and I believe you were sent a copy of the Orion software at your request. [The first copy you owed me... it's on the invoice. The other copies I nagged and begged for because all the versions kept crashing. So, yeah, that's right. It definitely was sent to me at my request. - bfg] You mentioned that I said the Orion Software would work with the EQ4. I do not recall doing so although we are aware that Dallas may have mentioned it to you without authorization. [Note the invoice above with the Orion software included in the purchase price and Bill's signed note - bfg] We have not intentionally tried to anger you or make you feel that Star Tech cheated you. When Michele was brought on as our Office Manager four years ago she spent the first year clearing up misunderstandings brought about by statements made or implied and not followed up on by a member of the company. She was tasked to make our customers happy and she has succeeded with all clients she has been made aware of during those months. That was a very difficult time for all of us at the office. Michele continues to place the customers needs at the front. She was not made aware of your position because we assumed you had moved ahead [I had moved ahead....I use the Avatar by Veradyne - bfg] and were working with the technology. Other than the EAV User group email I do not have any direct contact from you nor have I seen anything posted on your web site. Michele has reviewed your file as have I and come to the conclusion that we may have mishandled some of your issues. We both see your point of view now as well as we see our own. Although we cannot do anything about Mr. Ramsey, we wish to move forward positively with you. We are aware of the power of a web site and what negative statements can do for any business. We are also acutely aware of our ability to protect ourselves through the legal system. We have spent roughly $250,000 in our battle with BioMeridian and have prevailed at every step and will prevail at the conclusion of the litigation. It can be a long and laborious procedure. [Gosh, I thought that lawsuit with BioMeridian was over with. I guess this means that you plan on suing me for putting anything on my website about my dealings with your company? - bfg] If you are interested in working through the issues please let us know what course of action you feel needs to be pursued. [What course of action would you suggest? I no longer own any equipment made by your company - I just gave it away - free - actually it cost me to give it away because I paid the shipping - but at least now I am not storing expensive (but now totally obsolete) unused equipment and someone will be trying to get some use out of it - bfg] Sincere Wishes from all of us at Star Tech Health for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Respectfully, Bill Clark GM, Star Tech Health
I didn't include the older versions of the software when I sold it because they all crashed frequently including the DOS version. According to Bill as stated above, the system I owned was only supposed to run under DOS. They supplied the computer. I didn't receive any DOS disks only Windows 98. (If you have an EQ4 and want to see if the software crashes, I still have the DOS software....) I was sold a system that was supposed to work under Windows as you can see from the invoice - Orion software was Windows based not DOS. But as you can see from Bill Clark's latest email, he doesn't remember that they sold the EQ4 with Windows software. And why didn't I trade in the EQ4 for the new Orion equipment? Because they wanted more money. I don't remember the exact price. Was quite a bit more than $1000. Why would I trade in a system I was still learning and had barely used for a new system? It is probably just my own personal feelings about spending $17,000 on something that I kinda expect it to be usable for more than a year. I hope Al can get the unit running. The unit did not run well with the DOS software or the first three versions of the Orion software. It seemed to work fine with the fourth version of the Orion software. I did not send Al the DOS software. He got the Windows software - the version that seemed to work pretty well. I didn't see any point in sending him software that crashes frequently. At this point I would feel very guilty charging Al anything for the system. The manufacturer says that this system doesn't exist - an EQ4 windows-based system. I had purchased the unit 6 years ago. StarTech Health Services no longer services 6-year-old equipment. I LOVE my Avatar and hope that those of you who are looking to purchase equipment find a system that you will love to use, too. There are a number of different manufacturers who make nice equipment to choose from. |
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