Loading...We’ve all been there. Sometimes we become attached to office equipment for the strangest reasons. Maybe it really is all about that tight budget or it could be that you have fond memories regarding that old fax machine. Is it because we are all prone to feel resistant to change? Who knows? Either way, we can’t escape the fact that most of the time we are reluctant to buying new equipment even if that means spending hundreds of dollars just to keep things working.
Yes. An efficient IT department is mandatory and, at least, annual servicing is more than necessary; but when is it time to let go of that old computer? When do you know your office phone is on borrowed time? It all depends. Instead of looking at the big picture, let’s focus on a particular device that is the life flow of your business communications: your phone system.
The first reason you might want to replace your current telephone system is because it’s showing its age. When your server starts to get older you will notice how things start to go wrong. This happens at different times for different systems but the fact is that all phone systems start to go downhill after a few years. It could be five years or it could be eight. It doesn’t matter. Once your equipment reaches a certain point you will have to start making endless repairs that will start costing you a lot of money.
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How Can You Tell If Your Phone System Needs Repairs?
Even if you have bought quality equipment with a long lifespan, sooner or later, these will need to be repaired. According to Stewart Telecommunications, there are several factors that help you know if your phone system is not working at full capacity. For example, if your phone calls are failing or if voicemails are lost because they can’t be saved, your phone system needs to be repaired. Additionally, if your unit malfunctions due to spills, it also needs to get a little love from a technician
When this happens, an expert might need to spend time to check each and every setup in the phone system in order to determine whether the issue is system-wide or if it is only affecting a couple of phones. Each phone and function might have to be tested individually. All of these tests take a lot of time, and time is money. Technicians charge by hour, so the longer the stay at your office… Well, do the math.
How Much Do Phone System Repairs Actually Cost?
Evolven reported that, “On average, businesses lose between $84,000 and $108,000 (US) for every hour of IT system downtime.” And, while keeping that in mind, take into consideration that the experts at TelcoDepot told us that 1 out of 5 times a company experiences downtime it’s because of issues related with their phone systems.
The good news is that this can be avoided by regular maintenance and checkups. The bad news is that a broad range of factors are taken into account when it comes to phone system repair cost. Some of the essential factors include:
- The type of phone system
- The number of extensions
- Whether the issue is in one telephone or the whole system
- Whether the issue is in the telephone system’s wiring, software or hardware
According to Home Advisor, due to its complexity, the standard repair of a PBX phone system costs $100 (for each phone extension). While a key telephone system or KSU-less system costs about $50 for each line. Besides, the repair comes to $500 whenever the phone system’s central unit is the cause of the problem. And lastly, if wires are the issue, then they must be replaced. There’s no way around that. Changing telephone system wiring costs $100 per connection, approximately.
If you are keeping track, a phone system repair could be around $600 if there’s more than one issue involved.
Other Things to Take Into Account
Even if phone manufacturers offer a warranty, whenever a handset, cable, or power supply is damaged after the first 12 months, the warranty does not usually cover replacement or repair expenses. Home Advisor also reported that the standard power supply for a telephone costs $20, changing a cable in a phone can cost around $10 and changing a router in a phone system could up to $250.
When repairing your phone system becomes an issue on its own, it is time to consider changing it for a new one. If you want to make the investment, check out this shortlist of popular cost-effective phone systems. At the end of the day, it is your call — no pun intended. Do you want to get your business up and running with a phone system that functions properly?
Popular Cost-Effective Phone Systems
- AT&T SB67118 4-Line Corded/Cordless Small Business Phone System: Retailing at $578.88, this wireless phone features the cutting-edge DECT 6.0 technology.
- Syspine A50Plus Package – 4 Line Server with 4 Mixed IP phones: Sold for $999, the Syspine A50Plus is a highly reliable phone system for small businesses with a staff between 2 and 50 members.
- X16 Small Office Digital Phone System Bundle with 4 Phones: Retailing at $647.99, this best-selling phone system is absolutely stylish and easy to install.
- Mission Machines Z-60: Developed by Mission Machines, and retailing at $599 providing, this all-in-one total office solution lets small businesses rely on the same functionality larger businesses do. Most importantly, the Z-60 grows with your business.
The Bottom Line
The new iPhone 6 Plus retails at $915. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is sold for $679. As you can see, some of the aforementioned phone systems are less expensive than a new smartphone. We also showed you that constantly repairing your old phone system costs more than buying a new one. Therefore, as your business expands and changes, you need a new phone system that can expand with you. So, what are you waiting for?