In my experience, Tobii reps provide very good customer service, free of charge, when a device has been purchased by the user from the company. But charges for field visits and tech support are imposed in cases when the family has a unit that wasn't purchased directly and was obtained in another way.

Amy Lustig, PhD, CCC-SLP
Restorative Speech & Swallow
Jenkintown, PA

On Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 9:45 PM, Antoinette Verdone <xxxxxx@improveability.com> wrote:
I do not think this posted properly:

We have an awesome Dynavox/Tobii rep, and he does not charge for visits.  He has a passion for ALS and goes above and beyond the call of duty.  But, I think that a rep should provide basic setup and caregiver training regardless.

I think if you are going to sell equipment to people with complex disabilities, this is part of the deal.  Now, I would agree to a paid visit if it was for regular, extended visits.  But, in that case I think this would be better done by a local AT/SLP person.  If you do not have the manpower to support your equipment to a basic degree, you should not sell it to them.  I think that an initial setup with caregiver training should be part of the deal.  

I also think that $500/hr is totally out of line.  I charge $125/hr plus travel for private visits.  $500 is not reasonable in my opinion.  



Sincerely,
 
Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP
Owner, Rehabilitation Engineer
ImproveAbility, LLC
Office: 512-522-1705
Address: 7301 Burnet Rd, Suite 102-265, Austin, TX 78757
 
DARS Provider# 1-274278960-0-000

"One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar" -- Helen Keller

On Jul 6, 2015, at 6:04 PM, Deborah Bassett <xxxxxx@icloud.com> wrote:

Wow, that's crazy! I bet that's a way to "persuade" clients to use the online trainings. 

All the Best-
Deb


Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 6, 2015, at 1:04 PM, Alisa Brownlee <xxxxxx@alsa-national.org> wrote:

Hello all,

 

I wanted to ask if anyone else is now being charged for an AAC vendor field tech visit.  We have been quoted by two different reps the same price -- $500/hour.  This is for the local AAC vendor to go an either fix/train a person on the device. 

 

Anyone else getting quoted this charge?  Your thoughts???

 

Thanks,

 

Alisa

 

Alisa Brownlee, ATP

Manager, Assistive Technology Services

ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Association, National Office and Greater Philadelphia Chapter

 

Office line: 215-631-1877

Business Cell: 610-812-0361

 

Twitter: alsassistivetec

Facebook: Alisa Brownlee ALS

 




--
Amy Lustig, PhD, MPH, CCC-SLP
Restorative Speech & Swallow
501 Washington Lane,  Suite 203A
Jenkintown, PA  19046
215-460-1150
xxxxxx@gmail.com