Purchasing Qualcomm Equipment

guest · Jun 4, 2005

Anybody out there own their Qualcomm equipment rather than leasing it? Lease rates vary, but between the lease cost, the installation cost and the insurance cost, at some point it would become cost effective to purchase rather than lease. It would also make changing carriers a little easier by not having to have one set removed and another installed.

terryandrene · Jun 4, 2005

If you think you'll be using the qualcomm for more than three years and your carrier allows it and doesn't charge a usage fee, it'll just about be worth it. I've paid over $18,000 in lease fees for mine.

LDB · Jun 5, 2005

They show up on ebay once in a while. I think it's a good idea. I wonder if the carriers will accept it. The cynic in me sees the QC as an additional profit margin for the carrier. Probable true cost about $20 a week versus charge to O/O of $35 a week times how many trucks? It's certainly worth looking into.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

Lawrence · Jun 5, 2005

I remember when at Robert Express you had the option to purchase your own QC. If I recall correctly you had to still pay for messages.

It didn't seem that attractive because you were liable for any repairs or maintenance to the unit. Like most people I had to exchange or repair most of the QC's. When you did the numbers - it was a near wash.

Lawrence,
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RichM · Jun 5, 2005

Met a couple with an Roberts E unit once. They had bought their own unit and said they did not have to pay the weekly charge.This was because Roberts could not figure out a method of payment. On the same subject some people including myself feel that if you are off for a week or do not get a trip offered to you during a week you shouldn't have to pay the weekly fee.

raceman · Jun 5, 2005

Wow! here is a first I think every answer so far is right. LDB is dead on. The companies make big money lease us the QC. You will never make me see it differently. The lease is to their benefit.
RichM is right and Terry is right.

Your best bet is to find out if carries will let you have your own and if so, flip a coin.

Terry I wish you would not have shown that figure. It is one more thing that I have to now calculate and kick myself for afterwards.

Raceman
OTR O/O

Loose_Cannon47 · Jun 5, 2005

I don't know what you're paying, but I picked up a couple handout at MATS...Landstar EA gets $310 install and $25.50/week usage...Conway Now is $195 install and $35/week usage...if you have to have it, you shouldn't have to pay above the company's cost...they are for sure making serious money out of your pocket with the Qualcomm requirement... :-(

Loose

guest · Jun 6, 2005

If you ever want to talk to someone who is seriously interested in being NO HELP WHATSOEVER, try calling Qualcomm to discuss this issue.

Their position is we don't sell equipment to anyone but the carrier, period.

I hope Qualcomm enjoys their monopoly while it lasts because this kind of attitude is exactly what opens the door to alternative technologies and competition. Reminds me of the way the cable TV companies used to be.

guest · Jun 7, 2005

I spoke too soon. Talked to someone at Qualcomm a little higher up the food chain and he was quite helpful. Bottom line is equipment purchase is about $2,000 and the monthly fee for going through them rather than the carrier is about $50 to $75. My take is that it would take a long time for this approach to result in a savings.

TheGoodGuy · Jun 8, 2005

You think Qualcomm is bad, you should try to operate with PeopleNet.

Talk about a wasted resource, about all its good for is tracking your vehicle, and we have to pay for the priviledge!!!!

:-( :-( :-( :-(

LDB · Jun 8, 2005

>I spoke too soon. Talked to someone at Qualcomm a little
>higher up the food chain and he was quite helpful. Bottom
>line is equipment purchase is about $2,000 and the monthly
>fee for going through them rather than the carrier is about
>$50 to $75. My take is that it would take a long time for
>this approach to result in a savings.

At $35 a week rental that's $1820 per year. Through Qualcomm it's $600-900 a year at 50-75 a month. Provided those numbers are accurate it saves $920-1220 a year. At that rate it takes 2 years to pay the purchase price and from there on out it's saving money since the weekly is $17.50 or less. That's half the company rate.

What's the name and number of the person you talked to at Qualcomm? Thanks.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

guest · Jun 9, 2005

Call Qualcomm (look on the website) and ask for the representative who handles your carrier's account. Tell them you are an owner operator who wants to purchase equipment directly from them. I believe they are going to want you to sign a 5 year contract for the $50/month service, plus they may want to charge an additional 3 cents a message (maybe not). The equipment is $2250, plus approximately $250 to set up the new account, plus some other fees and expenses (probably not more than a couple of hundred dollars).

A couple of things to think about are coverage in the event that your unit is stolen or damaged. Another thing would be what happens if the equipment becomes obsolete and you have to upgrade to new equipment. Long term, the purchase option could work really well. Plus, you could sell the equipment if you wanted to, though I'm puzzled that there seems to be so little used equipment out there.

guest · Jun 9, 2005

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing....

I had another conversation with Qualcomm today and got a little different spin on the matter of purchasing equipment. Since I have now gotten three different stories from Qualcomm, let me just qualify the information provided above as probably within the ballpark but probably not completely accurate.

Buyer beware.

If anyone has done it I would like to hear about how it has worked for you.