Recommendation for Financing a total station

nettronic, post: 323728, member: 9486 wrote: Short Version of the story... I found Hayes instrument for Leasing. They have the unit for 4200, but I have found it elsewhere for a few hundred less.

Hayes has a pretty good reputation. Probably better to pay a few hundred extra to buy from a reputable dealer than to take your chances with some unknown internet seller.

nettronic, post: 323728, member: 9486 wrote: ... it would be nice to upload a stake out or piling layout to the head unit ....

This was new technology in 1995. I remember how many hours can be spent punching up coordinates for stakeout. And how many mistakes can be made doing it. Really, money spent bringing your technology up to at least a level that enabled loading point files for staking would be money well spent.

nettronic, post: 323728, member: 9486 wrote: Short Version of the story...

Our nikon was stolen and sold to a pawn shop. Then the police hit a dead end. I tracked the unit to ebay where it was sold to a guy in the florida. Told the police how to report it... I dont think we are getting it back ..

I'm assuming the equipment was uninsured. Shame, shame. If nothing else, insurance companies are generally relentless in their efforts to retrieve "stray" equipment. They beat law enforcement by nautical miles when it comes to tracking down hot gear.

Get some insurance on the next one. It's worth the chump change that it costs.

All sorts of options. The problem I ran into years ago trying to finance one through my local bank was that they really didn't want something like that as collateral. So, if there is anything else with a collateral value in the range you need that would be a common loan category you can probably do something with your local bank. The dollars of interest return on a $5000 loan is almost nothing these days so it is hard to get much of anyone excited about loaning such a small amount.

Other alternatives may jump that 4-5 percent interest rate to 12-18 percent interest rate.

nettronic, post: 323728, member: 9486 wrote: Short Version of the story...

Our nikon was stolen and sold to a pawn shop. Then the police hit a dead end. I tracked the unit to ebay where it was sold to a guy in the florida. Told the police how to report it... I dont think we are getting it back

Need to finance a replacement unit before our loaner time is up on another unit. We are looking to finance something for about 5K used is fine if the unit is in good condition.

I found a Cygnus unit that looks pretty spiffy, only thing I am uncertain about is that it still uses a rs232 interface instead of usb. We generally do not attach our instrument to a PC since we are still plotting on old UNIX workstations it will be a cold day in hell when I get by boss to switch over to Autocad lol. So probably not much of an issue there. I write down all our angles and distances. But it would be nice to upload a stake out or piling layout to the head unit and I like the idea of the laser pointer to assist my rodman, who has trouble with estimating distances.

So I found Hayes instrument for Leasing. They have the unit for 4200, but I have found it elsewhere for a few hundred less.

We are not looking to lease, but to finance.
Maybe $1000 down and finance the rest.

Thanks In Advance.

Rich

What is your insurance company doing to help you?

Cash is the only option that makes sense for a purchase this small...financing something like this is a poor business decision.

If it was in the Florida Panhandle, let me know more.

Start with you local credit union or bank and set your monthly payments
There were three very nice Sokkia Set330R3s on here a few days ago, they are a nice small frame long range prismless TS

Lending Club and Prosper make small loans pretty readily.

Is that UNIX work station running Vango?

Hey all.

UNIX... no we are running HPU10.20b but with 9's desktop interface. Uh, Vue I think it is. The survey software we are still using is Sitecomp.

After seeing the okay here on Hayes Instruments, and another local surveyor (old friend of my boss) also give the thumbs up we are going to finance a reflectorless unit through them. Minimum is 5000, I do not recall doing any ALTA work since I have been back to work here, we are sticking with residential small commercial and waterfront developments. I will talk to my boss about insurance but...

Looking at the Cygnus unit they have right now, going to replace our prisms and pole as well so we should be close to the minimum.

Also, my boss just bought an Theodyne Gurley model 100 from his old boss. Mint condition. It is amazing, especially seeing how beatup most of the total stations I see in use around town are the condition of this stuns me.

Norman, yes our old nikon had that ability as well, but I never got to use it. Hoping to change that, but as a full time employee, full time student and a full time father, its hard to keep track of all the little things that I need/want to do, especially if the boss thinks pencil and paper are preferable. lol

oldpacer, I would have to talk to the ACPD to find out where it went in Florida again, IIRC it was on the peninsula though. I forget if the police told me, or I managed to get that information out of ebay somehow, the serial number has been reported as stolen so it wont be getting resold anytime soon I expect.

Thanks for all the help guys.

I got my equipment through Hayes when I went into business for myself. Their lease program is actually a lease-to-own, which worked very well for me. You're basically financing the equipment with the option to give it back if you decide for any reason that you don't want it.

If you aren't married to a brand, explore offers from the manufacturers themselves. just paid off the first antenna and robot on a 2-year, no interest offer from Leica. Halfway through the same deal on the second set of equipment.

Purchase an extended warranty that covers you through whatever finance period you choose.

You won't be able to get a loan without proof of insurance. This is good. You need to have equipment insurance.

Great advice guys, it will benefit me when i strike out on my own. For now we went eith hayes financing. They sent us a loaner while the paperwork is getting finished. Great company.

nettronic, post: 323984, member: 9486 wrote: Hey all.

UNIX... no we are running HPU10.20b but with 9's desktop interface. Uh, Vue I think it is. The survey software we are still using is Sitecomp.

After seeing the okay here on Hayes Instruments, and another local surveyor (old friend of my boss) also give the thumbs up we are going to finance a reflectorless unit through them. Minimum is 5000, I do not recall doing any ALTA work since I have been back to work here, we are sticking with residential small commercial and waterfront developments. I will talk to my boss about insurance but...

Looking at the Cygnus unit they have right now, going to replace our prisms and pole as well so we should be close to the minimum.

Also, my boss just bought an Theodyne Gurley model 100 from his old boss. Mint condition. It is amazing, especially seeing how beatup most of the total stations I see in use around town are the condition of this stuns me.

Norman, yes our old nikon had that ability as well, but I never got to use it. Hoping to change that, but as a full time employee, full time student and a full time father, its hard to keep track of all the little things that I need/want to do, especially if the boss thinks pencil and paper are preferable. lol

oldpacer, I would have to talk to the ACPD to find out where it went in Florida again, IIRC it was on the peninsula though. I forget if the police told me, or I managed to get that information out of ebay somehow, the serial number has been reported as stolen so it wont be getting resold anytime soon I expect.

Thanks for all the help guys.

"I will talk to my boss about insurance but... "

Please go on...