Просекатель для металлического профиля под гипсокартон: инструкция, разновидности описание

Очень часто при работе с гипсокартоном приходится собирать каркас из металлического профиля. Большинство имеют представление о том, как должен крепиться гипсокартон, но мало кто догадывается обо всех тонкостях и нюансах крепления профилей между собой. Для этого существуют различные способы, но просекатель для металлического профиля под гипсокартон является наиболее удобным.

Преимущества и недостатки

Просекатели могут иметь саму разную форму в зависимости от производителя

Просекатель представляет собой приспособление для крепления между собой профилей. На его счет у многих неоднозначные взгляды. Большинство сходится на его необходимости, меньшая часть считает такой метод крепления весьма ненадежным. Разберемся в ситуации, показав, какими положительными качествами обладает просекатель для профиля.

1. Экономится время. А ведь действительно, с таким инструментом работа идет значительно быстрее. Использовать заклепки или саморезы по металлу значительно дольше.
2. После использования просекателя на поверхности профиля с лицевой стороны не остается никаких заусениц, вмятин и шероховатостей. В итоге гипсокартон ляжет равномерно на каркас. Если же крепить саморезами, то гипсокартон будет немного оттопыриваться в месте крепления из-за толщины шляпки.
3. Экономия денег на крепеже. Не нужно будет покупать маленькие саморезы по металлу, чтобы скреплять ими направляющие. Для самого инструмента также не нужно ничего дополнительно покупать.
4. Простота в использовании. Работа с инструментом проста и интуитивна. Нужно иметь лишь достаточную силу, чтобы проводить нажим на ручки.
5. Качественный просекатель для гипсокартона создает надежное крепление. Такой узел способен выдержать не только лист гипсокартона, но и куда большие нагрузки.

Сразу хотелось бы остановиться и на негативных моментах. В последнем пункте речь шла о качественном инструменте, но не все они такие. Дешевые просекатели могут делать слабые просечки, которые легко расшатываются, что приводит к ослаблению крепления. Иногда таким грешат и более дорогие просекатели. Поэтому перед выбором инструмента нужно убедиться, что он делает правильные просечки. В этом случае денег жалеть не стоит.

Просекатели, которыми можно выполнять работу одной рукой, дороже двуручных

Не забывайте, что просекатель служит для временной фиксации профилей перед тем, как каркас из них будет обшит гипсокартоном. Некоторые его рассматривают как средство, при помощи которого можно намертво закрепить каркас. Такое мнение ошибочно.

Выбор правильного инструмента

Вопрос о том, какой просекатель лучше для соединения профилей не имеет единого ответа. Однако можно обозначить качества, которыми должен обладать инструмент, чтобы считаться достаточно хорошим для работы. Д и вообще стоит остановить внимание на том, как работает данное приспособление.

Детальное устройство просекателя

Еще 10 лет назад было сложно найти просекатель, которым можно было бы собирать каркас для гипсокартона. Сейчас же таких проблем нет. На самом деле просекателей стало такое множество, что сложно определиться с выбором. Они бывают разных марок, моделей и типов. По своей конструкции они делятся на следующие типы:

• ручной. Наиболее популярная и дешевая разновидность. Такой инструмент имеет форму клещей, которые пробивают дыру в профилях, что и позволяет им держаться вместе. Дорогие модели еще выгибают усики с обратной стороны профиля, делая крепление более надежным. Ручной просекатель для металлического профиля под гипсокартон обычно предназначен для работы обеими руками;
• пневматический. Это профессиональный прибор, который нецелесообразно покупать для одного ремонта. Такой инструмент может создавать за раз сразу несколько отверстий, а для работы с ним требуется минимум усилий;
• станочный. Такие приспособления нужны только в промышленном производстве и работают в автоматическом режиме.

Самая простая модель просекателя не менее качественная, чем дорогие аналоги

У просекателя скоба (ушко) должна быть достаточно большого размера. Это необходимо, чтобы в неё мог зайти профиль и инструмент был достаточно маневренным. Особо это актуально при работе со стоечными и направляющими профилями. Иногда скоба настолько маленькая, что работать комфортно можно только с направляющими, но никак не с потолочным профилем.

При выборе инструмента стоит обратить внимание на усиленные модели. При их изготовлении используются прочные материалы, и просекатель практически не может поломаться во время эксплуатации. Его режущая часть всегда может быть заменена, если затупится.

Производители и бренды

Чтобы подобрать просекатель для профиля гипсокартона, нужно ориентироваться на несколько показателей. Но в конечном итоге начинает казаться, что все они на одно лицо. Даже отфильтровав непригодные инструменты и подобрав ручной просекатель из хорошего металла с большим ушком и эргономической ручкой, остаются вопросы. Под такие критерии всё равно подходит масса инструментов. И тогда начинаешь задумывать о производителе.

Лидируют на рынке компании, которые также занимаются изготовлением гипсокартона и профилей для него. Неудивительно, что многие отдают предпочтение продукции компании «Кнауф». Их модель весьма проста, но в то же время достаточно функциональна. Вся конструкция просекателей Кнауф состоит из неподвижной ручки со скобой, подвижной ручки и пробойника.

Если нужна усиленная модель, то выбирать стоит бренд Stanley. Преимущество таких просекателей в их надежности и возможности работать одной рукой. Но и цена больше, чем у всех конкурентов.

Просекатель Кнауф для любителей, а Stanley – для профессионалов

При желании сэкономить можно выбрать китайский Matrix или отечественный Центринструмент. Цена небольшая, качество соответственное.

Модель компании «КБ Прок» очень удобна и проста в использовании, но применять её можно только при создании перегородок.

Продукция Knipex и EDMULTRAPROFIL изготавливается из толстой стали. Она предназначена для профессионального использования и стоит соответственно.

Существует множество других брендов, продукция которых между собой мало чем отличается. Причем цена на такой инструмент может разниться десятикратно. Если просекатель для металлического профиля под гипсокартон нужен для одного ремонта, то можно взять дешевую модель, с которой будет сложней работать. Если же он будет использоваться часто, то лучше взять дорогой профессиональный инструмент.

Правила работы с инструментом

Порядок работ очень простой и с ним справится даже ребенок, если ему хватит сил. Для еще большей доступности сделаем инструкцию по использованию пошаговой.

1. Выставляются профиля в положение, в котором их необходимо закрепить.
2. Ручки просекателя разводятся в разные стороны, а рабочий крюк заводится между профилей к месту крепления.
3. Одной или двумя руками (зависит от модели) ручки сводятся вместе резким движением. Должен прозвучать щелчок.
4. Ручки разводятся в разные стороны, и просекатель вынимается из профилей.

Получившаяся просечка может иметь разную форму, которая зависит от модели просекателя

Желательно каждое соединение профилей крепить двумя просечками, так надежней. Во время работы нельзя дергать инструмент в разные стороны. Он должен быть в одном положении во время скрепления направляющих. Во время работы центр пуансона должен быть размещен под прямым углом к профилям, что скрепляются.

На модели должен быть указан максимальный размер толщины профиля, с которым она может работать.

К профессиональным просекателям для металлического профиля под гипсокартон выдвигается еще ряд требований относительно того, как за ними нужно ухаживать. Однако для домашнего ремонта своими руками всё это не актуально.

90000 How to Choose the Best Method to Take Notes — Effectiviology 90001 90002 90003 90004 90002 90004 90002 A common question people ask is whether you should write notes by hand or type them up on a computer. 90004 90002 In short, studies generally show that writing notes by hand allows you to remember the material better than typing it. However, when it comes to actually choosing which method you should use, the answer is more complicated than that, since there are situations where typing your notes could be better than writing them by hand.90004 90002 Accordingly, in the following article, you will see how each note-taking method affects the way you remember the material, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each method, how you can counteract some of those disadvantages, and how to decide which note-taking method is best for you. 90004 90002 90004 90015 Note-taking and your memory 90016 90002 In general, research shows that taking notes by hand allows you to remember the material better than typing those notes on a computer.This has been demonstrated in a number of studies on the topic, ranging from those which examined memory in general, to those which examined note-taking methods in a classroom setting. For example: 90004 90002 In the case of taking notes during lectures, the main issue with typing is that people are more predisposed to engage in verbatim note-taking when they type, in comparison with when they write their notes by hand. This means that when using a laptop, people tend to just type whatever the speaker or lecturer says, in a way that involves a relatively shallow cognitive processing of the material.90004 90002 In comparison, writing down the material by hand usually involves a more in-depth processing of the material, since people tend to give more consideration to which parts of the material they should write down, as opposed to just transcribing everything the speaker says word-for-word. 90004 90002 Being aware of this issue might allow you to take better notes while typing, as long as you can successfully summarize and rephrase the material while typing, instead of just transcribing it verbatim.90004 90002 However, testing shows that in most cases, telling students to avoid taking verbatim notes when typing does not actually lead to an improvement in their note-taking ability. 90004 90002 This does not mean that you will not be able to improve if you actively work on how you take notes, especially if you dedicate yourself to it in the long-term, but it does mean that you should be wary, and honestly ask yourself whether taking notes on a computer is hindering your learning. 90004 90002 90004 90015 Factors to consider when deciding how to take notes 90016 90033 Conceptual versus factual learning 90034 90002 The way in which you’re expected to interact with the material that you’re learning matters when choosing which note-taking method to use.90004 90002 Specifically, you should consider whether you’re expected to engage in 90038 conceptual 90039 90038 learning 90039, which involves reaching a thorough understanding of the underlying concepts in the material, or where you’re expected to engage in 90038 factual 90039 90038 learning 90039, which involves memorizing specific details in the material. 90004 90002 The advantages of taking notes by hand are more significant in the case of 90048 conceptual 90049 learning, since it requires deeper processing of the material compared to 90048 factual 90049 learning, which only necessitates a shallow interaction with the material.90004 90002 Accordingly, if you’re taking notes for a subject which requires conceptual understanding of the material, then you should be more predisposed to taking notes by hand, as opposed to typing them on a computer. Conversely, if you’re taking notes for a subject which requires factual understanding of the material, then you should be less concerned with the cognitive benefits of writing notes by hand. 90004 90002 90004 90033 Access and distractions 90034 90002 Choosing to type your notes means that you end up working primarily using an electronic device, which gives you access to a lot of tools while you take notes.This can be either beneficial or detrimental to your learning. 90004 90002 The 90048 advantage 90049 of having access to such tools while you take notes is that you can look things up during the lecture if the speaker is unclear, or if you want to examine supplemental material. 90004 90002 The 90048 disadvantage 90049 of having access to more tools while you take notes is that you also have access to a lot more distractions. This can be detrimental to your learning, since multitasking on your laptop during lectures has been shown to significantly hinder students ‘learning.90004 90002 You can try and mitigate the issues which are associated with working on your computer, by doing things such as by blocking your access to sites or programs which you know might distract you, though this does not always work. 90004 90002 At the same time however, keep in mind that writing notes by hand does not mean that you do not have access to any distractions. For example, if you tend to constantly check your phone when you’re not on your computer, then you might encounter similar issues when taking notes by hand as you would when typing them on a computer.90004 90002 Overall, this means that you need to be self-aware and reflective when thinking which note-taking platform will allow you to concentrate better. Furthermore, regardless of which platform you end up choosing, you should make sure to minimize external distractions as much as possible, whenever those distractions hinder your ability to learn. 90004 90002 90004 90033 Length and type of text 90034 90002 Writing notes by hand tends to make you more succinct, since people can generally type faster than they can write.This can be an advantage, since it means that you only include the more important aspects of the material in your notes. However, if you are forced to be so brief that you omit details that are more minor but still necessary, then this brevity can become an issue. 90004 90002 In comparison with writing notes by hand, typing notes allows you to write down more details, though the disadvantage of writing too much is that you might end up drowning in unnecessary details, which could make it more difficult to study from those notes later on.90004 90002 Therefore, you should decide whether you will benefit more from being brief and concise, or from covering all the details which are mentioned during the lecture. This also has to do with how you’re expected to know the material (i.e. conceptual vs. factual understanding), as we previously saw. 90004 90002 In addition, keep in mind that: 90004 90087 90088 Certain topics might be faster to write by hand (for example, if there are a lot of formulas involved). 90089 90088 If necessary, you can generally increase your handwriting speed or your typing speed using a few small modifications.90089 90092 90002 90004 90033 Preferences and study technique 90034 90002 Sometimes you may not feel comfortable writing notes by hand, because doing so might be too slow, or because you’re not familiar enough with the material in order to process it during the lecture. In such cases, typing the notes might be a preferable option to writing them down by hand. 90004 90002 Similarly, if you rely on going over the material after the lecture in order to learn it, whether a few days later when you’re doing homework or months later right before an exam, then it can be beneficial to produce more comprehensive notes by typing, even if it comes at the cost of not processing the material as much as when you’re writing them by hand.90004 90002 90004 90033 Practical benefits of digital notes 90034 90002 There are a few advantages to typing your notes on a computer as opposed to writing them by hand, which are not directly related to your memory and learning ability, but which are still important to consider : 90004 90087 90088 Digital notes are easier to edit and fix. 90089 90088 Digital notes are easier to search through. 90089 90088 Digital notes are more reliable, especially if you back them up appropriately (e.g.there’s no chance of forgetting your notebook somewhere and losing a year’s worth of notes). 90089 90088 Digital notes are easier to share (though some people may consider this to be a disadvantage). 90089 90092 90002 These are all things that do not directly influence your learning ability, but which you should still take into account when deciding whether to write notes by hand or type them on a computer. 90004 90002 90004 90015 Figuring out what works for you 90016 90002 As with any similar decision, there are a lot of variables to consider when it comes to choosing which method is best for you, so it’s impossible to say that one note-taking method will work better for everyone.90004 90002 Furthermore, different note-taking methods might work better in different scenarios, and this depends both on the nature of the material that you need to learn, as well as on the way you will utilize your notes later. 90004 90002 Accordingly, when deciding how to take notes, you should try things out for yourself and find out which method works better for you. Nevertheless, the following guidelines can help you figure out which note-taking method will generally be preferable in which case: 90004 90002 90048 Taking notes by hand works best 90049 when you want to fully process the material as you’re writing it down.It’s especially helpful when you’re expected to achieve a conceptual understanding of the material, when you need to focus on the most important aspects of the material, and when the material you need to write down is not convenient to type up on a computer . 90004 90002 The main issue with writing things by hand is that it generally takes longer, which can be problematic if you can not write fast enough to keep up with the speaker, or if you end up being so concise that you omit critical information.90004 90002 90048 Typing your notes works best 90049 if there is a lot of material that you need to write down, and taking notes by hand is not convenient or fast enough. You tend to process the material less as you’re typing it, especially if you end up just transcribing everything verbatim, so you will probably have to rely more on going over the material after you finish taking the notes. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and depends on your overall study technique. 90004 90002 Other advantages of digital notes are that they’re easier to edit and fix, easier to search through, and are more reliable in terms of backups.However, working on a digital device could potentially open you up to more distractions, which is detrimental to your learning if you’re not careful. 90004 90002 90004 90015 Summary and conclusions 90016 90087 90088 Writing notes by hand generally improves your understanding of the material and helps you remember it better, since writing it down involves deeper cognitive-processing of the material than typing it. 90089 90088 The main issue with typing is that it encourages people to transcribe the material verbatim, exactly as presented by the speaker, which means that they do not process the material as much.This is difficult to avoid, even if you’re aware of the issue. 90089 90088 Despite the fact that typing notes on a computer does not promote as much cognitive processing of the material, typing notes and writing them by hand are both valid note-taking methods, and each can be preferable in different situations, as they both have their advantages and disadvantages. 90089 90088 Writing notes by hand is better if you need to process the material as you’re writing it, and especially if you’re expected to reach a conceptual understanding of the material (as opposed to factual understanding).The main issue with writing is that if you can not write fast enough you might not be able to keep up with the speaker, which could cause you to omit critical information. 90089 90088 Typing notes is better if you need to write a lot, or if you’re planning to go over the material again later. It also has the added bonus of making the text easier to edit and search through, though the use of a computer potentially opens you up to more distractions, which you should take care to avoid. 90089 90092 90002 90004 90159.90000 Quality Is More Than Making a Good Product 90001 90002 Corporate executives and consumers have in recent years adopted divergent views of product quality. Several recent surveys indicate how wide the quality perception gap is: 90003 90004 90005 Three out of five chief executives of the country’s largest 1,300 companies said in a тисячі дев’ятсот вісімдесят одна survey that quality is improving; only 13% said it is declining. 90006 1 90007 Yet 49% of 7,000 consumers surveyed in a separate тисячі дев’ятсот вісімдесят один study said that the quality of U.S. products had declined in the past five years. In addition, 59% expected quality to stay down or decline further in the upcoming five years. 90006 2 90007 90010 90011 90004 90005 Half the executives of major American appliance manufacturers said in a 1981 survey that the reliability of their products had improved in recent years. Only 21% of U.S. consumers expressed that belief. 90006 3 90007 90010 90011 90004 90005 Executives of U.S. auto manufacturers cite internal records that show quality to be improving each year.»Ford quality improved by 27% in our тисячі дев’ятсот вісімдесят одна models over 1980 models,» said a Ford executive. 90006 4 90007 But surveys show that consumers perceive the quality of U.S. cars to be declining in comparison with imported cars, particularly those from Japan. 90010 90011 90002 Mindful of this gap, many U.S. companies have turned to promotional tactics to improve their quality image. Such efforts are evident in two trends. The first is the greater emphasis advertisements place on the word 90025 quality 90026 and on such themes as reliability, durability, and workmanship.Ford, for instance, advertises that «quality is job one,» and Levi Strauss proffers the notion that «quality never goes out of style.» And many ads now claim that products are «the best» or «better than» competitors ‘. 90003 90002 The second trend is the move to quality assurance and extended service programs. Chrysler offers a five-year, 50,000 mile warranty; Whirlpool Corporation promises that parts for all models will be available for 15 years; Hewlett-Packard gives customers a 99% uptime service guarantee on its computers; and Mercedes-Benz makes technicians available for roadside assistance after normal dealer service hours.90003 90002 While these attempts to change customer perceptions are a step in the right direction, a company’s or a product’s quality image obviously can not be improved overnight. It takes time to cultivate customer confidence, and promotional tactics alone will not do the job. In fact, they can backfire if the claims and promises do not hold up and customers perceive them as gimmicks. 90003 90002 To ensure delivery of advertising claims, companies must build quality into their products or services.From a production perspective, this means a companywide commitment to eliminate errors at every stage of the product development process-product design, process design, and manufacturing. It also means working closely with suppliers to eliminate defects from all incoming parts. 90003 90002 Equally important yet often overlooked are the marketing aspects of quality-improvement programs. Companies must be sure they are offering the benefits customers seek. Quality should be primarily customer-driven, not technology-driven, production-driven, or competitor-driven.90003 90002 In developing product quality programs, companies often fail to take into account two basic sets of questions. First, how do customers define quality, and why are they suddenly demanding higher quality than in the past? Second, how important is high quality in customer service, and how can it be ensured after the sale? 90003 90002 As mundane as these questions may sound, the answers provide essential information on how to build an effective customer-driven quality program. We should not forget that customers, after all, serve as the ultimate judge of quality in the marketplace.90003 90040 The Production-Service Connection 90041 90002 Product performance and customer service are closely linked in any quality program; the greater the attention to product quality in production, the fewer the demands on the customer service operation to correct subsequent problems. Office equipment manufacturers, for example, are designing products to have fewer manual and more automatic controls. Not only are the products easier to operate and less susceptible to misuse but they also require little maintenance and have internal troubleshooting systems to aid in problem identification.The up-front investment in quality minimizes the need for customer service. 90003 90002 Besides its usual functions, customer service can act as an early warning system to detect product quality problems. Customer surveys measuring product performance can also help spot quality control or design difficulties. And of course detecting defects early spares later embarrassment and headaches. 90003 90046 Quality-improvement successes 90047 90002 It is relevant at this point to consider two companies that have developed successful customer-driven quality programs: L.L. Bean, Inc. and Caterpillar Tractor Company. Although these two companies are in different businesses-L.L. Bean sells outdoor apparel and equipment primarily through mail-order while Caterpillar manufactures earth-moving equipment, diesel engines, and materials-handling devices, which it sells through dealers-both enjoy an enviable reputation for high quality. 90003 90002 Some 96.7% of 3,000 customers L.L. Bean recently surveyed said that quality is the attribute they like most about the company.Bean executes a customer-driven quality program by: 90003 90002 Conducting regular customer satisfaction surveys and sample group interviews to track customer and noncustomer perceptions of the quality of its own and its competitors ‘products and services. 90003 90002 Tracking on its computer all customer inquiries and complaints and updating the file daily. 90003 90002 Guaranteeing all its products to be 100% satisfactory and providing a full cash refund, if requested, on any returns.90003 90002 Asking customers to fill out a short, coded questionnaire and explain their reasons for returning the merchandise. 90003 90002 Performing extensive field tests on any new outdoor equipment before listing it in the company’s catalogs. 90003 90002 Even stocking extra buttons for most of the apparel items carried years ago, just in case a customer needs one. 90003 90002 Despite recent financial setbacks, Caterpillar continues to be fully committed to sticking with its quality program, which includes: 90003 90002 Conducting two customer satisfaction surveys following each purchase, one after 300 hours of product use and the second after 500 hours of use.90003 90002 Maintaining a centrally managed list of product problems as identified by customers from around the world. 90003 90002 Analyzing warranty and service reports submitted by dealers, as part of a product improvement program. 90003 90002 Asking dealers to conduct a quality audit as soon as the products are received and to attribute defects to either assembly errors or shipping damages. 90003 90002 Guaranteeing 48-hour delivery of any part to any customer in the world. 90003 90002 Encouraging dealers to establish side businesses in rebuilding parts to reduce costs and increase the speed of repairs.90003 90040 How Do Customers Define Quality? 90041 90002 To understand how customers perceive quality, both L.L. Bean and Caterpillar collect much information directly from them. Even with such information, though, pinpointing what consumers 90025 really 90026 want is no simple task. For one thing, consumers can not always articulate their quality requirements. They often speak in generalities, complaining, for instance, that they bought «a lemon» or that manufacturers «do not make ’em like they used to.»90003 90002 Consumers ‘priorities and perceptions also change over time. Taking automobiles as an example, market data compiled by SRI International suggest that consumer priorities shifted from styling in 1970 to fuel economy in 1975 and then to quality of design and performance in 1980. 90006 5 90007 (See Exhibit I.) 90003 90002 Changes in the importance to customers of U.S. automobile characteristics 90003 90002 In addition, consumers perceive a product’s quality relative to competing products.As John F. Welch, chairman and chief executive of General Electric Company, observed, «The customer … rates us better or worse than somebody else. It’s not very scientific, but it’s disastrous if you score low. » 90006 6 90007 90003 90002 One of the major problems facing U.S. automobile manufacturers is the public perception that imported cars, particularly those from Japan, are of higher quality. When a 1981 90025 New York Times 90026 -CBS News poll asked consumers if they thought that Japanese-made cars are usually better quality than those made here, about the same, or not as good, 34% answered better, 30% said the same , 22% said not as good, and 14% did not know.When the Roper Organization asked the same question in 1977, only 18% said better, 30% said the same, 32% said not as good, and 20% did not know. 90006 7 90007 90003 90002 Further, consumers are demanding high quality at low prices. When a national panel of shoppers was asked where it would like to see food manufacturers invest more, the highest-rated response was «better quality for the same price.» 90006 8 90007 In search of such value, some consumers are even chartering buses to Cohoes Manufacturing Company, an apparel specialty store located in Cohoes, New York that has a reputation for offering high-quality, designer-label merchandise at discount prices.90003 90002 Consumers ‘perceptions of product quality are influenced by various factors at each stage of the buying process. Some of the major influences are listed in Exhibit II. 90003 90002 Exhibit II Factors influencing consumer perception of quality * * Not necessarily in order of importance. 90003 90046 Watching for key trends 90047 90002 What should companies do to improve their understanding of customers ‘perspectives on quality? We know of no other way than to collect and analyze internal data and to monitor publicly available information.90003 90002 Internally generated information is obtained principally through customer surveys, interviews of potential customers (such as focus group interviews), reports from salespeople, and field experiments. Recall how L.L. Bean and Caterpillar use these approaches to obtain data on how their current and potential customers rate their products ‘quality versus those of competitors’. 90003 90002 Publicly available information of a more general nature can be obtained through pollsters, independent research organizations, government agencies, and the news media.Such sources are often helpful in identifying shifts in societal attitudes. 90003 90002 Companies that try to define their customers ‘attitudes on product and service quality often focus too narrowly on the meaning of quality for their products and services; an understanding of changing attitudes in the broader marketplace can be equally valuable. 90003 90002 Toward the end of the last decade, too many U.S. companies failed to observe that the optimism of the mid-1970s was increasingly giving way to a mood of pessimism and restraint because of deteriorating economic conditions.Several polls taken during the 1970s indicated the nature and extent of this shift; 90006 9 90007 for instance, Gallup polls showed that while only 21% of Americans in the early 1970s believed «next year will be worse than this year,» 55% held this pessimistic outlook by the end of the 1970s. 90003 90002 Pessimistic about what the future held, consumers began adjusting their life-styles. The unrestrained desire during the mid-1970s to buy and own more gave way to more restrained behavior, such as «integrity» buying, «investment» buying, and «life-cycle» buying.90003 90002 Integrity purchases are those made for their perceived importance to society rather than solely for personal status. Buying a small, energy-efficient automobile, for example, can be a sign of personal integrity. Investment buying is geared toward long-lasting products, even if that means paying a little more. The emphasis is on such values ​​as durability, reliability, craftsmanship, and longevity. In the apparel business, for example, more manufacturers have begun stressing the investment value of clothing.And life-cycle buying entails comparing the cost of buying with the cost of owning. For example, some might see a $ 10 light bulb, which uses one-third as much electricity and lasts four times as long as a $ 1 conventional light bulb, as the better deal. 90003 90002 These changes in buying behavior reflect the pessimistic outlook of consumers and their growing emphasis on quality rather than quantity: «If we’re going to buy less, let it be better.» 90003 90002 By overlooking this fundamental shift in consumer attitudes, companies missed the opportunity to capitalize on it.If they had monitored the information available, managers could have identified and responded to the trends earlier. 90003 90040 Ensuring Quality After the Sale 90041 90002 As we suggested earlier, the quality of customer service after the sale is often as important as the quality of the product itself. Of course, excellent customer service can rarely compensate for a weak product. But poor customer service can quickly negate all the advantages associated with delivering a product of superior quality.At companies like L.L. Bean and Caterpillar, customer service is not an afterthought but an integral part of the product offering and is subject to the same quality standards as the production process. These companies realize that a top-notch customer service operation can be an effective means of accomplishing the following three objectives: 90003 90002 90025 1. Differentiating a company from competitors. 90026 As more customers seek to extend the lives of their durable goods, the perceived quality of customer service becomes an increasingly important factor in the purchase decision.Whirlpool Corporation promises to stand by its products rather than hide behind its distribution channels; it has parlayed a reputation for effective customer service into a distinct competitive advantage that reinforces its image of quality. 90003 90002 90025 2. Generating new sales leads and discouraging switches to alternative suppliers. 90026 Keeping in regular contact with customers so as to deliver new information to them and gather suggestions for product improvements can ensure the continued satisfaction of existing customers and improve the chances of meeting the needs of potential purchasers.90003 90002 90025 3. Reinforcing dealer loyalty. 90026 Companies with strong customer service programs can also broaden their distribution channels more easily to include outlets that may not be able to deliver high levels of postpurchase customer service on their own. 90003 90046 The customer service audit 90047 90002 To be effective, a customer service operation requires a marketing plan. Customer services should be viewed as a product line that must be packaged, priced, communicated, and delivered to customers.An evaluation of a company’s current customer service operation-a customer service audit-is essential to the development of such a plan. 90003 90002 A customer service audit asks managers the following questions: 90003 90152 What are your customer service objectives? 90153 90002 Many companies have not established objectives for their customer service operations and have no concept of the role customer service should play in their business and marketing strategies. Every company should know what percentage of its revenue stream it expects to derive from service sales and whether the goal is to make a profit, break even, or-for reasons of competitive advantage-sustain a loss.90003 90152 What services do you provide? 90153 90002 It is useful to develop a grid showing which services your company provides or could provide for each of the products in your line. These might include customer education, financing arrangements, order confirmation and tracing, predelivery preparation, spare-parts inventory, repair service, and claims and complaints handling. 90003 90152 How do you compare with the competition? 90153 90002 A similar grid can be used to chart the customer services your competitors provide.Through customer surveys, you can identify those areas of customer service in which your company rates higher or lower than the competition. In areas where your company is weak, can you invest to improve your performance? Where you are strong, how easy is it for competitors to match or exceed your performance? 90003 90152 What services do your customers want? 90153 90002 There is little value in developing superior performance in areas of customer service most customers consider only marginally important.An essential ingredient of the audit is, therefore, to understand the relative importance of various customer services to current and potential customers. Distinct customer segments can often be identified according to the priorities they attach to particular services. 90003 90152 What are your customers ‘service demand patterns? 90153 90002 The level and nature of customer service needed often change over the product’s life. Services that are top priority at the time of sale may be less important five years later.Companies must understand the patterns and timing of demand for customer services on each of their products. These they can graph, as Exhibit III shows. 90003 90002 Exhibit III Postpurchase service demands for two products 90003 90002 Product A in the exhibit is a security control system, an electronics product with few moving parts. A high level of service is needed immediately following installation to train operators and debug the system. Thereafter, the need for service quickly drops to only periodic replacement of mechanical parts, such as frequently used door switches.90003 90002 Product B is an automobile. Service requirements are significant during the warranty period because of customer sensitivity to any aesthetic and functional defects and also because repairs are free (to the customer). After the warranty period, however, service requirements beyond basic maintenance will be more extensive for B than for A, since there are more mechanical parts to wear out. 90003 90152 What trade-offs are your customers prepared to make? 90153 90002 Excellent service can always be extended-at a price.You should know the costs to your company of providing assorted customer services through various delivery systems (an 800 telephone number, a customer service agent, a salesperson) at different levels of performance efficiency. At the same time, you should establish what value your customers place on varying levels of customer service, what level of service quality they are prepared to pay for, and whether they prefer to pay for services separately or as part of the product purchase price. 90003 90002 Customers are likely to differ widely in price sensitivity.A printing press manufacturer, for example, has found that daily newspaper publishers, because of the time sensitivity of their product, are willing to pay a high price for immediate repair service, whereas book publishers, being less time pressured, can afford to be more price conscious. 90003 90040 The Customer Service Program 90041 90002 The success of the marketing program will depend as much on effective implementation as on sound analysis and research. After reviewing several customer service operations in a variety of industries, we believe that managers should concentrate on the following seven guidelines for effective program implementation: 90003 90002 90025 1.Educate your customers. 90026 Customers must be taught both how to use and how not to use a product. And through appropriate training programs, companies can reduce the chances of calls for highly trained service personnel to solve simple problems. General Electric recently established a network of product education centers that purchasers of GE appliances can call toll free. Many consumer problems during the warranty period can be handled at a cost of $ 5 per call rather than the $ 30 to $ 50 cost for a service technician to visit a consumer’s home.90003 90002 90025 2. Educate your employees. 90026 In many organizations, employees view the customer with a problem as an annoyance rather than as a source of information. A marketing program is often needed to change such negative attitudes and to convince employees not only that customers are the ultimate judge of quality but also that their criticisms should be respected and acted on immediately. The internal marketing program should incorporate detailed procedures to guide customer-employee interactions.90003 90002 90025 3. Be efficient first, nice second. 90026 Given the choice, most customers would rather have efficient resolution of their problem than a smiling face. The two of course are not mutually exclusive, but no company should hesitate to centralize its customer service operation in the interests of efficiency. Federal Express, for example, recently centralized its customer service function to improve quality control of customer-employee interactions, to more easily monitor customer service performance, and to enable field personnel to concentrate on operations and selling.The fear that channeling all calls through three national centers would depersonalize service and annoy customers used to dealing with a field office sales representative proved unwarranted. 90003 90002 90025 4. Standardize service response systems. 90026 A standard response mechanism is essential for handling inquiries and complaints. L.L. Bean has a standard form that customer service personnel use to cover all telephone inquiries and complaints. As noted earlier, the documented information is immediately fed into a computer and updated daily to expedite follow-through.In addition, most companies should establish a response system to handle customer problems in which technically sophisticated people are called in on problems not solved within specific time periods by lower-level employees. 90003 90002 90025 5. Develop a pricing policy. 90026 Quality customer service does not necessarily mean free service. Many customers even prefer to pay for service beyond a minimum level. This is why long warranty periods often have limited appeal; customers recognize that product prices must rise to cover extra warranty costs, which may principally benefit those customers who misuse the product.90006 10 90007 More important to success than free service is the development of pricing policies and multiple-option service contracts that customers view as equitable and easy to understand. 90003 90002 Because a separate market exists for postsale service in many product categories, running the customer service operation as a profit center is increasingly common. But the philosophy of «selling the product cheap and making money on the service» is likely to be self-defeating over the long term, since it implicitly encourages poor product quality.90003 90002 90025 6. Involve subcontractors, if necessary. 90026 To ensure quality, most companies prefer to have all customer services performed by in-house personnel. When effectiveness is compromised as a result, however, the company must consider subcontracting selected service functions to other members of the distribution channel or to other manufacturers. Otherwise the quality of customer service will decline as an aftermath of cost-cutting or attempts to artificially stimulate demand for customer service to use slack capacity.Docutel, the automated teller manufacturer, for example, transferred responsibility for customer service operations to Texas Instruments because servicing its small base of equipment dispersed nationwide was unprofitable. 90003 90002 90025 7. Evaluate customer service. 90026 Whether the customer service operation is treated as a cost center or a profit center, quantitative performance standards should be set for each element of the service package. Do an analysis of variances between actual and standard performances.American Airlines and other companies use such variances to calculate bonuses to service personnel. In addition, many companies regularly solicit customers ‘opinions about service operations and personnel. 90003 90002 In conclusion, we must stress that responsibility for quality can not rest exclusively with the production department. Marketers must also be active in contributing to perceptions of quality. Marketers have been too passive in managing quality. Successful businesses of today will use marketing techniques to plan, design, and implement quality strategies that stretch beyond the factory floor.90003 A version of this article appeared in the July 1983 issue of 90025 Harvard Business Review 90026. .90000 Ebooks vs Printed books: 7 reasons one is better than other 90001 You are here: Home / Reading / Ebooks vs Printed books: 7 reasons one is better than other 90002 90003 January 6, 2019 90004 By Sachin 6 Comments 90005 90002 While everything around us is getting the switch to the digital, the question of ebooks vs printed books is in constant debate. Sometimes it becomes difficult to decide between the ebooks and printed books. A couple of years back, I bought a kindle basic to try ebooks.So, in this article, I refer to amazon kindle as an ebook reader. There are a lot of pros and cons on both sides. As per my experience with ebooks and printed books. I tried to list out the main supporting factors on both sides of 90007 ebooks vs printed books 90008 as 7 main reasons one is better than the other. 90005 90010 7 Reasons printed books are better than ebooks 90011 90012 90013 90007 The feel of paper: 90008 For some people, this is a very important factor. For avid readers, holding a book in hand, the smell of the paper, nice binding and flipping through pages is a beautiful feeling which lacks in a digital device.Also, it feels great to always have a book nearby, no matter if you read it or not. 90016 90013 90007 Sharing the books 90008: You can share a printed book with any friend or colleague whereas paid ebooks (from online stores like kindle store) can be used with one account only. That means you can not share purchased ebooks with a friend without sharing your account credentials. This is one very important factor in the debate of ebooks vs printed books. 90016 90013 90007 Illustrations and images: 90008 Printed books are great when it comes to displaying images and illustrations.whereas ebook readers are not so good at this. Along with this, ebook readers support the black and white display, not colored. So the genres of photography, cooking etc are more successful as print books. 90016 90013 90007 Flexibility in Annotating: 90008 Annotating a printed book is very whereas It is very limited in an ebook. In a printed book you can use pencils and pens of different colors to highlight, use symbols, drawings etc. But this feature is very limited in an ebook where you can only highlight lines, bookmark pages and add some notes.90016 90013 90007 Ability to skim quickly: 90008 It is easier to skim a real book than an ebook. Going back and forth in a printed book is much faster as compared to that an ebook reader. 90016 90013 90007 No need for electric power: 90008 You do not need to charge printed books. Since it needs no electric power. You can carry them anywhere without the worry of charging. 90016 90013 90007 Cheaper than ebook reader: 90008 A printed book is much cheaper than the ebook reader. If you do not read much, a print book will be more economical.But if you read a lot of books, the overall cost is reduced with an ebook reader. 90016 90041 90042 Photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash 90010 7 Reasons ebooks are better than printed books 90011 90012 90013 90007 Ease of reading 90008: Reading on an ebook reader is great. Most of them provide one-hand experience. Most of the times, you will not need to use two hands. You can read at any angle and posture. The ebook readers with inbuilt light allow you to read in dark without any eyestrain.90016 90013 90007 Access to thousands of books: 90008 An Ebook reader is very lightweight. You can carry thousands of books anywhere since ebook carries just a digital copy of the book. Imagine you are going for a long tour and you do not want to carry a lot of books in your luggage. It is even lighter than a medium sized book. Printed books can be heavy, especially the one with thousands of pages and hardcover ones. 90016 90013 90007 Cost effective: 90008 The ebook reader might look costly.But that is a one-time investment. When it comes to purchasing the books for the ebook reader. The price of ebooks is pretty less than the printed ones. Along with that, there are thousands of free ebooks available on the internet for download. This is considered a very important factor while talking about ebooks vs printed books. 90016 90013 90007 Highlighting & bookmarking: 90008 Highlighting and bookmarking is really simple in an ebook vs printed book. Just one finger is enough for all this, no pencil / pen needed.You can quickly review the note. All the notes are accessible online in one place where you can view, share, download or print. No need to go through the entire book again. 90016 90013 90007 Inbuilt dictionaries, Wikipedia and X-Ray: 90008 Amazon Kindle has inbuilt dictionaries, Wikipedia and X-ray feature (a feature of to explore the characters and summary of the book). You do not need to carry a dictionary or phone while reading. When you do not understand the meaning of any word, just tap on it and the definition will be displayed instantly.90016 90013 90007 Instant availability of books: 90008 Ebooks never goes out of stock. After all, they are digital copies. Once you purchase an ebook, you can download them instantly and start reading it. You do not need to wait for the delivery of the book. 90016 90013 90007 Free samples: 90008 When you are looking for an ebook, generally the seller provides a sample which contains some parts of initial chapters, the table of contents etc. This helps you to start reading without actually purchasing the book.If you like it and want to continue, you can purchase it. 90016 90041 90010 Ebooks vs Printed books: Which is better? 90011 90002 There are a lot of factors on both sides, but ultimately it comes down to personal preference. I read books like 1984, Wonder and The girl on the train on my kindle, click links to read my reviews on these. I suggest you can try a Kindle basic in beginning and see if that works for you. Let us know what do you prefer? Ebooks or printed books or a combination of both? Share your views with us in the comments section below, please leave feedback and share if you like this post.You can contact us if you have any questions or requests. 90005 90002 Filed Under: Reading Tagged With: amazon kindle, ebooks vs printed books, kindle, reading 90005 .90000 More Is not Always Better 90001 90002 Executive Summary 90003 90004 Reprint: F0606C 90005 90004 Offering customers too many product choices may decrease their sense of well-being. 90005 90004 Marketers assume that the more choices they offer, the more likely customers will be able to find just the right thing. They assume, for instance, that offering 50 styles of jeans instead of two increases the chances that shoppers will find a pair they really like. Nevertheless, research now shows that there can be too much choice; when there is, consumers are less likely to buy anything at all, and if they do buy, they are less satisfied with their selection.90005 90004 It all began with jam. In 2000, psychologists Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper published a remarkable study. On one day, shoppers at an upscale food market saw a display table with 24 varieties of gourmet jam. Those who sampled the spreads received a coupon for $ 1 off any jam. On another day, shoppers saw a similar table, except that only six varieties of the jam were on display. The large display attracted more interest than the small one. But when the time came to purchase, people who saw the large display were one-tenth as likely to buy as people who saw the small display.90005 90004 Other studies have confirmed this result that more choice is not always better. As the variety of snacks, soft drinks, and beers offered at convenience stores increases, for instance, sales volume and customer satisfaction decrease. Moreover, as the number of retirement investment options available to employees increases, the chance that they will choose any decreases. These studies and others have shown not only that excessive choice can produce «choice paralysis,» but also that it can reduce people’s satisfaction with their decisions, even if they made good ones.My colleagues and I have found that increased choice decreases satisfaction with matters as trivial as ice cream flavors and as significant as jobs. 90005 90004 These results challenge what we think we know about human nature and the determinants of well-being. Both psychology and business have operated on the assumption that the relationship between choice and well-being is straightforward: The more choices people have, the better off they are. In psychology, the benefits of choice have been tied to autonomy and control.In business, the benefits of choice have been tied to the benefits of free markets more generally. Added options make no one worse off, and they are bound to make someone better off. 90005 90004 Choice 90017 is 90018 good for us, but its relationship to satisfaction appears to be more complicated than we had assumed. There is diminishing marginal utility in having alternatives; each new option subtracts a little from the feeling of well-being, until the marginal benefits of added choice level off.What’s more, psychologists and business academics alike have largely ignored another outcome of choice: More of it requires increased time and effort and can lead to anxiety, regret, excessively high expectations, and self-blame if the choices do not work out. When the number of available options is small, these costs are negligible, but the costs grow with the number of options. Eventually, each new option makes us feel worse off than we did before. 90005 90004 Without a doubt, having more options enables us, most of the time, to achieve better objective outcomes.Again, having 50 styles of jeans as opposed to two increases the likelihood that customers will find a pair that fits. But the subjective outcome may be that shoppers will feel overwhelmed and dissatisfied. This dissociation between objective and subjective results creates a significant challenge for retailers and marketers that look to choice as a way to enhance the perceived value of their goods and services. 90005 90004 Choice can no longer be used to justify a marketing strategy in and of itself.More is not always better, either for the customer or for the retailer. Discovering how much assortment is warranted is a considerable empirical challenge. But companies that get the balance right will be amply rewarded. 90005 A version of this article appeared in the June 2006 issue of 90017 Harvard Business Review 90018. .