I'll definitely be putting together a database for reserving phones. Though, I think that shipping from one person to another would introduce a bit too much complexity with accountability and ensuring the phones don't arrive in a non-functional state.
We have quite a large pool now though (around 12 phones), so I'm not terribly concerned with there being too much delay. Thanks for the input guys, hopefully I'll have the little signup app together before the next meeting. Cheers, spd On Feb 10, 2008 10:35 PM, Chuck Mariotti <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I think a cheque is good, photocopy could be tough if there isn't one around > to do it. Of course, cheques can be cancelled, etc... but that's not the > point I think we're trying to make. > > I also think that maybe we should have some sort of database to track this. > People add their names to the list. Person indicates they are done evaluating > and the DB lists the next in line. They take the phone and ship it to the > next in line. Rules would be in the general GTA only. Person borrowing has to > pay for shipping to next person (even if they return it via meeting, the > admin has to ship it out). Might be a good idea to have one account with one > shipping company, insurance, etc... so there is consistency. > > Or, could just ship it to the admin contact. > > Regards, > > Chuck > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Simon P. Ditner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: February-10-08 7:50 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [on-asterisk] Aastra Loaner Program > > Thanks Reza! That does sound very practical and simple. Anyone see any > major holes in that, or have additional suggestions? > > On Mon, 11 Feb 2008, Reza M. Reza wrote: > > > The problem with merchant accounts is that the more you refund transactions, > > the more flags you raise. With my merchant account if I have a refund rate > > of 1% of my annual transaction, questions & audits arise. If you have a > > charge back rate of 0.1 %, then your usage rates go HIGHER. Merchant > > account providers preferably want 0 charge backs, but are aware it may be a > > difficult ambition. > > > > In other words, the merchant account provider gives you time to "refund" a > > transaction before a chargeback. So every refund you make, you still > > corner yourself to a "High Risk" account and your rates increases from 1-2% > > to 7% depending on the nature of your business. Either way, a merchant > > account is looked upon as a business account, regardless of "for profit" or > > "non-profit". > > > > My suggestion is more simple: > > > > Hold a personal cheque of the value of the phone, along with a copy of a > > picture ID (responsibility of the person wanting the phone on loan). For > > shipping a phone, anyone can create a Venture 1 business account with Canada > > post, pay for parcel shipping online via credit card, print the waybill, > > and drop the phone to any Canada Post office or letter box, and email the > > PDF copy of the waybill as proof of shipment to the loan moderators. > > > > There are other ways of Bank Transfers via Online Bill Payment procedures, > > but those take time and money (in the couple of hundreds of dollars) to > > setup and incurs a minimum of $15-$25 in monthly usage fees. > > > > But granted, we've had a very relaxed phone loan program and to be fair to > > others and give others a fair chance on the loans, we may need a more > > effective system in place vs. signing a form. > > > > Best, > > Reza. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "Simon P. Ditner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 1:41 AM > > Subject: Re: [on-asterisk] Aastra Loaner Program > > > > > > > re: holding something of value. Something physical isn't too > > > practical, and wads of cash is even less so -- but how about a hold on > > > a credit card for the value of the phone? Anyone know how difficult > > > that sort of thing is if you had a merchant account? How long can a > > > hold be for? > > > > > > re, > > > spd > > > > > > On Feb 10, 2008 5:03 PM, Chuck Mariotti <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >> I often found it hard to get the units back to a meeting the next month > > >> (if the subject wasn't of interest or I couldn't make it). Shipping would > > >> have been nice, or some method of getting it to the next person in line. > > >> I also think it would be wise to get something held until the unit is > > >> returned (of greater value than the phone of course). It's too easy a > > >> deal to get one. > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> -----Original Message----- > > >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Simon > > >> P. Ditner > > >> Sent: February-10-08 10:07 AM > > >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >> Cc: [email protected] > > >> Subject: Re: [on-asterisk] Aastra Loaner Program > > >> > > >> It's on pause at the moment. A few too many phones didn't come back, > > >> and so we're improving our tracking a bit so that we can hound people > > >> better. > > >> > > >> Some extra options we're considering are: > > >> - Pre-arranged reservations and then pickup at a meeting > > >> - A pre-paid shipping fee so that it's easier to send them back > > >> - A round trip shipping fee so that coming to a meeting isn't > > >> absolutely necessary > > >> > > >> Thoughts anyone? > > >> > > >> On Feb 9, 2008 5:57 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >> > I would like to know if the loaner program for aastra program is still > > >> > available. If so, who do I contact to borrow an Aastra 9133i phone. > > >> > > > >> > Thanks > > >> > > > >> > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
