Improve the Condition of Your Home With Trane Central Air Conditioning

Summer is the most loved season – and also the most hated. This is because of the super hot climate condition that will make everyone feel like they live in a planet made up of a sauna. In this regard, Trane Central Air Conditioning is the best choice for many homes who do not want to undergo the painful and sweat-inducing summer experience.

As we would all undergo hot weather conditions, it is important that we have something that will help us battle such situations without feeling like we will be dying of heatstroke anytime soon. As central air conditioning goes, Trane Central Air Conditioning proves to be one of the best brands in the market for quality service that will help every family experience comfort during one of the deadliest seasons of the year. The Trane Company prides itself by being the best brand in the market, as they have a history of quality service that looms over all the possible candidates and rivals in the market. The Trane Company is the most reliable brand that is trusted to provide systems, solutions and services that are responsive to all the technological demands of the modern world.

Trane Central A/C is just one of the many products of the Trane Company that spells quality up to the last letter. They are designed to provide ventilation and air conditioning to large buildings of every possible place. The designs of the central air systems are customized, ensuring that every partnership with the company will benefit the clients the most. You can find the signature quality of Trane Central Conditioning in different environments for office workers, such as in Beijing’s World Trade Center complex, La Scala opera house in Milan, Toronto’s Skydome for all baseball fans, and Washington Monument for all tourists lurking in the place.

Trane Central Air Conditioning is also famous not only for its high quality performance and services, but also because it supports the environment by making sure that the system would only give off clean air. Because of this, it is the best choice when it comes to premium residential air conditioning systems. The system is marketed through different parts of North America. This particular brand ensures an energy-efficient system and service for every home and small commercial building.

In an effort to provide outstanding and unmatched service, they have adapted the scheme of combining air comfort with air purity. This means that the filtration system of Trane Central Air Conditioning is able to remove up to 99.98% of particles and other allergens from the air inside every home. Several professors from the Harvard School of Public Health have attested to the efficiency of these systems that are a thousand times more effective than the standard one-inch filter. This type of technology is what keeps Trane Central Air Conditioning the top choice for an air conditioning system.

If you are a parent who is concerned with the welfare of your family, then it is best to go for Trane Central Air Conditioning. Not only will you enjoy comfortable sleep during hot weather conditions, you are also ensured that you family is safe from harmful bacteria and particles inside your house.

I have even more reviews and information about Trane Air Conditioners [http://www.besttraneairconditioners.com/] and Trane Central Air Conditioning [http://www.besttraneairconditioners.com/2010/06/trane-central-air-conditioning/] at my website. I will also let you in on a little secret: Where to get them cheaper than anyplace else on the web;) Many thanks for reading, and good luck!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jacob_Akshire/642969

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Trane Heat Pump Reviews

Trane heat pumps were manufactured first as a business within the family. This was way back in 1885. They have many years behind them and are well known in the field.

Review of the Trane heating and cooling system shows that the product is Energy Star rated and eligible for tax credit. The company that manufactures Trane products takes the lead in environmental technology. They are an “environmentally friendly” and responsible company. The Payne Company takes quality levels to the next generation.

To ensure fuel efficiency and comfortable temperature the microprocessor controls the furnace. Make sure that the unit is installed by a professional person. Reviewing the Trane heat pumps, heating and cooling equipment also further shows the model is engineered to provide economical heating solutions. Trane has designed the cabinet to minimize noise so the sound levels are at a minimum.

Trane’s best and top model manufactured is the 90% efficient gas furnace model: XV90. This model has received the Climate Protection Award from the EPA due to the very low energy efficiency it produces. Trane’s Centravac water chiller has also received an award. Trane also makes the Trane model: RACE 700. This is software that has been designed to analyze the efficiency and environmental impact. This is manufactured for large scale industrial complexes.

Some of the features of the models offered by Trane have the following

  • Up to 81% AFUE
  • Becket Flame Retention burner
  • High-efficiency PSC burner motor
  • Ceramic fiber combustion chamber
  • 14-gauge steel heat exchanger.
  • Barometric damper
  • Large stainless steel access ports.
  • ECM variable-speed blower motor.
  • Soft start and soft stop motor
  • Durable steel cabinet
  • Multiple accessories
  • Down flow Horizontal positioning
  • Active and passive dehumidification

Trane also manufacture:

  • Residential heating
  • Commercial heating
  • industrial Heating
  • Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) products
  • air conditioners
  • hvac
  • air cleaners
  • indoor coils
  • thermostats

About Trane Prices

The estimated cost about trane heat pump is about 2000-10000 dollars per unit according to where you live, heat pump model and type, optional equipment, shipping fee and installation. The best way to get a good price is to ask for several contractors’ bids and compare. You can purchase it online with a good discount but installation need to be confirmed exactly.

Warranty offered by Trane

A standard warranty is given by Trane with very good back-up service. This means the customer gets value for money. The Trane top-of-the-line models are given a 10-year limited warranty on all functional parts. Trane also offers a standard extended warranty for all functional parts.

Hao Luo is the author of Heat Pump Reviews, which is a professional website offering detailed and specific heat pump reviews and heat pump prices guide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Hao_Luo/299600

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Trane Air Conditioners: An Overview

Air conditioners are essential for anyone living in hot climates, but even in snowy Wisconsin the summers are frequently blistering. A distant dream of sweating folks everywhere just a century ago, cool air has become a commonplace luxury in developed countries worldwide.

Trane air conditioners are popular temperature regulating products used in residential buildings from single-family homes to apartment complexes. The many products that Trane Incorporated produces are also used in commercial, professional and institutional buildings. Government, tourism and education buildings all over the world choose Trane to keep their temperature at a comfortable level.

In fact, Trane systems are famously used in over a dozen high profile buildings around the world. The Australian Stock Exchange in Melbourne, the International Airport in Bangkok, The Kremlin in Moscow and Sea World in Florida all proudly boast Trane HVAC systems to keep visitors cool.

Even the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument are kept ventilated by Trane products! This brand’s popularity among big businesses and buildings is evidence of the product quality. In the service arena, Trane makes sure each technician on duty meets the Comfort Specialist guidelines set forth by the company.

Now a global corporation, the small shop that was to become Trane Incorporated opened its doors in a small Midwestern town in 1885.James Trane, a Norwegian immigrant settled in La Crosse, Wisconsin, originally opened a store selling plumbing supplies and services. Both James and his son Reuben had a knack for tinkering with HVAC inventions so forty years into business, the Tranes changed tracks.

An inventor like his father, Reuben came up with the idea of a convector radiator in 1925, an invention that drastically improved the ease of use and efficiency of radiators. In 1931, forty-six years after James Trane started his small plumbing shop, the company released their first air conditioner.

Today, Trane Incorporated is owned by Ingersoll-Rand, an Irish company also founded in the late 1800s. Ingersoll-Rand sells everything from golf carts to bike locks and, of course, HVAC equipment. Many other high quality brand names, including Kryptonite locks, are part of the Ingersoll-Rand mega corporation.

Trane sells air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, thermostats and air handlers. Manufactured and sold in over a dozen global locations, Tranes products are available on nearly every continent – North America, South American, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Trane provides a wide variety of heating, ventilation and air conditioning services and products available globally. The brand is known for high quality and high efficiency products. In the past few decades, the company has developed an increased interest in creating environmentally friendly or reduced impact designs.

Trane air conditioners and other HVAC products have earned the brand global recognition. Contracts with big name buildings such as the Statue of Liberty can be cited to prove the trustworthy nature and high quality product associated with Trane Incorporated.

I have more reviews and information about trane air conditioners at my Website. You may also be interested in reading my article on Trane thermostats.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/George_Hiram/1270015

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Trane Now Offers a New 3-to-5 Ton Light Commercial Rooftop Unit

New offering fits a common roof curb, providing customers an
expanded offering ideal for replacement applications

Davidson, NC. March 8, 2017 – Trane®, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, added a 3-5-ton offering to its portfolio of Foundation™ light-commercial rooftop heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) units to provide customers with a new solution ideal for emergency replacement.

The 3-5-ton unit footprint fits a common roof curb used on many existing commercial buildings. The unit can be installed without the need for an adapter, which saves customers time and money during installation.

“Unexpected breakdowns cause equipment downtime, increased maintenance costs and loss in efficiency,” said Jeff Moe, product leader, commercial unitary, Trane. “We understand the importance of not only having a solution that is affordable, but is also able to be delivered and installed quickly.”

Trane actively manages the design, manufacturing and inventory process for all Foundation rooftop units to ensure models are ready to ship — often the same day an order is placed. Immediate availability minimizes negative impacts an organization may experience when an older unit fails and is awaiting replacement.

In addition, contractors can easily and quickly access product information for Foundation rooftop units using Trane 360°™ — a free downloadable mobile app for HVAC contractors and service professionals. Trane 360° also features parts ordering capability, and allows users to find the nearest parts locations for all Foundation light commercial units.

The 3-5-ton rooftop units also feature durable components that have been tested in real applications — including a long-lasting tubular heat exchanger, reliable gas ignition system and proven compressor technology. In addition, the units have simplified control wiring integration and are certified to meet the most recent energy-efficiency standards established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

To learn more about Trane Foundation rooftop units, visit Trane.com/Foundation.

# # #

About Ingersoll Rand and Trane
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $13 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced control. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com or www.trane.com.

Trane Achieves Air-conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute Certification for Variable Frequency Drives

Davidson, N.C., August 21, 2017 —Trane®, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, is proud to announce it was awarded the admirable Air-conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI®) Certification for Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). The certification affirms Trane variable frequency drives in the IntelliPak®, Voyager™III and Performance Climate Changer® portfolios, as well as the Trane TR200 field installed variable frequency drive, achieve stated performance rating standards. The certification also reinforces consumer confidence that the equipment performs accurately and consistently.

Rigorous testing and a meticulous examination of certification data verified Trane variable frequency drive models comply with performance expectations backed by AHRI Standard 1210.

“AHRI certification is the trusted mark of performance assurance in our industry, today and tomorrow,” said Steve Obstein, strategic portfolio leader at Trane. “Certifying HVACR equipment component performance allows consumers to compare products based on independently verified performance ratings. Certified products are critical when developing building performance and energy-efficiency strategies, ensuring facilities accurately model performance and validate compliance with energy standards, rebate incentive programs and manufacturers’ energy-performance claims.”

The AHRI certification establishes Trane VFDs as performance standard compliant, and the products will be included in the AHRI certified directory. The directory is widely regarded as an authoritative source of specification and performance ratings for manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, contractors, utilities, architects, engineers and consumers.

“Now our customers have third-party assurance that our variable frequency drives deliver the capabilities they expect,” said Obstein. “The certification speaks volumes of the high-performance standards Trane expects of its products.”

Further details on the rigorous process of AHRI certification are available on the website.

# # #

About Ingersoll Rand and Trane
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car®,Ingersoll Rand®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $13 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced control. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com or www.trane.com.

Trane, the Circle logo, IntelliPak, Voyager, Performance Climate Changer, are trademarks of Trane in the United States and other countries. AHRI is a registered trademark of Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, Inc. All trademarks referenced are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Quadriplegia in Personal Injury Cases

Quadriplegia refers to a spinal cord injury that results in paralysis of all four limbs – both legs and both arms. Sometimes also called tetraplegia, this is usually the result of injury to the cervical spine (neck).

These injuries frequently occur from car, motorcycle, sports, and construction site accidents, but they can also happen as a result of medical negligence. When the paralysis is the result of someone’s negligence, a lawsuit may be filed for damages against that party.

Paralysis is more complex than most people realize. Depending on which vertebrae in the spine was injured and the amount of nerve damage from the injury, the paralyzed person may not be able to breathe without the assistance of ventilator. Generally, the higher the spinal injury in the neck, the worse the damage.

These individuals may have some facial control and be able to speak to some degree, but they will be permanently wheelchair-bound. This, in and of itself, poses a problem, as the weight of sitting causes pressure sores to develop on the buttocks. If the skin breaks down where these sores develop, bacteria can enter and cause sepsis – bacteria in the blood. Permanent catheters and feeding tubes can also introduce bacteria when they are changed, causing sepsis, a condition that can be fatal.

The amount of personal care that a quadriplegic requires throughout his or her life is astronomically expensive. Equipment is required so that the individual can function with as much quality of life as possible, but this individual will not be able to care for himself or herself without help.

Because quadriplegia means little function and no sensation below the neck, the body’s internal functions may also be affected. Quadriplegia can lead to problems with the respiratory system, cardiovascular system (including the formation of blood costs), kidney and bladder, digestive system, and organ failures. These people are also at risk of developing osteoporosis.

The kinds of expenses that a plaintiff (injured party in a lawsuit) with quadriplegia may incur include:

• Expenses of surgery (sometimes multiple surgeries) and other medical care for the remainder of the plaintiff’s life, including physical therapy, psychiatry, neurology, orthopedics, urology, gastroenterology, dermatology, rehabilitation, and more.

• Home care/home nurse costs.

• Medication costs.

• Changes to the residence to accommodate wheelchair access and other disability requirements.

• Equipment, such as wheelchair, ramps, guardrails, grab bars, roll-in shower, power doors, standing frame, voice-activated communication system, special beds and mattresses that reduce pressure, home exercise equipment, transport devices, and more.

Quadriplegia Lawsuit Examples

One case example involves a baggage handler at an airport who was struck by a baggage tractor hood when the jet engine’s backwash caused the hood to lift. His cervical spine was fractured, leaving him quadriplegic. It took years for the case to go to trial, but when it did, the jury found that the manufacturer of the baggage tractor and the airline were both at fault. The airline was found to be 70% responsible, while the jury determined that the manufacturer was 30% responsible.

The jury found that the manufacturer should have warned users of the tractor that the hood could swing up. The defendants (the manufacturer and the airline) tried to appeal the award amounts, but those amounts were affirmed by the appeals court.

A medical malpractice case involved a man who had surgery on his spinal cord to remove a tumor. When he developed post-surgical pain, his surgeon could not see him right away for a check-up. As a result, the blood clot that was causing his pain initiated nerve damage that left him a quadriplegic. He sued the surgeon and won.

In another case, a man working on a construction site became a quadriplegic when a vehicle rolled over on top of him, crushing portions of his body. He was in the hospital for months and had to undergo multiple surgeries. His lawsuit was with the construction company for insufficient oversight of the work.

When a woman tripped and fell down stairs that had no rails, she fractured her spine because she was unable to grab onto anything to stop her fall. She was quadriplegic as a result, and she sued the owners of the building.

Another case involved product liability. When a car was involved in a collision and rolled over, the roof of the car collapsed, injuring the spine of the one of the passengers, which resulted in quadriplegia. The case went to trial, and the plaintiff was awarded more than $20 million.

While the lawsuits are still pending after the Metro-North train derailment in New York State in 2013, at least one passenger was left a quadriplegic. Certainly, negligence was involved in that accident, and the personal injury claims will be many and for large sums.

Another pending case involves the New York Police Department, which is accused of using excessive force when officers arrested a teenager for not paying subway fare. This will be a difficult case for the family to prosecute because the teen, who was a quadriplegic after the accident, subsequently died from his injuries. Police claim that he ran and was hit by a train, which caused his injuries, while the boy, before his death, told his family that he was not hit by a train. He claimed that his injuries were caused by the excessive force used by the officers. The boy survived for two months on a ventilator.

As you can see, these cases can become enormously complex, and proving fault is often far from cut and dry. Even when a defendant concedes responsibility and does not dispute the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries, that defendant will often appeal a verdict to try to lower the amount of the award.

Best case scenarios are when a case is able to be settled out of court, as going to trial is always an expensive proposition. When the parties can agree to an amount without proceeding to court, legal costs are reduced, and the time spent to reach a settlement is shorter. In order to come to a settlement agreement out of court, however, the plaintiff often has to accept a smaller amount of money for damages. Going to court is always a risk, however, since there is no way to know whether it will be the plaintiff or the defendant who will prevail with a judge or jury.

If you have had a quadriplegia injury please visit http://www.feldmanshepherd.com/15-116-practice-Quadriplegia.php

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Home Care of the Quadriplegic Patient – Can You Do it Yourself?

As a young man, my parents were always healthy and it never crossed my mind that I would eventually have to endure a complete role reversal with them. The child takes on the paternal role of caring, nurturing, and coordinating the activities of daily living, and the parent becomes increasingly helpless. This phenomena becomes increasingly apparent as you yourself reach middle age, and witness so many friends and families take on the roles of primary caregiver of a disabled child, sibling or parent.

In today’s health care climate, it’s often the only viable choice due to the prohibitive costs of quality home and medical care, and the special attention a quadriplegic patient requires. On the other hand, no one will take care of your loved ones the way you would, so doing it yourself has many advantages as well as providing peace of mind to the family. Of course with my background, this kind of personal care for a quadriplegic is easy. However, I have trained many live-in caregivers over the years to assist me, and none of them had any prior medical background. Each provided excellent care, and allowed my loved one to live years beyond anyones’ expectations. I realize each case is different and this article is not meant to replace a hospice nurse or a visit from a medical doctor. It will however give you an idea of what to expect if you considering providing care to a quadriplegic in your home.

Time: You have to first try to fathom the incredible amount of time it takes to care for a quadriplegic patient. The time spent can be divided up into two categories. The time you spend planning and providing care, and the time you spend being confined to the home because leaving them alone simply isn’t an option. It can be done if there is a “stay home adult” such as a spouse, to help out. Remember, some patients require attention almost all their waking hours most days of the week, and some require considerably less, depending on the level of function. How is this possible? Consider the following points.

  • Feeding: at least 1/2 hour per meal, but if your patient isn’t a good eater, you may spend a few hours in food preparation, coaxing and spoon feeding and encouraging them to simply chew and swallow.
  • Bathing: 1 bath a week burns up about 2 hours in bathing, grooming, dressing.
  • Toileting: While a quadriplegic wears diapers, you may not elect to use stools softeners to the point where the patient poops in their diapers every other day. So toileting on a bedside commode is an option that can take about an hour or so per week.
  • Laundry: Sheets, bibs, drool cloths, clothing, towels.
  • Food Preparation: special diet? that takes time!
  • Doctors visits: home visits by the doctor or nurse, or loading up the patient to take them to the clinic.
  • Skin Maintenance: turn the patient every 30min to prevent bed sores. This is incredibly important
  • Oral Maintenance: often overlooked, if you don’t pay attention to this, the patient’s healthy dentition will quickly decline
  • Conservatorship
  • Any other special medical needs
  • Accounting and booking
  • Other personal affairs

Money: It really helps if the patient has their own financial resources and insurance. I found that the initial expenses of setting up your home care is a little tough, but the monthly expenses aren’t as bad. Here are some of the items I recommend. Some may be covered by your insurance.

  • Diapers: You get what you pay for and the cheaper they are, the more they leak. Try large diapers, even if your patient is tiny.
  • Formula or other special diet
  • Special Clothing and gowns
  • Hospital bed
  • Special mattress: Air filled, self turning
  • Suction device
  • Oral care equipment
  • Bedside commode
  • Bathing equipment
  • Medications, ointments, stool softeners, etc
  • Other incidentals
  • Caregivers on call to give you a break (respite care)

Physical Ability: To handle the care of an adult quadriplegic, you really have to be in good shape yourself. There is a lot of lifting dead weight, and a back injuries to the caregiver is a very common occurrence. In addition, physical strength to simply turn the patient, pull them up in bed, change their clothing, transfer them from the wheelchair to the bed, or toileting, all takes a lot of physical stamina. With that in mind, consider this. Do you have the stomach to change soiled diapers, give sponge baths, do oral care in a mouth with rotten teeth, feed the patient through a tube, suction mucous, etc.? You don’t want to put yourself and your loved one in a situation you both suffer from and can’t get out of.

There are many resources to help you out with many of the above issues. If your loved one isn’t yet ready for hospice care but is still gravely disabled, most insurances will cover home nurse visits in what they call a palliative care program. These usually consist of RNs that will come by every now and then and check on the progress, do a medical assessment and help you in finding a solution taking care of your patient at home. So if you decide to go for it, know that you will be providing a service that no one else can. Love and care in a familiar family home and environment.

Richard Fan is a practicing emergency/trauma physician assistant in a busy Southern California ER, and an medical officer on the national disaster response team, DMAT CA-1. Please visit Smart Life Store [http://www.smartlifestore.com] where you’ll get unbiased opinions and reviews about the latest in Tasers and Nannycams [http://www.smartlifestore.com] units.

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Online Market Research Surveys – Survey Length

One of the more important aspects of designing online market research surveys is the length of the survey. Survey length should be discussed at the beginning of the survey process as the time it takes for respondents to complete the survey can impact sample costs and the fee for survey hosting services.

Many survey companies adopt a general policy of three survey questions equating to one-minute of online research. However, in the field, the timing can be far different depending on the number of words in the survey, the “thinking time” required by respondents, the manner in which the questions are programmed, and the speed of the survey technology. For example, a question group formatted as a radio table with column headings consisting of a 5-point scale and simple rows of questions, containing several words each, can equate to 10 questions a minute. On the other hand, message or image displays with lengthy statements or open-ended comment questions can equate to only one question per minute.

The professional staff at most survey companies should be able to estimate the length prior to survey launch. Online survey companies that offer respondent timers can use those timers during the survey preview period to estimate response times while also using the timers in the field. Keep in mind for cost purposes that the median response time is not necessarily the statistic used for sample pricing. For example, if the median survey completion time is 15 minutes, but 25% of the respondents take 22 minutes or longer, those respondents will expect to receive a survey incentive commensurate with their response times. This could increase the CPI for the entire project.

As a general rule, longer survey length in online research is more expensive in B2B surveys than in consumer market research – – although there are exceptions (such as high net worth households). Keeping B2B market research at 10 minutes or less can often provide a big assist in limiting sample costs. Survey length of 20 minutes or more can dramatically increase costs, with sample incentives rising significantly with each 5-minute increase. Clients should also keep in mind the validity of the survey data as survey length exceeds 20 minutes. It might not be possible to ask every question in a single survey instrument. Survey respondents, like everyone else, can get distracted or become tired after a while and their responses can be less thoughtful.

In summary, the time it takes for respondents to complete a survey can have a significant impact on the cost of online market research – – particularly in B2B surveys as compared to consumer research. Most online market research firms can provide pre-launch advice on survey length, and survey hosting vendors with survey timers can use this tool to help pinpoint the length. In addition, the programming structure of the online market research survey as well as the speed of page views and data inserts can impact survey length. Online market research firms should be able to offer helpful advice on programming options and offer suggestions on best use of skip logic, radio tables, and other features to reduce survey length.

Marc I. Tillman is a member of the professional services staff at Amplitude Research, Inc., a full-service market research firm headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

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The Importance of Customer Feedback Surveys

Do you want to drive your business forward? Do you really know what your customers think about your business? In order to ensure that you achieve both of these things you may wish to consider conducting a customer feedback survey. With the help of such a survey not only are you improving your customer retention and profit but you are also advancing satisfaction levels and prompting interest in new products and services that you offer. Basically, with the help of a feedback survey from your customers, you are building up a relationship with them, which will enable you to tailor your business more towards their needs and enhance the chances of increasing your own sales.

A customer feedback survey isn’t just about asking a few simple questions, you need to ensure you focus on the aspects that matter. This includes the underlying purpose of the survey and the best methodology of reaching your customers. Depending on the type of business you run, there are a number of options available to you including mail and telephone surveys. However one of the most effective methods that we are seeing today involves online surveys, or combined online and mail surveys.

Before you actually deploy your survey, make sure you read through it very carefully a number of times, or get someone else to do it as a means of checking that you are asking the right questions and also that you are asking them in the correct way. What this will do is help you not only construct the survey but also ensure that you are getting the best feedback from it.

One of the most important aspects of these surveys is analyzing the answers that you receive. This should actually help you decide what sort of questions to be asking in the first place. For example, closed-ended questions are a lot easier to analyze than open ones, so keep your customer feedback survey simple but informative. It is also helpful when you are analyzing the results to achieve as many completed surveys as possible. So don’t dive in too eager to examine the results. Let you survey gather up responses over a matter of weeks and then collectively analyze these results.

Another great feature that you may not be aware of where customer feedback surveys are concerned is the fact that you can also use them as a means of publicizing aspects of your service that your customers, until now, have been unaware of. So not only are you gathering the information needed to improve your service but you are also promoting your business in the process.

No matter what type of business you run or for that matter what size your business is, you will benefit from the help of a customer feedback survey. It will help you manage your business initiatives and push your business to improve in all areas. Also whether you receive negative or positive feedback it is important that you take the points on board and use them to make any necessary changes. Although it is hard to face up to criticism, what would you rather do, admit you are doing something wrong and fix it or watch your business fail because you did nothing about it? I think we all know the answer to this question and I think this alone is enough to demonstrate just how important customer feedback surveys can actually be.

Marc I. Tillman is a member of the professional services staff at Amplitude Research, Inc., a full-service mail and online survey company headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Amplitude is an industry leader in the design, programming, survey hosting, and reporting of customer feedback surveys.

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Online Market Research Surveys – Maximizing Your ROI

The current economic climate has caused some companies to defer or cancel consumer market research surveys. In many cases, a company may have correctly determined that the cost of completing a survey within the parameters required for actionable data is no longer possible given its current budget. However, defining exactly what those parameters should be is not always clear, and that is what determines the project cost. This article focuses on the concept of incidence rates, which can be one of the most important cost considerations in designing market research surveys.

Pricing Components for B2B and Consumer Market Research Surveys

While online market research companies will each have their own formula for pricing business and consumer surveys, there are certain factors that almost all vendors take into account. These include:

  • Survey Length (the longer the questionnaire, the higher the cost)
  • Survey Programming and Hosting Services (the more complicated the programming, the higher the cost)
  • Respondent Incidence Rates (the lower the incidence, the higher the cost)
  • Number of Completed Surveys (the more completes, the higher the cost)

Other potential cost considerations are questionnaire design assistance (generally a low-cost item in relation to the overall cost of the study), and any additional reporting requirements such as banner tabulations, verbatim coding, or reporting (many vendors will include a raw data file, collated verbatim and a top-line frequency report at no charge or a minor charge, but there are many situations in which a customized written report involving significant professional time and additional cost is needed).

Impact of Incidence Rates

The term “incidence rate” refers to the percentage of respondents who qualify to complete a research study. Most vendors incorporate the incidence rate and cost of awards into a quoted cost per complete, referred to as the CPI (“cost per interview”) or CPC (“cost per complete”). The lower the incidence rate, the higher the cost; with more pronounced increases as the incidence drops below 20%. For example, a B2B market research study with a 70% incidence might have a CPI of $7.00; while a study targeting high-level executives with a 3% incidence might have a CPI of $50.00. The CPI is then multiplied by the number of completes to determine the cost of sample for the project. As the number of completes increase, there may be a volume discount in the quoted CPI, but it is generally a small reduction (such as $7.00 for 350 completes and $6.50 for 600 completes).

From a cost perspective, online market research surveys are different from RDD (random digit dialing) phone surveys where the general population is randomly called and the incidence rate is simply the percentage of respondents who qualify. Most survey panels have 100’s of pre-identified information cells (“selects”) of panelists and can target in advance participants who qualify for participation. This can result in significant cost savings, particularly in lower incidence studies.

Yet, when vendors quote an incidence rate for an online study and provide alternative CPIs for different incidence rates (such as a $12.00 CPI for a 25% incidence and a $16.00 CPI for a 15% incidence), the client might not fully understand how the vendor is defining “incidence”. For example, if the targeted select for an online consumer survey is “Owners of 2008 New Ford Mustang Convertibles”, and the vendor has “Owners of Ford Mustangs” pre-identified in its database, in theory the quoted incidence should be based on the percentage of those pre-identified Owners of Ford Mustangs who own a New 2008 Convertible. Yet, some vendors quote incidence based on the percentage of Owners of 2008 New Ford Mustang Convertibles within the general population, which makes little sense in the field since the general population is not targeted to participate in the survey.

SUGGESTION: For lower incidence rate studies, ask the vendor if the targeted select is pre-identified. Keep in mind that some vendors will list a select as being identified not because it is pre-identified, but because the vendor knows it can reach that select through a general population blast to its survey panel. However, the CPI on a pre-identified select is almost always less expensive in a low incidence study because there is less risk to the vendor and no need to blast out emails to a large portion of its database. The variation from vendor to vendor in the CPI could be $30.00 or higher depending on whether the select is pre-identified. Wide variations in quoted CPIs are particularly evident in B2B market research surveys.

Questionnaire Design and Incidence Rates

Selection of the specific criteria for respondent qualification, and the wording on the questionnaire of the associated screening questions, is a critical element of any project, particularly lower incidence studies. Differences in qualification requirements such as “final decision maker” versus “influencer”, “C-level executive” versus “Manager, Director, VP or higher”, or “Owner of 2008 New Ford Mustang Convertible” versus “Owner/Lessee of New or Used 2006-2008 Ford Mustang Convertible”, can often have a significant cost impact. Even a screener such as “How often do you travel out-of-town on business… ” can have very different pricing depending on whether the screening requirement is twice a year or four times a year.

While the goal of a survey should always be to reach the targeted audience that can best provide the desired feedback; there is often some flexibility in defining the screening criteria. Is there a good reason why a 2008 model year is the only qualifier for an auto study? Does a decision to purchase a product or service really need to be limited to a final decision maker and not include input from others in the decision-making process? Those determinations directly impact the incidence rate and can quickly move a project from too expensive to affordability, or vice versa.

SUGGESTION: Review the specific goals of the study with the vendor’s statistician or other questionnaire design expert to determine what options are available for defining respondent criteria that can reduce costs but still produce actionable data. Keep in mind, for example, that the cost difference between surveying “final decision makers” and “final decision makers or influencers” can be as much as $20.00 a complete or higher.

Survey Hosting and Incidence Rate Testing

Some online market research companies provide survey hosting services in addition to survey sample. In such cases, they may offer incidence rate testing at no charge or for a small fee. An “incidence rate test” is a small study using the screening questions only which is conducted in advance of the actual project. With this information, a prediction can be made as to the actual incidence rate and its cost in the field. The client can then determine how many completes will fit within budget, what changes might be needed in respondent qualifications to increase the incidence rate, or if the project still makes sense from a cost perspective.

SUGGESTION: Take advantage of this option if the study is low incidence and the incidence rate is uncertain. In many cases, the incidence rate established in the test might be higher than expected, resulting in a lower project cost. Or, if not, an informed decision can be made on what adjustments are needed in other parts of the project to lower the overall cost.

Working with a full-service market research supplier that is involved in the different phases of the project including questionnaire design, sample, hosting, and analytics brings the parties together with the common goal of providing high-quality, actionable data in a cost-effective manner. Take advantage of the vendor’s expertise in each of these phases and discuss the scope of the project with the vendor’s statistician or other questionnaire design expert. Respondent criteria, respondent targeting, number of completes, and other cost sensitive items are legitimate topics of discussion on which the vendor should be able to provide expert advice. There is rarely only one approach to a survey project.

Marc I. Tillman is a member of the professional services staff at Amplitude Research, Inc., a full-service survey company headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Amplitude is an industry leader in conducting business and consumer market research surveys, providing questionnaire design, survey programming, survey hosting, and reporting services using its proprietary software technologies and web survey panels.

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