DOES PRICE = VALUE OR DOES
QUALITY = VALUE ? 

The title of this article poses a perplexing question when
determining what is a fair and equitable price for any service or
product.  Relating this question to my own industry, I find it
interesting that some industry professionals are making the
statement "Investigative Services are all the same, price is the
only thing that determines value."  Surely the individuals making
these statements are doing so solely to bargain for the best price
for services rather then actually believing.  The statement
indicates that all services are equal in nature and only pricing
separates companies.  This theory would not be industry specific
and would then necessarily carry over to other occupations,
correct?  All Attorney Firms are equal in capability, experience
and knowledge of the law?  All Third Party Administrators are equal
in claims handling ability, negotiation and aggressiveness?  All
Insurance Companies are equal in their coverage and customer
services?  All Rehabilitation Providers are equal in their
abilities on behalf of the claimant and carrier?  I know numerous
individuals in each of these industries who would have their own
very firmly stated opinion on their services and abilities being
compared as equal to their competitors.   In fact some attorneys
would very articulately set any one straight on this theory, if
applied to them.  It is true that the basics behind all services
and products are the same.  It is, however, the subtle differences
in each organization's dedication to excellence in service,
knowledge of their profession and experience that makes the
difference between entities.  In other words, the QUALITY of their
services. 

Actually PRICE and QUALITY go together in order to assess value. 
Many people are willing to forgo quality for price.  Many others
seek an acceptable level of quality at a completely acceptable
price and yet for others the importance of price is completely
secondary to that of quality of service.  Price seems to affect the
extra non charged for services that accompany a given product or
service.  These non charged for extras are frequently not as
tangible to measure as piece of equipment, a free repair or written
report.  They are paramount to many a company's way of doing
business and included without thought as to extra costs.  From the
eyeglasses store that spends ten minutes putting on two nose pads
without charge to the surveillance company that spend a half day
looking for a subject a second time without charge, these type
organizations operate on the premises that quality service extends
beyond the initial sale or fee.    It is included in their overall
price and charging for every small piece of equipment or moment
involved with a client's file is not in their concept of doing
business.  The companies and organizations that operate in this
fashion are not interested only in your immediate business but are
interest in making an investment to secure a long term
relationship.

I prefer organizations that believe QUALITY makes VALUE more than
PRICE and I am sure you do to.