Laptop Computers

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Why Stone?

One of the most stable UK manufacturing companies... 

  1. We're well-established
  2. We're financially secure
  3. We're experienced
  4. We are Becta accredited 

 

With secure production facilities and strict quality processes ...

 

That offers an unrivalled pre-sales and after-sales service ...

 

One of the most stable UK manufacturing companies... 

  1. We’re well-established:
    1. Stone has nearly 20 years of experience gained at the cutting edge of computing development and implementation;
    2. We have a long and proven track record with public sector clients especially as an Education sector IT specialist;
    3. We’ve had time to build a stable, well-founded company;
    4. Stone is proud of its reputation for quality and service.

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  1. We’re financially secure:
    1. With a turnover in 2007 of £53 million, we’re in business for the long haul!
    2. We can use our purchasing power to pass on savings to our customers.

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  1. We’re experienced:
    1. Our current workforce of 300 includes a great deal of computing expertise;
    2. Stone’s staff turnover is low, which means you are dealing with an enthusiastic, committed and highly-experienced team;
    3. A stable team means our clients can build long-term, comfortable, friendly and mutually-beneficial relationships with individual Stone employees.

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  1. We are Becta accredited: 
    1. Accreditation provides confidence and peace of mind for education clients;
    2. We have been fully audited by Becta;
    3. Accreditation underlines our financial stability;
    4. We meet Becta service and support standards;
    5. Becta accreditation confirms the quality of hardware we have supplied to education.

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With secure production facilities and strict quality processes ...

  1. We manufacture PCs in our UK purpose-built facility:
    1. We had to expand our buildings in 2007 and will be moving to a new even larger facility in 2010;
    2. Stone builds about 150,000 PCs each year;
    3. We can directly control the quality of our products;
    4. Having our own facility results in shorter lead times.

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  1. We use Just in Time management:
    1. Stone’s efficient management processes ensure highest service levels as well as providing cost savings we can pass on to customers.

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  1. We use branded components: 
    1. Top brand components ensure highest quality builds;
    2. Branded, batch-identical components guarantee consistency;
    3. A Becta survey found our approach to be best for reliability, robustness, standards of technical support and value for money.

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  1. We offer no-cost disk imaging for images under 20Gb:
    1. Disk imaging free of charge (for images under 20Gb) – most competitors will charge for this service; 
    2. Saves your technicians significant amounts of time; 
    3. When the PCs arrive they are ready to run;
    4. PCs can be restored to the saved image rather than factory settings, again saving your technical team’s time.

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  1. We offer security etching as part of our production process:
    1. We can etch your purchase as it is assembled on the production line; 
    2. Etching is a permanent deterrent to theft;
    3. Etching is especially useful in identifying hardware in schools and other public spaces;
    4. Hardware etching can be used as the basis for asset management.

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That offers an unrivalled pre-sales and after-sales service ...

  1. We provide personal account management:
    1. One of our 35 specialist account managers will be assigned as your own day-to-day point of contact, with sole responsibility for ensuring your organisation receives the best possible service.

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  1. We’ll be quick:
    1. Stone will provide a quotation within an hour of your contact.

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  1. We’ll help:
    1. Our UK-based helpdesk is on the same site as sales and production;
      b. All helpdesk calls are monitored;
      c. All technical help is sourced in-house, resulting in highest levels of customer service.

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  1. We provide the best after-sales service:
    1. Our service doesn’t stop after delivery;
    2. We apply the latest technological developments.
    3. We employ our own in-house despatch company:
    4. Your orders will be delivered by Stone’s own vehicles and drivers;
    5. We are able to offer a flexible delivery service to meet your schedules;
    6. We can offer bonded storage; 
    7. We can relocate your existing equipment;
    8. We can deliver and install to your desk.

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  1. We employ our own installation teams
    1. All our installers are in-house;
    2. We monitor our installations, ensuring high service levels;
    3. We offer flexible working regimes to fit your schedules and availability;
    4. We charge very competitive rates.

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  1. We offer a five year, next business day, on-site warranty:
    1. Our warranties beat most of our competitors;
    2. Laptops under warranty can be fixed on site by Stone’s 54 field engineers;
    3. Stone can offer a five year warranty because we’ll still be here, thanks to our financial stability;
    4. We retain stocks of legacy components, which means that in years to come, when these items have been discontinued, we’ll still be able to support your hardware;
    5. Our warranties are designed to give you peace of mind.

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  1. We employ all our own engineers:
    1. We don’t outsource our engineers;
    2. Having our own engineers enables us to offer a more flexible service;
    3. We monitor all service calls to ensure that all are dealt with efficiently and to customers satisfaction

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  1. We employ a great team of service technicians:
    1. Our technicians are always personally on hand;
    2. We don’t use automated telephone lines;
    3. We offer a next working day fix service;
    4. We always use our own in-house Stone Group engineers;
    5. Our teams are currently successfully supporting over 500,000 PCs;
    6. We can provide an immediate parts swap-out option;
    7. We offer flexible warranty arrangements;
    8. Becta ICT performance indicators found Stone to be best for technical support.

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  1. We employ 54 CRB-checked field engineers:
    1. Our field engineers are strategically located throughout the UK to offer highest levels of service;
    2. Large number of engineers means we can guarantee next day service. 
    3. CRB checks are a requirement if engineers are attending school sites;
    4. Our service gives you peace of mind.

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  1. We are the UK’s only authorised Samsung service centre:
    1. Laptops under warranty can be fixed on site by Stone’s Samsung-trained 54 field engineers;
    2. Our service means you experience less down-time;
    3. If hardware needs to be fixed off-site it is returned to Stone and can be turned around quickly.

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  1. We recycle most items of old IT equipment at no cost to trading customers:
    1. Our service is free of charge to trading customers for most IT equipment, with only a minimal charge for items of hazardous waste such as CRT Monitors; 
    2. 20 per cent of recycled components is retained as service stock, enabling us to cover our 4th and 5th year warranties.

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Why Stone