Two quotes can look the same on paper and be very different after delivery. The questions below help you compare suppliers on what matters: who builds the machine, who stands behind it and what is written in the contract.
- Ask who makes the laser source and the other main parts.
- Get warranty scope in writing: what is covered, for how long, and who pays for what.
- Check where spare parts come from and how fast service can reach you.
- Insist on a sample test on your own material before you pay.
- Confirm delivery terms, returns and what the contract promises about parts.
Below is a list, grouped by topic. Where our own commitments are relevant, we have listed them so you can compare any supplier, including us, against the same yardstick.
Who builds the machine?
Manufacturer or trader?
Ask whether the supplier designs and builds the machine, or buys and resells it. A manufacturer controls optics, mechanics, electrical control and software, and can fix problems at the root. We have 25+ years in laser manufacturing, and design and build those parts in-house under one roof.
Which laser source?
The source is usually the largest share of the price and the largest variable in long-term ownership. Ask for the brand, the type and the rated life. Our machines use a MOPA pulsed fibre source, with the JPT source and Coherent diodes rated for 100,000 working hours. Other source brands, such as MAX and Raycus, are also found on the market. None is automatically wrong, but you should know which one you are buying and why the price differs.
Track record
Ask how many machines the supplier has delivered and to how many countries. We can point to 20,000+ units delivered and 70+ export countries. Ask any supplier for references you can contact, and check them.
Warranty and parts
What does the warranty cover?
- How long is it, and does the laser source have a different term?
- What is excluded (consumables such as protective lenses, misuse, transport damage)?
- Who pays shipping on warranty repairs, and in which direction?
Our warranty is 3+2 years, with the extra 2 years covering the laser source.
Where do parts come from?
Ask whether repairs use new original parts, and whether that is written in the contract. We commit to no refurbished or second-hand parts, backed by a 10x penalty clause, and 15+ laser repair centres use only new original parts.
Service coverage
How fast can help reach you?
A machine down in a remote country is only useful if service can reach it. Ask for the actual coverage list of countries and the response time. We offer on-site support within 24 hours in 130+ countries, and remote support for life, free, 24/7, by email, AI service desk, WhatsApp, WeChat and TeamViewer/AnyDesk.
Software and training
Ask whether software upgrades are free, whether there is a parameter library and how training is handled. We offer free software upgrades for life and a 100,000+ process parameter library.
Proving it works on your material
Sample test before payment
Never rely on a photo of someone else's rust. Ask the supplier to test your material. We run 10-minute remote sample tests on your material. Supply a clear sample, say what you want to keep and what you want to remove, and ask for the settings used so you can repeat them.
What to compare in the result
- Is the substrate undamaged and the layer you wanted to keep still there?
- How many passes did it take?
- Which power class and model produced the result?
Delivery, returns and contract
Delivery terms
Ask exactly who pays freight, import duties and handles customs. We deliver DDP to 50+ countries, so you do not handle import paperwork. If a supplier quotes ex-works, add the import cost and the paperwork to your comparison.
Returns
Standard models carry a 30-day return policy, with return freight, import costs and depreciation borne by the buyer. Ask any supplier what their policy is and who bears each cost, in writing.
What the contract says
- Model, power, configuration and accessories listed line by line.
- Payment terms and delivery date.
- Warranty scope and parts commitment.
- What happens if the supplier breaks a promise.
| Topic | Question to ask | Our stated commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Brand and rated life? | JPT with Coherent diodes, 100,000 h |
| Warranty | Duration and coverage? | 3+2 years, extra 2 for source |
| Parts | New or refurbished? | No refurbished or second-hand; 10x penalty clause |
| Service | Response time? | 24 h on-site in 130+ countries |
| Sample | Test before purchase? | 10-minute remote sample test |
| Delivery | Who handles import? | DDP to 50+ countries |
| Returns | Terms and costs? | 30 days on standard models |
Red flags
- Vague answers about the laser source.
- Warranty promises that are not in the contract.
- No sample test, or a sample made on someone else's material.
- Price far below the market range with no explanation of what is cut.
- Reluctance to name service coverage in your country.
How to run the comparison
Use one sheet for every supplier
Copy the table above into a spreadsheet, add a column per supplier and fill it from written answers only. Where an answer is verbal, mark it unconfirmed. When two quotes differ in price, the gaps in this sheet usually explain why.
Compare like with like
Match power class, cooling, format and source brand before you compare prices. Our price and ROI page shows what the price is made of and how to calculate running cost.
Next step
Use this list with every supplier you shortlist. For our full terms, read the warranty and support page, then request a quote and a sample test on your own material.
