Describing the Customer’s Costs
TYPICAL COSTS FOR FINAL CUSTOMERS: MAINTAIN STEPS
The Final customer is either an end-user or an installer. Consumers make up the bulk of the end-users, though organizations such as companies, government entities, and other organizations, can also be end-users. The installer type of Final customer includes both contractors, who serve the ultimate end-user, as well as original equipment manufacturers, who buy products to install in their own final product.
The Final customers take four steps in connection with the product:
Acquire,
Use,
Maintain and
Dispose. Each of these four steps cause the Final customer to incur additional steps and costs in connection with the product. Some of these additional Dispose costs include:
Dispose Steps: Dispose steps include all activities required to eliminate the product from the customer's premises. These steps include the costs for removal and final disposition of the product.
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Remove from service: The customer must remove the product from its place of use of storage.
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Determine disposal options: The customer must determine the alternatives he has to dispose of the product and choose among them.
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Remove from storage to final placement: The customer must remove the product from storage or service to its final placement.
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Pay for disposal (or receive credit for recycled product): The customer must pay for the disposal of the product or receive credit for the value of the product when it is recycled.