Crucillium FAQ:Project Management Solutions for all Budgets

CORPORATE RELATED QUESTIONS

How do you pronounce your name?
Yeah, we know it´s a mouth full. Crucillium is pronounced (kru-sil´e-um). It is derived partly from our founder´s last name {Cruse} and partly from the Latin word Concilium which is to council or offer solutions.

Can you summarize in a "nut shell" what you guys do?
That´s pretty difficult because we do so much. However, in a nut shell, we provide technology, event planning, document translation, product procurement, and management solutions to small, medium, and home-based businesses. We also provide several specialized services for non-profits and government organizations which are designed to increase their overall productivity. For more information please give us a call or review our Services and Industries web pages.

I am not sure that you can help me with my current project. How can I find out ?
If by looking through our website you do not see how we can help with your project, please contact us via email or give us a call. Our vendor and consultancy network is comprised of individuals skilled in hundreds of disciplines spread across numerous industries. Simply put, you will be surprised at how much Crucillium can accomplish.

What are your hours of operation?
Our standard hours are from 8:30 AM- 5:30 PM Eastern, and our standard work days are from Monday - Friday. For our current clients we do offer extended hours that include 24 hour support, and weekend assistance. We have one office located in New York City, and our national head quarters is located in North Carolina. The NYC location will usually handle all post-sales related issues, while the NC location will handle anything else our clients require.

What if I decide to cancel a contract with you?
We give all customers 5 business days after signing our contract to cancel without penalty. Depending on the complexity of the project, this cancellation period may be extended.

SERVICE RELATED QUESTIONS

What are your service guarantees?
Most of our guarantees are listed in our contracts and can be discussed with anyone who inquires. However, here is one just to answer your question.

1. If after signing a contract with Crucillium, you are not confident that we are skilled enough in the subject matter of your project, we will locate a suitable vendor and bring them up to speed with the project's status free of charge.

What is the smallest project or budget you will consider working with?
Crucillium was started to provide affordable solutions to small, medium, and home-based businesses, as well as non-profits. Therefore, we are very skilled at working with budgets that range from just one hundred to over several million dollars.

Do you only offer consulting services, or can we actually purchase items from you?
Good question. Think of us as your purchasing department, whatever you need for your office or business we can probably obtain at a lower cost. Once the purchases are made you can then think of us as your personal implementation team. So now, not only will we purchase the items you need to conduct business, we will also work to ensure that those items are delivered, installed or configured properly. In this scenario, Crucillium acts as two separate departments working together to complete a single project. Depending on the complexity of the task, Crucillium´s role can sometimes assume the responsibilities of numerous departments focused on one goal...the support of your business

Can I contract with Crucillium to help me translate a paragraph from Spanish to English?
Yes. We offer translation programs from one sentence to an entire novel. Also, we can provide translators that are experienced in numerous industries and can translate in over 30 languages.

Will your Message Compliance service help me comply with SEC and HIPPA regulations?
Yes. Crucillium will provide the technologies needed to obtain these certifications, but we will not assist in formal communications between your company and the above government agencies. Please contact us for more information on this topic. If formal legal assistance is needed in obtaining compliance, Crucillium can offer referrals to highly reparable law firms and other agencies that can assist with this goal.

If I sign up for your maintenance agreement will you come and repair my office technology free of charge?
No. With the Crucillium STIM agreement we would only act as the conduit for getting your office technologies repaired. Once we have compiled a virtual catalog of your business´s equipment, we will record all serial numbers, model ids, and warranty information for each item. If the warranty of the defective item is valid, we will work with the vendor to get your products repaired or replaced when you need them.

Can I get a refund if I purchase something from Crucillium then see it somewhere else at a cheaper price?
Crucillium is not a certified distributor of the technology or materials that we re-sell with our solutions. Therefore we are not able to offer a price-matching program such as this.

What is the benefit of the STIM program?
With the STIM program you no longer have to deal with customer support or help desk personnel when your technology fails. Let the skilled technicians at Crucillium work with the vendors of your defective product. With our skills and experiences we will be able to get your items repaired or replaced quickly and efficiently.

Are there extra costs associated with a STIM repair project?
There is a monthly fee for the STIM program, but there is no fee for submitting a STIM request. However, depending on the status of the product´s warranty, there may be costs associated with the repair or replacement of the item.

What if I submit a STIM request and my product is not repairable?
If it is determined that your item is not repairable, we will locate a suitable replacement for the cost that you specify. This service is offered as part of the STIM agreement and bears no additional costs besides the amounts associated with the replacement of the item.

I need help planning a meeting/seminar for 10 people in Boston in four days, can you help?
Yes! We are extremely experienced in hosting meetings and seminars in some of the busiest cities in the country. We offer complete packages which will include catering, equipment, printing and greeting services. Oh, and planning last minute meetings is not a problem!

BILLING RELATED QUESTIONS

What are your billable rates?
At Crucillium we don´t charge per hour for our services. We have a flat management fee that will cover the entire project. So, no matter how long we work on your project, forty hours or four hundred, you pay the same.

What forms of payment do you accept?
For your convenience we accept checks, money orders, and all major credit cards. At this time we do not accept foreign currency.

(* Please note that credit card payments will be charged an additional processing fee).

Can we get a refund for products that we purchase from you?
Yes. During any project led by Crucillium there will be an opportunity to return hardware as well as some software items to us or our vendors. These items will then be returned to the manufacturer and you will be given a prompt refund. Because the amount of time allowed to return products will vary with each item, Crucillium will attempt to update every client with the correct return information prior to the start of any project.

How much does Crucillium charge for on-site support?
Crucillium can provide on-site support through our network of highly qualified field service firms. The price of an on-site visit will vary based on the complexity and nature of the issue or problem. Contact us at fieldsupport@crucillium.com for an estimate.

Can Crucillium invoice me Net 30 terms for a project?
At this time Crucillium only invoices Net 30 terms for very specific types of projects. Please contact nysales@crucillium.com to discuss this option.

PRESS RELATED QUESTIONS

Crucillium tends to target small organizations with limited financial resources. Why?
Small businesses play a large part in keeping our economy moving. They open their doors in the smallest of towns, and the largest of cities. They bring to our nation fresh ideas, new approaches, and vast amounts of products and services reflecting numerous cultures. By helping these companies succeed, we are adding more jobs, more revenue, and priceless cultural experiences to cities all over the country. At Crucillium, our goal is to relieve some of the burdens that many of these organizations face by providing them with low-cost technology, procurement, and operations services.

How would you describe the culture of Crucillium?
People who care! Crucillium is filled with people who truly care about our clients and their goals. We don’t focus on the "sale", and we are not interested in pushing products because of some vendor re-seller agreement. Unlike many “solution providers”, we actively search to locate the least expensive, highest quality solution to our client's business need. The task isn't always easy, but for our customers we get it done!

What are Crucillium’s financial goals for 2007?
Our goals are actually not measured in financial achievements or on the strength of our P&L statements. We gauge our true success on the amount of clients that we aide in achieving their business goals. However, this year we expect to have substantial income to fund various marketing and gifting projects. These efforts are predominantly geared towards increasing awareness of Crucillium and its services to small and medium sized organizations throughout the country.

Some argue that Crucillium offers too many services to be efficient. Is there some truth to this?
Not at all. At Crucillium we do not claim to have staff members that wear “multiple hats” which allow them to lead any project within any industry. When a client requests that we lead their project we select only highly experienced engineers and consultants. These individuals come with impeccable credentials and with backgrounds in that industry and that industry alone. From our vast network of individuals we guarantee that our personnel are able to perform the requirements of the project, when and where the client requires.

Are there any plans for expansion into other industries?
At this time we are working on several changes to the services that we offer. Our client´s business needs change sometimes on a weekly basis, and for us to continually aid them in their goals we must do the same. Our president calls this tactic “the old stick-n-move”, because we must be able to provide a client with solutions to one problem, and then provide solutions to another problem that may be in a different industry, in a different language, or a different environment. Remember, our focus is on achieving the goals of our clients. Sometimes we will provide the solutions to all of their problems, sometimes we may have to contact another firm better suited to the task. Whatever has to be done to ensure the client's success is our highest priority