| Display configuration | Screen dimensions, pixel pitch, resolution, brightness, refresh rate, viewing distance, indoor/outdoor rating, and front- or rear-service design. | A dated datasheet and a configuration drawing listing the exact model and included components. | Compare offers only after confirming they meet the same size, use environment, and viewing-distance requirements. |
| Quoted purchase price | Display, control system, receiving cards, power supplies, cables, media player, software, packaging, and any required accessories. | An itemized quotation stating currency, quantities, validity period, payment terms, and exclusions. | Treat missing line items as unpriced—not as included. Confirm whether taxes are included or excluded. |
| Delivered and installed cost | Freight, insurance, customs duties, local taxes, installation, mounting, electrical work, commissioning, and operator training. | A delivery term, shipping estimate, installation scope, site requirements, and a list of customer responsibilities. | Calculate the cost through commissioning at the destination; do not compare equipment-only prices with installed prices. |
| Energy cost | Rated maximum power, stated average operating power (if available), operating hours, brightness setting, and local electricity tariff. | Power figures for the quoted configuration and the assumptions used to calculate average consumption. | Estimate annual energy cost as average kW × operating hours per day × operating days per year × tariff per kWh. Keep maximum and average power distinct. |
| Maintenance and spares | Recommended spare modules and power supplies, replacement part prices, availability period, diagnostic tools, and labor or travel charges. | A spare-parts list, written pricing, parts lead times, and details of what maintenance is customer-performed versus chargeable. | Include planned spares and likely service costs in the ownership estimate; verify that replacement parts match the supplied configuration. |
| Total cost of ownership | All purchase, delivery, installation, energy, maintenance, and support costs over the same ownership period. | A cost worksheet with assumptions, time period, quantities, and exclusions visible. | Formula: equipment + delivery/taxes + installation + energy + spares/maintenance + paid support. Compare the same period and operating schedule. |
| Warranty duration and coverage | Start date, term, covered components, repair or replacement process, labor, shipping, onsite service, and whether coverage is transferable. | The complete written warranty applicable to the exact quoted configuration—not only a summary in a quotation. | Compare covered remedies and total out-of-pocket costs, not just the number of warranty months or years. |
| Warranty exclusions and claims | Pixel-defect thresholds, wear items, accidental damage, improper installation, environmental limits, unauthorized repair, and claim deadlines. | Written defect criteria, claim steps, required diagnostic evidence, response process, and responsibility for return freight. | Check whether a fault affecting a small area is covered and who pays for diagnosis, shipping, labor, and replacement parts. |
| Technical support access | Support hours, time zones, languages, contact methods, escalation path, remote troubleshooting, and fees after warranty expiration. | Support policy, contact details, escalation contacts, and any service-plan terms. | Set a written target appropriate to the display’s importance—for example, acknowledgement within one business day—and confirm how it is measured. |
| Repair and replacement logistics | Remote diagnosis, local technician availability, return authorization, repair location, replacement-part dispatch, and estimated turnaround. | A sample service workflow, parts stock location, shipping responsibility, and repair or replacement time estimates. | Ask how the display will remain usable during a repair and whether a spare module can be supplied in advance. |
| Supplier continuity and documentation | Product identification, configuration records, manuals, wiring diagrams, software access, firmware updates, and continued parts availability. | A documentation pack and written policy for software, firmware, and spare-parts support. | Confirm that you can identify, operate, and service the purchased unit without relying on undocumented verbal assurances. |
| Final comparison | Technical fit, complete ownership cost, warranty coverage, support access, and repair logistics. | A completed comparison using the same requirements and ownership period for every offer. | Select the offer that meets the use case with clearly documented costs and service obligations—not automatically the lowest initial price. |