FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

BubbleScan

What is the warranty?

Is it portable? What is the license limit for the software?

How many forms can I scan in an hour?

Can I print my own forms?

How reliable is the BubbleScan?

What happens when a question has two or more answers marked?

What are the system requirements?

Ordering

How much does the BubbleScan cost?

Do you offer discounts for educational or non-profit organizations?

How do I order? How do I pay?

Are there alternatives to purchasing a BubbleScan?

What is the warranty?
The BubbleScan comes with a one year warranty. During that time we will replace a defective unit with one from our stock of refurbished or new units. This warranty coverage can be extended for an additional two years for $39 per year.

Is it portable?
Absolutely. It was designed to be shared. It has a built-in carrying handle, weighs only 8lbs, and draws power from the USB port of the laptop/PC it is connected to. The software has no license limit and is intended to be installed on as many laptop/PCs as will use the BubbleScan.

How many forms can I scan in an hour?
Forms are fed one-by-one through the BubbleScan. The forms literally fall through the paper path. As soon as the paper passes the sensors data is visible on the computer screen. While the process of picking up a form and dropping it through the BubbleScan takes no more than 3 seconds which would lead to a theoretical rate of 1200 forms per hour, this is not realistic. Delays are bound to occur when forms are removed from the collection tray or user errors require a manual review of a form. A certain degree of fatigue will set it and slow down the process. From our experience (we scan a lot of forms for customers) one can expect to scan 40 forms (class size) in about 3 minutes and larger quantities at a rate of 400-500 forms per hour.
The BubbleScan is ideal for class room settings or for data collection projects where forms trickle in (such as conventions where smaller batches can be scanned as soon as a session is completed). However, many customers use the BubbleScan even to scan larger batches and some even deploy multiple BubbleScan units.

Can I print my own forms?
Yes, but...
1. When designing your own forms, you will need to follow the spacing guidelines exactly.
2. When printing forms, you must ensure the forms are aligned exactly.
3. When cutting forms, you must ensure they are cut exactly to 4.25x11". The tolerance is only +/- 0.02" inches.

How reliable is the BubbleScan?
The BubbleScan is very, very reliable. Properly marked forms are always read correctly. Problems occur when forms are filled out with a pen (#2 pencil required), bubbles are filled in only partially or lightly, forms are not printed or cut precisely.

What happens when a question has two or more answers marked?
The BubbleScan itself will report all answers. The logic to ignore unwanted answers or to flag multiple answers sits in the Excel macro file. The TestBook and Survey Macro will pop up a warning message and will highlight fields in question when multiple marks are detected. This forces the operator to review the paper form and to edit by hand or confirm the scan results.

What are the system requirements?
You will need a Windows PC or laptop (any flavor of Windows), a USB port, and Microsoft Excel 2002 or newer. The memory requirements are negligible. Every laptop/PC will work.

How much does the BubbleScan cost?
We currently charge $1895 for the BubbleScan 101. Our standard 4.25x11" forms (25Q, 40Q, 50Q) are $22 per pack of 500. Our standard 8.5x11" perforated forms (70Q, 100Q) are $50 per pack of 500. Pricing before S&H.

Do you offer discounts for educational or non-profit organizations?
Please contact us to discuss your situation. We want you to use the BubbleScan and we will work hard to find a way to accomplish this!

How do I order? How do I pay?
You can order online, via phone, fax or email.
We generally prefer payment via credit card. However, we do accept formal POs from established organizations and existing customers with a good payment history.

Are there alternatives to purchasing a BubbleScan 101?
We do offer a rental program for customers that need a BubbleScan for only a limited time. Click here to review the rental agreement. We currently charge $289/month or $139 first week and $89 each subsequent week.
We also offer a Scan Service. You send us your BubbleScan-compatible forms and we do the scanning for you. We guarantee to email you results back within 3 business days of receiving the filled-in forms. Pricing varies with the quantity and type of reports required. We generally charge $0.15 for each 4.25x11 form we scan.