From: jgrimm@TorreyPinesCA.ncr.com (Jeffrey Grimmett 9999)
Subject: Re: A1200 and LD vs HD (marketing? what marketing?)
Organization: NCR (Torrey Pines Development Center)
Disclaimer: This posting does not necessarily reflect the opinions of NCR.
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 22:47:03 GMT

Quoth sl1zm@cc.usu.edu:
]> > 
]> > 	"Are you here to buy a computer or a disk drive?"
]> > 
]> > So on and so forth...
]> 
]> Sorry, it's a little different in real life.

Sorry, but been there, done that.  I spent quite some time in the trenches
locally.  Decided RIGHT AWAY that there was no real need to try to sell
someone something they didn't want.  It leads to more headaches than it's
worth.  The bottom line with me is that if they are more interested in
minute details like the floppy drive, it's a lost cause.  If you want to
sell the computer, SELL THE COMPUTER.

Otherwise, maintain good relations with one or two good peecee dealers, and
route them to these dealers.  At least they won't go around claiming you
ripped them off...

]> > Um, gee, I guess the ones I've seen three of the 5 dealers here in SDiego
]> > selling are frauds, counterfeits, vapordrives?  The part number for getting
]> > these little devils was announced quite some time ago.
]> 
]> Oh really?  Gee, then why did they call us and tell us that the drives weren't
]> going to be made available anymore and that our order was being cancelled?
]> Just becouse a few dealers got them doesn't mean all of us got them.
]> And the last time I tried to reorder they still weren't available.

Well, don't know what to tell ya.  Want me to take a drive downtown this
evening and pick up a few for ya?

]> As long as were ragging on CBM's dealer support... why is it that  they
]> don't give dealers any advanced warning when they are going to have a
]> special on machines???  It would be nice if the dealer rep would call
]> a month in advance and tell us which machines to unload so we aren't stuck
]> with them!  Even two weeks notice would let dealers get rid of existing 
]> inventory before it's made unsellable.

One reason I decided against going into biz for myself.  After seeing what
the dealer I worked with had to go through to keep above water with C='s
dealer support tactics, I decided that I wanted a roof over my head
and food to eat more than I wanted to sell Amigii...

Mail order companies that undercut local dealer's _cost_!
Sears selling 500's in direct competition to thier dealers, at a lower
 price than they could afford.
Refusal to price protect dealers.
Hefty startup costs.
Refusal to buy back or upgrade outdated stock.
Information channels just this side of carrier pigeon technology.
Ignorance of current hot topics (networking?  Sure it can do it.. uh, what
 do we need?)
Lousy parts support net.
Lousy tech training.


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Jeff Grimmett [SuperBitMap BBS]          * fido!1:202/1401.0 [619-460-7290]
jeff_grimmett@f1401.n202.z1.fidonet.org  * jgrimm@TorreyPinesCA.ncr.com
 The opinions expressed in this message are thoughtful, reasoned, and logical.
      	It goes without saying that they are not those of my employer.
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