From: marlow@sys.uea.ac.uk (K. Marlow PG)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn.advocacy
Subject: Re: Risc OS 3.1 supplies
Date: 6 Oct 92 13:05:35 GMT
Organization: UEA School of Information Systems, Norwich, UK.

smb@cs.nott.ac.uk (Simon Burrows) writes:
>What do people think to Archive's latest adverts which say that by subscribing
>to Archive, you will be amongst the first to receive news about new products
>from Acorn? They certainly did it with the latest range of products, where
>Archive magazine landed on people's doormats (early) on the morning of 27th
>August, the day the new products were launched (at 11am).

	Humph!..  just good timing I would imagine, if the release had been
a week earlier then the BBS's would have been there first.

>Secondly, hands up all those people who ordered their RISC OS 3 upgrades from
>Norwich Computer Services (Archive) because they read about them first in
>Archive! The magazine always claims to be independent, and they certainly
>used to make a major point of the fact that they do not produce any hardware
>or software themselves (they just farm it out to LOOKsystems). However it
>would seem that the magazine's policy is intended to maximise turnover for
>Norwich Computer Services. NCS has ordered 1000 upgrade packs (250 for the
>A5000), which I would guess is one of the largest orders from any dealer.

	I've always considered it a little bit cheeky putting the NCS price
list complete with order form in with the Archive magazine.  One feels that
if NCS is allowed to do it then any other company which offers discounts
to Archive members *should* be allowed to put their price lists in as well
*at cost*, 'cause if they ain't then Archive can't be independent of NCS by
definition.

>Archive successfully gives the feel of a user group, because almost all of the
>material in the magazine is written by volunteers. However I get the feeling
>that it is becoming more of an advert for Norwich Computer Services. I have
>bought items from them on a number of occasions, and have found the service
>very good, although I know of other people who have not been so lucky.
>Archive is very fortunate to apparently maintain such great customer loyalty.

	They are very effective at what they do, but I think they are
now working at the limit of their productivity, more staff are going to be
needed if the same or higher level of service is to be maintained.

>Paul Beverley (the boss of NCS) has been busy posting messages on certain
>bulletin boards (not just Archive's, which seems almost dead) criticising
>Acorn for the lack of supplies, and saying "Oh, why me?". He also asks that
>people do not attempt to contact NCS, since they are getting approximately
>one phone call every six minutes asking where the upgrades have got to. In
>other words, NCS hasn't even acknowledged orders received. 

	They are very busy & by the sound of it its their own fault if
people are phoning up wanting to know whats up, he seems to forget that
people are paying for a service & naturally should be allowed to enquire
after what is happening.

>Contrast this with Beebug (not always my favourite company in the past), who
>immediately acknowledged my order (later cancelled) and even sent an advice of
>cancellation.

  Beebug is much bigger than NCS, they have the time to do things properly.

   Keith Marlow
--
 Keith Marlow,               *  Cyclone BBS (0603) 260973
 Information Systems P/G,    *  Radio news support in East Anglia, now
 University of East Anglia,  * running TheDoobs doors system.
 Norwich. Norfolk NR4 7TJ    *