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From: sterling@cbmvax.commodore.com (Rick Sterling)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: A3000 Educational Discounts (Commodore Please READ!)
Keywords: 3000 education discount
Message-ID: <11252@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 2 May 90 16:00:16 GMT
References: <122@coplex.UUCP>
Reply-To: sterling@cbmvax (Rick Sterling)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 89

In article <122@coplex.UUCP> dannie@coplex.UUCP (Dannie Gregoire) writes:
> 
> 
> This Letter/Article is concerning the Educational Sales of Commodore Inc.
> 
> There has been much mention of an Educational Discount on A3000 equipment.
> The discounts I have seen floating on the net have ranged around a
> whopping 50%.  This seems a bit too good to be true, and as of yet is not.
> 
> I really would like to know if there is going to be ANY discount offered
> on the A3000.  When I questioned a local dealer about educational
> discounts, he became almost infuriated.  He said that there is to be
> NO educational pricing on the A3000, and proceded to tell me how
> little Commoder supports educational sales.
> 
> He went on to say that he, and many other dealers were very upset with
> Commodore's educational programs.  Educational sales of Commodore
> equipment were basically a hassel to him.  He said that Apple offers
> reimburstment for educational support, and Commodore does not (This
> was brought up to Commodore at the recent Ami Expo, but was not answered
> satisfactorily).  As a result, I think LESS Commodore equipment may be
> sold to education in the comming months.
> 
> I would like to know what Commodore plans to do about this problem. 
> This could have a drastic effect upon the sales of the A3000. 
> 
> I, being student, cannot hope to afford an A3000 at list price.  I'm
> sure there are many others in my situation.  Commodore needs to have
> a GOOD educational program in place for sales to become sucessful, and
> to make amends with their dealers.  I could go out and purchase a MAC II
> (dread the thought) at a discount (not sure on %) and still receive
> special reduced finacing through Apple.  It is a program like this
> that could only substantially increase the sales of Commodre equipment.
> 
> I look forward to Commodore's answer to this problem, as I am sure many
> others do.  
> 
> Thanx,
> 
> Dannie Gregoire		
> (dannie@coplex) 
> 

With Mr. Diamond's permission I am posting his response to Dannie Gregoire's
inquiry.  

-----------

Hi Dannie,

At the risk of being flamed, I thought I'd respond to your recent note
regarding the Education program.

1) The 3000, and all new products are being added to the Ed program.
The pricing is being sent out to all dealers at the end of the week,
along with their regular pricing on all the new products. 

2) You may want to be careful about talking to one dealer, (or one anybody)
and generalizing their statements.  The Ed program is going VERY well. It is
not perfect, but the reality is that most of our dealers realize it is a much
better program for them, than Apple's.  For Example, in the Apple program, 
Apple keeps the large University accounts for themselves....in our program, 
dealers are involved in all sales. The fees we are paying the dealers, are 
equal to, or in some cases higher than those being paid to the dealers through
the Apple program, or any other Ed program.

Your dealer's concern is that Apple gives each dealer in the program market
development funds using a formula that gives them an additional 1% credit for
these expenditures.  What apple has found is that the majority of dealers 
DON'T USE THE FUNDS...so what we have done is told the dealers they will NOT
get the funds automatically, but ARE able to submit proposals for specific 
promotions which we will fund as appropriate.  In fact, your dealer has 
already received special support from this program (assuming I know who he 
is based on where you are located)

We talk to the dealers regularly, and will modify the program as seems 
appropriate, but at this point most of the dealers who have made a 
significant committment to the program have found it to be very lucrative, 
and have asked for few changes.

More systems have been sold to Education in the last three months, than
had been sold in the last few years.  We hope to see this trend continue,
and grow.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Howard S. Diamond
Director of Education
CBM