Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!me!davin
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
From: davin@me.utoronto.ca (Davin Yap)
Subject: Re: HP Promo??
Message-ID: <90Aug12.215445edt.19137@me.utoronto.ca>
Keywords: Equation Solver, promo, 48sx
Organization: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical Engineering
References: <1990Aug12.023453.10030@ipsa.reuter.com>
Distribution: na
Date: 13 Aug 90 01:54:54 GMT

In article <1990Aug12.023453.10030@ipsa.reuter.com> gchow@ipsa.reuter.com (george chow) writes:

>I was down at the local dealer (Downtown Electronic on Yonge St) looking at the
>48sx.

>  o they say that there is a promo starting August 15 whereby if you buy a
>    48sx, you get a coupon that you mail in to HP to get the Equation Library.

If this is true, I'm really going to be pissed off.  I had one of the
first 48's in Canada (3006A...); neglecting their most ethusiastic
customers, those who rushed out and bought the first 28C, then the first
28S then the ... 

...Well, it just doesn't seem right.  Usually companies have introductory
offers when they first announce a product, rewarding those that support
the new product in its infancy, those that have enough faith in them, in
their reputation, to trust that they will get it right the first time.  I
bought my calculator when I did largely because the name "Hewlett Packard"
means something to me; with the controversy over the ROM revisions and
now this...   ...this slap in the face - I'm tempted to lump HP in with
the other big, monolithic American companies with, "We don't care.  We
don't have too" attitudes.

   I realize that the equation library wasn't ready until recently, and
that they probably want to attract the "back to school" market, but to
neglect their strongest supporters...  ...in the long term, this will
hurt them.  Certainly I'm not the only one who will share this sentiment.
It looks like the marketing/accounting types have HP steered towards short
term gains, but long term pain.  I wonder how much their reputation is
worth to them; I certainly won't be recommending HP products with the
same conviction I had in the past.  Playing these marketing games was
something I thought was beneath HP, something that Radio Shack would do,
nothing that gives me unwavering trust that I'm being dealt with fairly.
If HP goes ahead with this coupon promo, while neglecting present 48
owners, the 48 will be the last HP calculator I'll buy.

Potentially peeved beyond reconciliation,

Davin
--
Davin Yap, Center for Computer Integrated Engineering, University of Toronto
davin@me.utoronto.ca  davin@me.utoronto.bitnet | 5 King's College Rd., Toronto
  ...{pyramid,uunet}!utai!utme!davin           |    Ontario, CANADA, M5S 1A4