Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!wuarchive!uunet!munnari.oz.au!uhccux!tholen
From: tholen@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (David Tholen)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: IBM OS/2 1.3 pricing
Message-ID: <12932@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu>
Date: 9 May 91 02:53:09 GMT
Organization: University of Hawaii
Lines: 24

Bill Chin writes:

> I'm trying to find out if anyone has confirmation of the lower prices
> of OS/2 1.3.  I chatted with an IBM rep at an IBM show here on campus
> two weeks ago, and he said that the price of OS/2 1.3SE retail is now
> $150.  I notified the campus computer dealer rep of that right then
> and there, just in case he missed that.  Well, I've been checking in
> every couple of days or so, and our campus computer dealer hasn't
> heard of any price changes... they still have it at $198 edu price.

I can't speak authoritatively, but I think the situation goes something
like this.  Commercial computer retailers, like Computerland, can set
their own prices, driven by desired profit margins, volume, and so on.
Thus they are free to adjust prices quickly in response to whatever price
changes IBM may choose to make.  University bookstores, on the other hand,
must sign a contractual agreement with IBM to offer their products at the
educational discounted price.  The bookstores can't unilaterally change
their prices.  Price changes will generally take place when the contract
is renewed, presumably at least once a year, but perhaps more often than
that.  To get a price change sooner than that, somebody (either the
bookstore or IBM) will need to initiate a special round of contract changes
that both parties agree to.  So the price change should eventually happen.
but not as quickly as on the retail market.  Maybe you can inquire as to
when the next price list will be agreed to by your bookstore and IBM.