Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!enea!tope From: tope@enea.se (Tommy Petersson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics Subject: Re: Animation Journeyman: Wayne Knapp's Reply Message-ID: <3589@enea.se> Date: 4 Jun 91 15:58:47 GMT References: <193b58af.ARN1010@cbmami.UUCP- Organization: Enea Data AB, Sweden Lines: 62 In article When I called your company, all I asked is that you let me break -> even on the product. If you are selling the product for $500 then you have -> to sell it to me for $450 so that I can cover my costs in ordering the -> product, displaying the products, training my staff, etc... and still sell -> the product for $500 so I am competative with you. Its funny that you are -> worried about me undercutting you, because I am worried about you -> undercutting me! It seems all too likely that I buy JMan for $500 and sell -> it to my customers at my loss for $500, only to have you walk around a -> shows saying "JMan costs $500 but if you buy today I can give it to you for -> $450." What I am trying to avoid is spending my time promoting your -> product, only to have my customers go to you and buy it for less. - -I believe your above stated logic is wrong. You do *not* have to -purchase Jman for $450 to cover your costs. I don't know what kind -of business you are running there but it seems to me that if you are -basing your profit on the sale of hardware that is working around the -Jman product, then you can slip in an additional "system" fee and -cover your costs that way. We sell systems to people but when we -talk to them we tell them right up front that if they are shopping -for price, they should look elsewhere. We provide a *complete* -solution to our clients particular needs and that type of service -comes at a premium. We don't sell them a system and itemize each -piece. We quote a solution to them and a cost for that solution. -Since people purchasing he Jman product need much more than a stock -Amiga, it would seem to me that they are going to need the expertise -and knowlegable help of a reputable dealer/VAR. The payback comes in -service and a training program. I suggest that instead of -bellyaching to Wayne about how terrible Hash's pricing structure is, -you rethink how *you* market your systems and come up with a solution. - -After all, $500 for a product like Jman is ludicrous. It should be -going for > $1000 a pop. Would you feel better with a list price of -$1000 and you paying around $800? At that point, you are just -playing the old numbers game where the middlemen win and you lose. - -We charge close to list for everything we put into our systems -because we are supplying the knowhow to the people so that when they -get to thier studio they are not sitting in front of a bunch of -high-priced hardware not knowing which end is up. We provide the -training and procedures our clients need to immediately start -producing on the system. This is where you should be thinking about -making money. Not on margins and quantities. - -What ever happened to customer service in America!? - *** So, following your logic about Journeyman: If Commodore decided to charge you list price for their Amigas, as Hash do, you would still be satisfied? *** --- Bob - - The Graphics BBS 908/469-0049 "It's better than a sharp stick in the eye!" - ============================================================================ - InterNet: bobl@graphics.rent.com | Raven Enterprises - UUCP: ...rutgers!bobsbox!graphics!bobl | 25 Raven Avenue - BitNet: bobl%graphics.rent.com@pucc | Piscataway, NJ 08854 - Home #: 908/560-7353 | 908/271-8878