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From: jss@sjuvax.UUCP (J. Shapiro)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Re: Amiga Launch!/Commodore support
Message-ID: <1219@sjuvax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 28-Jul-85 22:14:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: sjuvax.1219
Posted: Sun Jul 28 22:14:39 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 02:13:32 EDT
References: <222@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: Haverford College, Haverford, Pa.
Lines: 49

> > Commodore's support has traditionally been cruddy. They have a nasty habit
> > of running support through their dealers, making their dealers cover
> > all warrantee jobs whether purchased at that stor or not, making the
> > dealer cover two way shipping, and selling the same products to
> > Major toy stores such that the big stores can price them lower than the
> > dealer cost. I was once a Commodore dealer, I know.
> 
> If that's cruddy support, let's have more of it. DAMN STRAIGHT a
> dealer ought to cover warranty jobs for units not sold by them.

> As far as major toy stores and so forth -- This gives the
> buyer an option -- buy at a full-service dealer at a higher price
> and get good support, advice, help with installation and training, or
> buy at a major discounter and get a low price but nothing else. That's
> the way the industry works, and if you don't like it, I suggest
> another line of business, like liquor sales in a fair-trade state.
> 
> Michael C. Berch
> mcb@lll-tis-b.ARPA
> {akgua,allegra,cbosgd,decwrl,dual,ihnp4,sun}!idi!styx!mcb

Mike, that is nice in theory, but for three facts:

	1) All commodore dealers were obliged to support the toy store
		warrantees at a high cost to themselves. Their shipping
		expenses wer e nontrivial, and their repair staffs were
		badly under-reimbursed by Commodore.

	2) The toy store people were selling well below dealer cost. Thus,
		people would go to the toy stores knowing they could get
		support from the dealer.

	3) The C64's had (and still have) a phenominally high breakdown rate
		within the warranty period.

The net result of this is that the dealers lost a lot of money, and gradually the C64 dropped from the dealer
shelves. The toy stores were saying "Take your warranty jobvs to the local
dealer - He'll fix it." This was in direct violation of their agreement with
Commodore, but it went ignored due to the volume.

It is certainly the case that vlolume purchasers are entitled to their
discounts, but they are not entitled to foist their problems off as someone
else's responsibility. Ultimately the choice became academic. Dealers dropped
Commodore because they couldn't afford the losses and the lack of
responsiveness, particularly in the light of the lack of contract enforcement
with respect to the toy stores.

Jon Shapiro
Haverford College