Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site decwrl.DEC.COM Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-cfig1!bates From: bates@cfig1.DEC (Ken Bates DTN 522-2039) Newsgroups: net.micro.mac Subject: Hyperprices for Hyperdrive support Message-ID: <2008@decwrl.DEC.COM> Date: Mon, 31-Mar-86 16:29:10 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.2008 Posted: Mon Mar 31 16:29:10 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 2-Apr-86 02:54:41 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.DEC.COM Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 67 *** FLAME ON Having been a Hyperdrive 20 owner for the past several months, I never thought I would see the day when I would regret my purchase. Sad to say, that day has come. I received a letter in the mail from GCC the other day informing me that if I wished to upgrade my 512K Mac to include the new 800K drive, it would cost me $89 to keep my Hyperdrive working. If I wished the Mac+ logic board, it would cost me $299 to keep the Hyperdrive working. I thought that this must have been a misprint, so I called GCC. No mistake, they want a cool $299 if you have your Mac upgraded to a Mac+. This after paying $2,200 for the drive in the first place (and in addition to whatever the going price is for a Mac+ conversion!). I hate to think what will happen when the next release of the Finder comes out. Will GCC want another few hundred so I can boot it? Almost makes me afraid to use their backup utility. Will the restore program demand money before I can recover files? The mathematics of the price become even more ridiculous when previous prices are taken into account. If I recall, the original Hyperdrive 20 cost around $2500. If I had purchased one at that price, then the upgrade price of $300 would bring the total to $2800. On the other hand, I can go out and buy a brand new Hyperdrive 20 which works with the Mac+ for $1700 (according to a GCC spokesman I talked to). How can this be? I realize that profit is the American way, but this seems a little ridiculous! Their response to this query was that (quote) they were doing a favor to their customers by even selling an upgrade; other manufacturers were forcing existing owners to buy a new drive (unquote). So much for customer service and support. I can understand a company charging excessive prices when they're the only kid on the block, but I fail to see how that company expects to remain viable when they have competitors and continue to gouge their customers. I talked to the local Apple dealer, and he is in complete agreement with my position, and is no longer recommending Hyperdrive purchases to his customers. (He cited reliability problems as the reason, but agreed with my assessment of their business practices.) In summary, I would advise anyone considering a hard disk to avoid GCC and the Hyperdrive like the plague, since the policy of GCC seems to be to soak the customer for whatever they can (or is it simply take the money and run?). It appears that your current purchase price will only be the beginning. As new upgrades to the Mac come out, GCC will in all probability be back in your pocket demanding more money if you want to stay compatible. You can always tell the pioneers by the arrows in their backs. *** FLAME OFF Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own and in no way represent the opinion of my employer. On the other hand, my employer owns numerous Macs and is contemplating the acquisition of more, and my recommendation will be to avoid GCC and utilize a vendor which provides customer support instead of customer pillage. -- Ken Bates uucp : decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-bison!bates arpa : bates%bison.dec@decwrl cis : 70047,1226 delphi: KBATES enet : BISON::BATES phone : (303) 594-2039 mail : Digital Equipment Corp. 301 Rockrimmon Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80919