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From: 76645668@sdcc13.UUCP ({|lit})
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: Hyperprices for Hyperdrive support
Message-ID: <515@sdcc13.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Apr-86 12:22:09 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcc13.515
Posted: Tue Apr  8 12:22:09 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 10-Apr-86 08:06:49 EST
References: <2008@decwrl.DEC.COM> <1712@utah-gr.UUCP>
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center
Lines: 36

In article <1712@utah-gr.UUCP>, thomas@utah-gr.UUCP (Spencer W. Thomas) writes:
> 
> This is very similar to all the flames when the 512 Mac came out.  It's
> amazing the number of people who want a manufacturer to do something
> (that costs the manufacturer money) for free.  Obviously, GCC has to do
> something to effect the upgrade.  This something costs them time and
> materials, and they are perfectly within their rights to charge for it.

There is a difference between charging and honest price to pay for,
and make a profit on, a legitimate upgrade, and price gouging.  GCC
is charging all it can get from people who have almost no choice now
but to pay up, if they want to remain in the forefront of the Mac
field.  

Other companies, for instance Levco (no affiliation except as a
customer) charge $25 to be compatible with the Apple Mac+ upgrade.
This covers a new EPROM, which must cost them a whole $3, the time
it takes them to program it (worth another $2), and a nice (500%) 
profit.  

Many people, me included, we understandably upset when Apple
announced it was charging $1000 for a 512K upgrade involving $300
(at that time) worth of chips.  Thats why I bought mine from Levco
for $200 (9 months later). [By the way, Levco charges $25 to make
their 2Meg upgrade Mac+ compatible, not their 512K upgrade.]

Certainly a company is well within their "right" to charge whatever
they can get for a product.  And we are well with our rights to not
patronize a company that has shown a willingness to take advantage
of our wallet at the first opportunity.  If you have money to burn,
buy a Hyperdrive.  They sure are fast drives, I wouldn't mind owning
one.  But I want value in a product too, and in a field where I
expect to have to upgrade every year, value includes not only the
original purchase price, but the upgrade policy too.

David Shayer, Univ. of Cal. at San Diego