Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!ames!killer!elg
From: elg@killer.UUCP (Eric Green)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: CBM HELP!!! Dealer Problems
Summary: I do not think it helps
Keywords: dealers
Message-ID: <4671@killer.UUCP>
Date: 2 Jul 88 05:07:52 GMT
References: <2030082@hpcilzb.HP.COM> <4408@sphinx.uchicago.edu>
Organization: The Unix(R) Connection, Dallas, Texas
Lines: 38

In message <4408@sphinx.uchicago.edu>, arxt@sphinx.uchicago.edu (patrick  palmer) says:
>access to other resources like me; or is the Amiga really going to offer the
>level of support - and the cost - of the Apple/IBM mainstream?  Whenever we 
>ask for more support, we have to remember that it costs someone something, and
>this cost has got to be recouped somehow.  I imagine that CBM's decision must
>be based on a simple analysis of the market:  will sales be so significantly
>increased by improved service that they can afford to put the money necessary
>into the effort

A reputation for service is one of the reasons that many TV stations
look quite warily at the Amiga when you're trying to sell it to
them... "Yeah, but what if it breaks?" is a common question.
Reasonable,  considering that many of this kind of people have kids
with C-64 computers (marvelous exploding power supplies and all -- my
local dealer has sold hundreds of power supplies, providing a major
part of his revenue!).

Generally, when people buy a $2,000 ANYTHING, they want SERVICE for
the thing. That seems to be a point that Commodore-USA hasn't woken up
to, yet. Speedy delivery of repair parts and well-trained dealers are
at least two things that seem to be lacking here (at least, from the
complaints on the net -- I personally have had no problems of either
type). 

As to how Commodore can build a reputation for service and turn it
into sales, once they build a dealer network.... I'll leave that up to
them. But one thing I did notice, on their new PC clones: the low end
(the "Colt") has a 90 day warranty, while the high end ones have a 1
year warranty. Something similiar to the "Quality is Job 1" and "The
best-selling MS-DOS computers in Germany" might do the trick. The only
problem is keeping the low end from besmirching the high end -- can't
forget all those C-64s and A-500s with smoke coming out of their video
chips :-). 

--
Eric Lee Green    ..!{ames,decwrl,mit-eddie,osu-cis}!killer!elg
          Snail Mail P.O. Box 92191 Lafayette, LA 70509              
"Is a dream a lie if it don't come true, or is it something worse?"