Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cwjcc!gatech!ncar!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!hplabs!hpda!hpcuhb!hpcilzb!daves
From: daves@hpcilzb.HP.COM (Dave Scroggins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: The problem with dealerships
Message-ID: <2030136@hpcilzb.HP.COM>
Date: 16 Dec 88 19:18:44 GMT
References: <10683@s.ms.uky.edu>
Organization: HP Design Tech Center - Santa Clara, CA
Lines: 43

Derek,
 
>> Me: Could you tell be the relative merits of these two compilers, please?
>> Dealer person: I'm sorry  -- we don't program here -- so we don't know.
>>      But -- have you seen this GREAT game --- StarGlider II??
>> Me: No -- but I really don't care -- I want a compiler.

>Do you really ask the sales persons what compiler you should buy??.

Yes -- I think they should be able to provide me information about the
merits of a compiler (or any other software package). I then take that
information, along with information from other sources such as the NET
and make my decision on which to buy.

The sales person should be familiar enough with the product to 
fire the thing up an show me some of the features.

>Obviously they are going to recommend the most expensive. I would only

Not if they are worth anything. Sales people from HP, IBM and such
(the corporate sales people) recommend a product or system based
on customer needs, not relative cost of the merchandise.
(They do this to make the customer happy. A happy customer is a
repeat customer.)

Actually -- the person where I bought my compiler didn't recommend
anything -- just said, "We don't know." :-\

The type of sales person you mention belongs in a used car lot.

Yeah I know I may be dreaming --- but I've always been a dreamer. ;-}.

>consider suggestions from people not associated with the product or the
>dealer selling it. That way, I would get a totally unbiased recommendation.

I don't like to eliminate any information, particularly when considering
something as expensive as a compiler (Expensive at least to me. ;-) ).

Of course that's one of the reasons it took me so long to buy one! ;-) ;-)

Take care,

Dave S.