Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!mailrus!ukma!rutgers!njin!limonce From: limonce@pilot.njin.net (Tom Limoncelli) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: What do you want in a Mail order shop? Message-ID: Date: 27 Jan 89 06:01:06 GMT References: <7009@louie.udel.EDU> <213@corpane.UUCP> Organization: NJ InterCampus Network, New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 65 In article <213@corpane.UUCP> sparks@corpane.UUCP (John Sparks) writes: > In article <7009@louie.udel.EDU>, 24847843%WSUVM1.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu (Shawn Clabough) writes: > > Since I have just started in the Mail order business, I would like to > > know what you like in a Mail order shop? This is very important to me, > What I want most in a Mail Order Shop: > [ much deleted ] > 2> Good Technical Staff: Someone who knows the products he sells, and can > answer any technical questions I may have about connecting hardware and > such. Now how much flaming will I get for suggesting "if you want that, why don't you go to a dealer and pay for such 'extras'". Please mail me. If I get enough "no, I won't flame you" responses I'll post such a thing. :-) I differentiate a dealer from a mail-order house by boxes. You see, IMHO(!) a mail order house is a person, with some storage space, and a lot of boxes. He/she can ship you those boxes for a price. He/she isn't going to know much about the boxes (except what's written on the outside). Prices are low because the overhead is the 800-number, the extra room in your apartment that you use for storage, and paying the accountant. (oh, and the money invested in all the product that is waiting to be sold... which is a lot) A dealer on the other hand knows what's in the boxes. Usually a dealer has one of each machine he/she sells set up on the floor. Dedicating a machine to be "for show" takes a certain amount of money (overhead). Having the machines set up implies that a certain amount of demo software is there to be viewed and therefore the dealer has a bit more experience with the wild world of installations. Also, the dealer has a higher rent and also has to pay for all those "for sale" signs, appropriate holiday decorations, and of course, the $$,$$$ dollars that was spent on making the place look nice (carpet and nice furniture as opposed to "the room" and "the living-room, where I put the phone where I have the 800 number installed"). Oh, there's also the overhead of paying more employees than "well, Bob & I just sort of do it out of our place". You see, if you have ONE 800 number, you need ONE employee at a time. Otherwise, you need a minimum of 2-4 workers on the floor to handle the customers (i.e. spend time with them helping them with their problems and selling them solutions). That's expensive. For this overhead, and for the real, actual cost of being technically competant, the customer pays more. I think it is worth it. I'm biased because I have worked for dealers and I've seen what goes on. You're milage may vary. This topic comes up from time to time and I have always wanted to speak my mind but I never got around to it. It makes me sad when I hear "this dealer ripped me off... they all must be horrible" because I know some honest dealers in my area that really try hard. Of course, New Jersey has more computer stores per person than any other state in the U.S. I guess competition can be good. :-) > John Sparks // Amiga | corpane : sparks@corpane -Tom -- Tom Limoncelli -- tlimonce@drunivac.Bitnet -- limonce@pilot.njin.net Drew University -- Madison, NJ -- 201-408-5389 Standard ACM Regional Contest winner! See you at Disclaim the nationals in Louisville, KY on Feb 21-23! er.