ncmagel@ndsuvax.UUCP (ken magel) (09/23/88)
This is just a note to mention experiences we have had during the last year
dealing with Ashton-Tate and to warn thos einterested of some of the dangers of
trying to provide commercial software in courses.
We wanted to make Framework II ( now Framework III) available to our
Business students ( about 200 students each quarter) for subsequent use in
their programs. We arranged a deal with Ashton Tate to get Framework II for
our bookstore originally to sell to students for about $62. Now we are trying
to sell Framework III for about $100. Unfortunately, Ashton Tate seems
unable to understand that we cannot wait three and four weeks past the start of
a quarter and past the promised delivery date for the package to arrive.
We have even paid them in advance for all copies sometimes and still they
cannot understand that we need the package as close to the start of classes as
possible, not a month or more later. We order the package from them in lots
of 150 in what they promise is plenty of time to have it here before the
start of class and so far they are three for three in not coming within
weeks of meeting their promises.
The lessons we have learned from these experiences are:
1. If possible, deal with a company that has a major portion of its business
in the educational market place even if their presence in Businesses is not as
common as the dominant companies.
2. Try to make your orders at least two months in advance no matter what
Ashton Tate tells you.
3. Have a backup to use in class while you are waiting for your order to
arrive.
The situation has gotten bad enough that we have decided to move to a
different package in mid-year even though that means we will have to support
students using two different packages for the next several years.