sbq@verdix.UUCP (11/10/83)
I had an interesting experience trying to obtain Vax performance numbers and instruction/operand timings from DEC. First I called the local DEC sales office and was given an 800 number for literature. I called there, but they had no idea what I was talking about. They gave me a different 800 number for new customer support. I called there and they also did not know what I was talking about and suggested I talk to my local DEC sales office. So I called back my local sales office (Portland Oregon). It turned out that the person who had given me the first 800 number is not a salesperson, but is [apparently] in charge of obtaining literature for local customers (this is presumably why she gave me the literature 800 number). I was put in touch with a Digital salesman. He really grilled me; we have a Vax 11/750 but did not buy it through his sales office. He wanted to know who we bought it from, why didn't we buy it from his office, etc. (see footnote). At the same time he said he had an *internal* document that describes Vax performance. He claimed that it had benchmarks for system performance, along with timings for the individual instructions and operand addressing modes. This sounds like the document that I want. The salesman said he would have to ask his management if he could let us have a copy of this document. He explained that if we were his customer (i.e., had bought our Vax from him) that there would be no problem, he would bring out the document today. I called him back a day later, after he had talked to his management, and he said that he was sorry, but since I was not "a Digital customer", his management said he couldn't let me have a copy of the document. I pointed out that we had a Vax that must have been purchased from DEC at some point, doesn't that make us a Digital customer? Sorry, he replied, not according to his management. He explained that Digital field service offices provide a lot of the type of support I was asking for (a copy of a document) to "Digital customers" as part of the "value added" of buying directly from DEC. But they cannot provide this service to non-Digital customers. I asked if we bought our next Vax from him would he give us a copy of the document? "Absolutely, no problem," he replied. I asked if I would have to sign any documents to get a copy (e.g., non-disclosure agreement), he said that wouldn't be necessary. He also said the performance document was free! I figure that if this document is free, doesn't require signing a non-disclosure agreement, and is easily obtained from your DEC sales office (if you are a "Digital customer"), then a lot of people out there on the net must already have it. I would be eternally grateful if someone who does have it (or can get it) and did not sign a non-disclosure agreement, would send me a copy. Sam Quiring Verdix Corp. 19665 SW TV Hwy, Suite B. Aloha, Oregon 97006 {decwrl!sequent allegra!ogcvax tektronix!ogcvax inteloa} !verdix!sbq sbq.oregon-grad@csnet-relay PS: Does DEC always do business like this? ---------------- footnote: DEC seems to be getting very aggressive on Vax sales. Back when we were shopping (4/83), you could only buy a Vax 11/750 system from DEC that was bundled with a lot of stuff we didn't need and DEC's price was about 30% higher than anyone else. This salesman claimed that this policy had now changed. DEC is now selling "Vax building blocks" and you can buy whatever part of the system you want. He quoted me a price of $48K for a Vax 11/750 with 2M of DEC RAM. This seems like a reasonable price to me.
gwyn%brl-vld@sri-unix.UUCP (11/18/83)
From: Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn@brl-vld> Part of what you pay for when you buy a system from DEC is support, training, documentation, etc. If you buy from a third party who has gotten lower prices from DEC based on DEC's not having to provide that level of end-user support, then it is entirely reasonable for DEC to not provide what you haven't paid for. How about leaning on your "bargain" vendor?