romig@osu-eddie.UUCP (02/09/85)
From: romig (Steve Romig) We didn't have any problems (that I know of, anyhow) when we put our request out for bids, etc. No complaints from us in terms of dealing with the sales reps during the purchasing stages, etc. The only problem wasn't really a problem: they told us that the workstations might probably arrive vastly later than we hoped, and they were right. Since they told us, we expected it, and things were cool. Our Sun 170 arrived in October or something like that - installation was easy. We got a 120 a few weeks later - this had a few problems: it's display didn't work, and the ethernet (a Vax running 4.2 and the Sun 170) stopped working. Since the 120 wouldn't boot even using the display from the 170, we figured that the ethernet board in the 170 had bit the dust. We've been real pleased with the way repairs work (at least while we are on warrenty...) - call Sun and tell them the scoop, they called us back within a day in each case to let us know that replacements are on their way, they ship them via overnight mail, and we're off and running within a day or two. It took maybe 3 days to take care of the main problems with both of the 120's we got. I haven't been real impressed with the quality control - there's been a problem with each of the systems we've received so far (the 170 lost it's ethernet board after about a week of running here, the first 120 came with a bum monitor, and the second 120 came with a bad display board.) But our dealings with the sales people and the customer service people have been real pleasant. One of my favorite companies to deal with. --- Steve Romig osu-eddie!romig romig@ohio-state.csnet
mfe@leadsv.UUCP (Mark Ellson) (02/11/85)
We've been dealing with Sun for about 2 years now, and have been very happy with the responsiveness of the sales and customer support groups. On our last order, we were quoted a delivery schedule that seemed excessive, but we actually received equipment 30 days earlier then we had expected. ( A very pleasant surprise.) The problem we have had like many other people is finding a lot of manufacturing flaws in the equipment when it arrives. Fortunately for us, it's only a 10 minute drive from our plant to the Sun factory so we can normally get things corrected very quickly. Once we have flushed out the manufacturing problems, the Sun equipment seems to just sit there and run without a glitch. (Oh, that our Apollos ran as well as the Suns.)
bill@ur-laser.uucp (Bill Lampeter) (02/11/85)
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LLE /|\
1) Our suns (a 100 and 150) arrived in 9/83. They arrived somewhat
late, as expected, but not disappointingly late.
2) Delivery of src took awhile, friendly folks in the NJ office said
kind things and did what they could. The bottleneck was in CA.
3) Several people at Sun pulled for us on this one: the bottleneck,
however *IS STILL* in CA. To fulfill a contract we need to put some extra
boards in a (Multibus cardcage) Sun. There is no more room in
either Sun. Our most economical choice is to purchase a "stripped" 150
(or 170) and populate it with the boards from the 100 and those from
the new device.
Sun went as far as to quote a price for a "stripped" cardcage (a Sun
computer sans the boards). Assuming that the stripped Sun was as good
as delivered, we pursued the contract. About two weeks
after giving us a quote our Sun sales rep called to say that the
stripped Sun did not exist, would not exist, and could not be delivered.
Promises, promises. Too bad none of this was in writing.
4) Repairs and tech support from Sun have been typically fast, friendly,
and helpful.
5) Only hardware problem has been a graphics board with a stuck bit
in the y-address register. It was fixed in a few days.
I am generally pleased with SUN and its people, however I am less than
pleased with issue #3.
Bill Lampeter
716-275-5101
bill@rochester.ARPA
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