mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) (06/25/91)
Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000 to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front, even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid July. Is this standard? If Commodore requires him to send the money in with the order, then I understand. Even if they don't, he incurs some risk that I might not take delivery (for the sake of discussion, I have no such intention), but in such a case perhaps Commodore would then allow him to return the machine, reducing his risk (and increasing Commodore's). Also, is this delivery time realistic? What's the current backlog? Please respond via email, as I must get him a check ASAP. I'll summarize if interest dictates. "What, no extension on the Power Up Deal?" - quote heard in a dream. -- - Scott ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M. Scott Wills, Mail Stop: 102-4844 INTERNET: mwills@x102a.ess.harris.com Harris Corporation UUCP: uunet!x102a!mwills Government Aerospace Systems Division CCMail: harris.mwills01 P.O. Box 94000 FAX: 407-729-3211 Melbourne, Florida 32902 Voice: 407-729-3283 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
rkushner@sycom.UUCP (Ronald Kushner) (06/25/91)
mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) writes: >Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000 >to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front, >even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid >July. Screw that...Call 1-800-66-AMIGA and find another dealer in your area...You would be surprised, there were more local dealers than I knew about...(I only knew about 2, and found out there is 6 or 7...) I wouldn't give anyone more than a $300 deposit on a $2300 machine... -- C-UseNet V0.42e Ronald Kushner Life in Hell BBS +1 (313) 939-6666 P.O. Box 353 14400 USR HST V.42 & V.42bis Sterling Heights, MI 48311-0353 Complete Amiga Support UUCP: uunet!umich!vela!sycom!rkushner (We are not satanic, just NUTS!) Whats wrong with Detroit? Name it, we got it, and if we don't WE'LL TAKE IT!
cactus@zardoz.club.cc.cmu.edu (Todd Masco) (06/25/91)
In article <6601@trantor.harris-atd.com> mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) writes: >Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000 >to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front, >even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid >July. > >Is this standard? If Commodore requires him to send the money in with >the order, then I understand. Even if they don't, he incurs some risk >that I might not take delivery (for the sake of discussion, I have no >such intention), but in such a case perhaps Commodore would then allow >him to return the machine, reducing his risk (and increasing >Commodore's). One datapoint: I had to wait two weeks for mine, but was told that this was because I was 2nd on the list. See, the dealer has to process 1 A3000, wait for CBM to send another machine, and so forth... My dealer said that at the rate things were going, she wouldn't be done with the deal until August. On the other hand, I paid for it when I got it -- the way it worked was that CBM sent one machine, she sold it, and requested another machine. Repeat as necessary. It sounds like either your dealer is pulling a fast one or CBM has changed how things work (which *is* possible -- there was a meeting of CBM execs a couple days after I got mine, I'm told to discuss distribution problems). It's also possible that an up-front payment is required for anything past Jun 30. I'd call CBM and verify with them. I'd suspect that they can pull his plug if he's out of line. -- Todd L. Masco - CMU Physics | "Free speech is the right to shout cactus@zardoz.club.cc.cmu.edu | 'theatre' in a crowded fire."
kent@swrinde.nde.swri.edu (Kent D. Polk) (06/25/91)
In article <1991Jun25.031909.14267@zardoz.club.cc.cmu.edu> cactus@zardoz.club.cc.cmu.edu (Todd Masco) writes: >In article <6601@trantor.harris-atd.com> mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) writes: >>Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000 >>to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front, >>even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid >>July. > [...] >See, the dealer has to process 1 A3000, wait for CBM to send another >machine, and so forth... My dealer said that at the rate things were >going, she wouldn't be done with the deal until August. This was the case when I ordered mine about a month ago. I didn't pay the full amount since the dealer estimated it would take two months at the time I ordered it. However, about one or two weeks ago, C= apparently heeded the cries of the dealers, and started allowing them to place as many Power-up orders as they needed. Mine was prompty ordered from C=. Hope it gets here pretty soon :^) Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute (512) 522-2882 Internet : kent@swrinde.nde.swri.edu UUCP : $ {cs.utexas.edu, gatech!petro, sun!texsun}!swrinde!kent
manes@vger.nsu.edu ((Mark D. Manes), Norfolk State University) (06/25/91)
In article <6601@trantor.harris-atd.com>, mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) writes: > Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000 > to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front, > even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid > July. It is common. In order for the dealer to participate in the PowerUp program the dealer agrees to buy the equipment at regular price and on the next purchase the credit is granted to the dealer. The reason is the best I can figure is to keep dealers from ordering 100 machines for this promotion at the reduced price and then stock-balancing them out if they don't sell. This way, every machine ordered is sold. The backlog only exists for the 25/50, not the rest of the line. The problem appears to be the 50 megabyte Quantum drive. MicroPace does not even have them. The backlog should end however as Commodore says they are expecting to have the machines in their warehouse today (Tuesday). Most Amiga dealerships can't afford to buy these machines at full price and can't risk not being able to recoup their money. > > Also, is this delivery time realistic? What's the current backlog? Yes, in the case of the 25/50 it is. > > Please respond via email, as I must get him a check ASAP. I'll > summarize if interest dictates. I posted in public because this is a question that many people will want the answer too. > > "What, no extension on the Power Up Deal?" - quote heard in a dream. > -- > > - Scott > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > M. Scott Wills, Mail Stop: 102-4844 INTERNET: mwills@x102a.ess.harris.com > Harris Corporation UUCP: uunet!x102a!mwills > Government Aerospace Systems Division CCMail: harris.mwills01 > P.O. Box 94000 FAX: 407-729-3211 > Melbourne, Florida 32902 Voice: 407-729-3283 > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -mark= manes@vger.nsu.edu
kjb@calmasd.Prime.COM (Ken Brucker) (06/26/91)
In article <6601@trantor.harris-atd.com> mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) writes: >Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000 >to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front, >even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid >July. > Don't do it! I learned the hard way on this when I went to by an Apple //e back in 82. Turned out to be a disaster. The dealer had a "great deal" on Apples but was out of stock. They would get one for me if I left them the entire cost and would deliver in 4 weeks. Being the young innocent youth that I was, I left them with something like $1200 or $1500. And I wasn't alone in this. Several of my friends were taking advantage (ha!) of this deal as were many other customers. About 3 weeks later we learned that the company had filed Chapter 11. A stop by their store revealed a padlocked door and a virtually empty interior. Talk about a scam! Fortunately Apple Co. bailed us out and allowed us to purchase an equivelant system directly from them for the difference between the dealer price and the standard retail. To provide Apple with incentive we had to sign over half of any settlements that we may receive from the dealer in the Chapter 11 proceedings. I did get my system, at full list price, about 6 months after the whole thing started. Then about another 4 to 6 months later I got a check for around $80. from Apple, my part of the final settlement with the dealer. Would I give a merchant full purchase price with delivery to come later? Not anymore. I'd work some other deal, and if they aren't willing to bargain or will take only check or cash then be very suspicious! If you can charge it then at least you can have the charge removed from you card if no merchandise is delivered. Ken -- ** Ken Brucker -- VMS Systems Programmer/Mangler -- ComputerVision ** kjb@calmasd.Prime.COM
amiga@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (ftp Amiga Manager) (06/26/91)
I don't know what Commodore requires, but my dealer wanted the cash up front too. Delivery by mid-July sounds pretty good to me. I've been waiting over six weeks now. Grrrr... >:( -- // uhunix amiga archive | amiga@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu | ftp: ftp.hawaii.edu \X/ "just another peon" | baron@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu | 128.171.7.7
jet@karazm.math.uh.edu (J Eric Townsend) (06/26/91)
In article <1991Jun25.031909.14267@zardoz.club.cc.cmu.edu> cactus@zardoz.club.cc.cmu.edu (Todd Masco) writes: >One datapoint: I had to wait two weeks for mine, but was told that >this was because I was 2nd on the list. > >See, the dealer has to process 1 A3000, wait for CBM to send another >machine, and so forth... My dealer said that at the rate things were >going, she wouldn't be done with the deal until August. Sounds like bullshit to me. The crummy dealer I go to (only shop in town) had a half-dozen A3000s (all power-up, he claimed) show up at once, 4 were still there an hour later when I went to pick up mine. -- J. Eric Townsend - jet@uh.edu - bitnet: jet@UHOU - vox: (713) 749-2126 Skate UNIX! (curb fault: skater dumped) PowerGlove mailing list: glove-list-request@karazm.math.uh.edu
jason@cbmami.UUCP (Jason Goldberg) (06/26/91)
In article <1991Jun25.031909.14267@zardoz.club.cc.cmu.edu>, Todd Masco writes: > In article <6601@trantor.harris-atd.com> mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) writes: > >Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000 > >to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front, > >even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid > >July. > > > On the other hand, I paid for it when I got it -- the way it worked > was that CBM sent one machine, she sold it, and requested another > machine. Repeat as necessary. It sounds like either your dealer is > pulling a fast one or CBM has changed how things work (which *is* > possible -- there was a meeting of CBM execs a couple days after I got > mine, I'm told to discuss distribution problems). It's also possible > that an up-front payment is required for anything past Jun 30. I think your are running into dealers with limited cash flow (a common problem for anyone, especially Amiga dealers). A dealer can purchase as many A3000's under PowerUp pricing as they like, in advance. Then if they sell fewer (under power-up) they have to keep the extra units and pay the difference between their normal pricing and the PowerUp pricing. So a dealer with a good cash flow, can deliever your unit the day you walk into the store with your manual cover. Dealers who can't afford to stock many units probably order as they go, and may need some of the money upfront either to pay for the order or as a security against you backing out. After June 30, it gets even more interesting since dealers are allowed to sell PowerUp deals all the way through July, but must have ordered all their PowerUp units by June 30. So dealers without much money/credit will not be offering PowerUp deals very far into July, while dealers that afford to order extra untils may be setting PowerUp system all the way through the end of July. -Jason- -Jason- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jason Goldberg UUCP: ucsd!serene!cbmami!jason Del Mar, CA
mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) (06/27/91)
mwills@x102a.ess.harris.com (wills ms 01309) writes: >Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000 >to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front, >even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid >July. [...] Also, is this delivery time realistic? What's the >current backlog? Thanks to all who responded. Here is what the ten responders said: Down Payment Non-Refundable Delivery Required Portion Time 100% - 1 month $500 $25 - $500 $25 - $300 - * $200 - - $0 $0 > 1 month $0 $0 2 weeks $0 $0 4 days - - > 1 month - - * Legend: - = not specified * = not clear that a machine was purchased, may be an observation from shopping around. I'm glad to hear this. I've found another dealer here in town who says he "usually asks for 10% down" and estimates delivery at 1 to 3 weeks. I also got a call from a Commodore technical representative who said he would check into it and get back to me. I haven't heard back from them, but it leaves a very good impression when they take the initiative. I hope they close the loop. -- - Scott ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M. Scott Wills, Mail Stop: 102-4844 INTERNET: mwills@x102a.ess.harris.com Harris Corporation UUCP: uunet!x102a!mwills Government Aerospace Systems Division CCMail: harris.mwills01 P.O. Box 94000 FAX: 407-729-3211 Melbourne, Florida 32902 Voice: 407-729-3283 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------