gaines@mars.njit.edu (Starman) (05/15/91)
Does anyone know how much longer ftp.apple.com is going to be down? My local user group number has been busy for three straight days (DL 12 disks @ 2400 baud..yeah!) and there isn't a dealer in the area willing to copy the disks. Sigh....... =========================================================================== "They can fly rings around the moon, | Mike but we're years ahead of them on the highway" | gaines@mars.njit.edu =========================================================================== System 7 on an 800K floppy? HA! ===========================================================================
bochen@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Meathead) (05/16/91)
In article <1991May15.150616.1235@njitgw.njit.edu> gaines@mars.njit.edu (Starman) writes: >and there isn't a dealer in the area willing >to copy the disks. Sigh....... > I think that just about says it all as far as distribution goes. I disagree with all the whining about Apple. They're doing the best they can given the circumstances. However, there wouldn't be a problem IF (Are any dealers out there? Listen up if there are!!) the dealers would just agree to copy some damn disks for us rather than giving up their measly $40 (or whatever is it) profit margin. Everyone knows that the only reason dealers won't let you copy is sheer greed. This attitude towards distribution is crap, guys, and you know it. I've tried a couple of dealers and neither would bend, even after I explained the distribution policy. I am now determined not to pay $99 at a dealer for this system. If they were smart (ha!) they would let everyone copy it for free that asked or maybe sell the blank disks for you to copy it on. Why? I can't believe that if you have enough Mac afficiondos coming in to a store to get system 7.0 that a few people wouldn't buy some real hardware and software. I believe it would actually help their business. But, hey, what do I know? RRRRRRR!!!!!! - Brian
chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach, only here for the beer) (05/16/91)
>>and there isn't a dealer in the area willing >>to copy the disks. Sigh....... >However, there wouldn't be a >problem IF (Are any dealers out there? Listen up if there are!!) >the dealers would just agree to copy some damn disks for us rather >than giving up their measly $40 (or whatever is it) profit margin. Apple can't make them be nice to customers. Apple, frankly, has enough problems trying to keep them from ripping customers blind sometimes. (I've dealt with these dealers, too -- I'm not just an Apple employee, but an Apple owner) Dealers get away with this, frankly, because the customers let them. If the dealer won't put in the time or energy for the little services, he doesn't deserve your support. People who want to stop this kind of stuff have to put in a little effort: o Find a new dealer -- suppor those that are good, ignore those that aren't. Sometimes this is inconvenient -- driving 25 minutes instead of 5, maybe paying a few more dollars because dealers who also support users can't cut prices quite as much (support takes time and money). o More importantly, if you run into a dealer you won't be doing business with, LET THEM KNOW. Not the salesman -- he doesn't care, and in two months he'll be back at the car lot pushing Hondas, anyway. Send a letter (no phone calls, no screaming in the offices) to the manager of the store, pointing out that you used to be a customer of the store, and that you plan on spending all your computer money somewhere else because they 're too interested in sales to be interested in customers. It is quite helpful if you point out just how much money you're going to be giving to their competitors ("I was going to buy a IIci in June, but now it won't be from you -- because of this $40 cheapsh?t stuff"). I wouldn't do that unless I DID plan on buying it, of course. Never lie -- and minimize the inflation factor of the budget; talking IIfx when the checkbook says Classic will set off their BS detectors. Remember that dealers are experts in BS, and don't lower yourself to their level. >This attitude towards distribution is crap, guys, and >you know it. I've tried a couple of dealers and neither would bend, >even after I explained the distribution policy. They generally understand money. When a $50 copying policy is affecting $3000 sales, that they'll understand. but it only helps long-term, and only if you get involved. The short-term answer is to (1) try to find a decent dealer, or (2) find and support a user group like BMUG or BCS and get it from them. You'll get better support from them, anyway -- much cheaper. -- Chuq Von Rospach >=< chuq@apple.com >=< GEnie:CHUQ or MAC.BIGOT >=< ALink:CHUQ SFWA Nebula Awards Reports Editor =+= Editor, OtherRealms Book Reviewer, Amazing Stories ---@--- #include <standard/disclaimer.h> Recommended: ORION IN THE DYING TIME Ben Bova (Tor, Aug, ***-); SACRED VISIONS Greeley&Cassutt (Tor, Aug, ****+); MEN AT WORK George Will (****); XENOCIDE Orson Scott Card (August, ****)
kurtzman@pollux.usc.edu (Stephen Kurtzman) (05/16/91)
In article <19413@sdcc6.ucsd.edu> bochen@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Meathead) writes: >In article <1991May15.150616.1235@njitgw.njit.edu> gaines@mars.njit.edu (Starman) writes: >>and there isn't a dealer in the area willing >>to copy the disks. Sigh....... >Everyone knows that the only reason dealers won't let you copy is >sheer greed. This attitude towards distribution is crap, guys, and >you know it. I called several authorized apple dealers in my area. None of them had copies on hand. Two said that they had received copies but had sold them all. One offered to put me on a waiting list. I asked both of these stores if they had a machine with system 7 running from which I could copy the distribution. Both stores said that Apple (!) was requiring everyone to buy 7.0 upgrades. Both stores were unfazed when I told them they were mistaken. Had these stores said something like "Well, were not copying disks for people for a few weeks because it would disrupt our normal operations due to the high demand." I would have thought that reasonable. But it was clear that they only cared to get the bucks. I'll be getting my upgrade from the local user group instead. Of course, while those stores were so anxious to get their slim profit margin off of me for a version 7 upgrade kit, they removed themselves from my list of stores to visit when I buy a new mac system in a couple of months. -- Stephen Kurtzman | "love is a minor chord; love is a mental ward;" kurtzman@pollux.usc.edu | love is a drawn sword; love is its own reward." | -- Kate, Anna, & Jane McGarrigle