RE: Suftware Subscription strikes again.

You guys are suggesting to look elsewhere for the maintenance.  Easy to do
for hardware but they have you by the nads on the software side.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Driver [mailto:adam_driver@yahoo.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 9:07 PM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: Suftware Subscription strikes again.


We were able to get hardware maintenance in Sydney at
70% of IBM's price with better service. The company we
chose guarantee the parts are held locally (not in
another city as is sometimes the case with IBM) and
even do monthly preventative maintenance, which IBM
were supposed to do but never did. Haven't had an
emergency yet to really test them, though. 

What did IBM do when we didn't renew their contract? 
1) Sent a CE to check error logs for the first time
ever, and
2) Increased the price of our software support because
we no longer hardware maintenance. However, the saving
on hardware maintenance was more than the increase in
software support. 

I should also point out that the last time we had to
call IBM for hardware support we had an administrative
nightmare because they claimed our maintenance period
had expired by 4 months. The reason : They never sent
us an invoice to renew! I guess they're better
organised in the US. 



--- "William A.(Tony) Corbett"
<corbett@asresources.com> wrote:
> Hardware Maintenance thru IBM?
> I'd look elsewhere for a maintenance contract.
> Depending on where you are, I may be able to give
> you a lead.  I maintain an IBM supportline contract,
> just so I can call for help, but go elsewhere for
> hardware maintenance.  For many clients, I've
> recommended an hourly supportline contract, the
> rate's a little higher, but depending on how many
> hours
> a year you spend on the phone with IBM supportline,
> this may be a much better alternative.  Very rarely
> will (most) IBM shops place a call outside of normal
> business hours, anyway, so 24x7 support is not
> really a need, just a (gold-lined) security blanket
> for management.
> 
> I do believe that IBM support is the best in the
> business, but do you really need the "best in the
> business"?  The hardware support I am currently
> using is almost as good, and a lot cheaper.  The
> real
> problem is all the new boxes...many support
> organizations just can't keep up with all the
> changes.
> 
> Are you going through IBM directly or through an IBM
> business partner?  Many times, the business
> partners get special pricing and can pass some of it
> along to you.  Surprised me, but I was able to get
> my 170 cheaper through a business partner than
> through IBM directly.
> 
> --
> William A.(Tony) Corbett
> corbett@asresources.com
> http://www.asresources.com   AS/400 Consulting
> Services
> http://www.cbt400.com          Computer-based
> training
> 
> 
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=====
Thanks

Adam Driver
AS/400 Systems Support Specialist

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