RE: Suftware Subscription strikes again.

True!

--- Kurt Goolsbee <K.goolsbee@pentasafe.com> wrote:
> 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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=====
Thanks

Adam Driver
AS/400 Systems Support Specialist

_____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.yahoo.com.au/wedsite - The Wed Site
- Planning a wedding? Get all the help you need.
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