RE: Help Save the iSeries

["Andy Nolen-Parkhouse" <aparkhouse@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I would echo the thought that there are some good business partners out
there.  However there is also a lot of consolidation going on.  IBM has
made it clear to the partner community that they need to count on
services for the bulk of their revenue.  Discounting on IBM products has
become both deep and commonplace; to the point that the business
partners need to change their business models in order to survive.

My last employer, a business partner, went belly-up this year.  I'm not
sure there is an easy answer, but definitely support any business
partner who is meeting your needs.  If you insist upon deep discounts
when you buy IBM products, and then hire independent consultants for
your technical work, there will not be many business partners left
except for the very large, national firms.

Andy

> On Behalf Of Chuck Lewis
> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 9:18 AM
> Pat wrote:
>
> <-- Lots of GOOD stuff deleted -->
>
> <The Business Partner program was/is still in a shambles, and as far
as I
> know,
> nobody is actually knocking on doors to sell anything.>
>
> Not disagreeing with anything you are stating, but I ACTUALLY know one
!
> And we
> are a SMALL company in Indianapolis. He comes in here from Chicago !
:-)
> So maybe
> I SHOULD by a lottery ticket ? <BG>
>
> Chuck