Re: IBM investment in i

Booth Martin wrote:

When the IBM salesman calls on his AS/400 accounts in the foreseeable future, what is he going to be selling them? IBM has only "managed decline" to offer.

This is exactly what the problem is in my opinion.

IBM or very few other folks are actuallly out there
trying to sell the product.

I am not aware of a single IBM rep in the two state area I work in.

I believe when IBM killed the small business partner program back in
1998, there was a marked decline in the sales of any boxes. There is
nobody in my geographic area that actually goes out and makes sales
calls on customers(cold calling).

IBM hasn't had a sales force in several years and counts on the large
Business Partners that are left to sell to the existing accounts.

These BPs are "not" selling to small accounts. They have no financial interest
in a small 520/525 account. When these small starter systems started
dying off, there was nobody there to pick up the slack.

I define a small account as a box that sells for less that $25K.
These used to be the heart and soul of the box and their decline is why we
are whining today. NOBODY is selling these machines.

I have several friends that are CE's or retired CE's and I hear the talk about the
lack of new installs, which directly affects their careers.

Forget the "IBM ain't selling the box".... Nobody is selling the box.