Re: SWMA question -- MIDRANGE-L

Like Shannon, I have no desire to get into a pi$$ing match, but I'm going
to stick MY nose in here too.

I think of this as 2 separate issues.

1) The renewal process itself.
2) The penalty if the renewal is not done on a timely basis.

A person can be upset with with either or both of these independently.

My reading of Paul's original post is that he is more upset with #1 than
with #2. If that's an accurate reading on my part, then I agree with him.
This is not the first time we've heard this complaint on this list about
BPs not being professional regarding renewals. There are 2 actions one can
take in regard to #1: 1) switch BPs and 2) talk/complain to IBM about this
particular BP. Depending on the geographical location, switching BPs may
not be an option. Paul is wanting to "talk" to IBM about this BP. And, as
Pete mentions, either IBM or the BP (or both) stand to make more money if
you renew late. Is this by design? I would hope not.

Regarding #2. One can take issue with there being a penalty at all, and/or
one can take issue with the amount of the penalty. I don't have an issue
with there being a penalty, but 116% seems excessive.

On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 8:22 AM, Shannon ODonnell <
sodonnell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'm not going to get into a pissing match with you Rob simply because I
have
an opinion and expressed it. I have too much work to do today and I do not
have time to play on midrange.com mailing lists all day long like many
folks
seem to.

I will say that, with a mortgage, you are already in the house and using it
so that's not the same thing at all. Same with an auto loan. Not the
same scenario at all as a software maintenance agreement you are not even
currently using that you're being asked to pay a penalty for if two years
later you decide you are ready to start a new agreement with IBM.

IF Paul's client had actually been receiving a benefit from it, then sure,
pay the penalty. But Paul's client was not using it. And in your last
paragraph you are complaining that the client is not helping to pay for a
service they were not using? Like it's everyone who has ever used the
iSeries' responsibility to provide continuous ongoing financial support to
IBM just because at one time in their history they happened to use that
hardware, even though they are not currently using it? That's a very weak
argument you have made.

But you'll probably argue about that too so feel free. Just don't expect
to
get a rise out of me, or even a response over this. I don't have all day
to play on these mailing lists. I am done.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 6:44 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: RE: SWMA question

Shannon,

While you're at this will you contact my mortgage company and ask them why
they charge an arbitrary, and capricious, tax on me if I am late on my
payment?
Will you also contact my auto loan holder and ask them why they charge an
arbitrary, and capricious, tax on me if I am late on my payment?
If you are successful on getting those resolved then I have a host of
others
I'd like you to contact.

Or do you believe that those are tangible products you can touch (house and
car) while products of the mind (software, music, movies) should all be
available for free?

Why aren't they using their support? Are they on some testosterone fueled
binge to do everything themselves instead of asking IBM why this and that
isn't working like it's supposed to? Are they ignoring all the stuff IBM
fixes every day with PTFs like security breaches, broken stuff, etc and not
applying these patches? Or are they of the mindset that if I don't look at
the gas gauge then it's really not approaching empty?

Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1 Group Dekko Dept 1600 Mail
to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com

From: "Shannon ODonnell" <sodonnell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'"
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Date: 07/02/2012 07:00 PM
Subject: RE: SWMA question
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

I don't understand why there is a penalty in the first place.

That is, I get that IBM is trying to encourage customers to renew their
SWMA
and they "penalize" them for waiting.

I get it, but I don't understand it.

To me, this seems like an arbitrary, and capricious, tax on the customer,
and it gives business' yet another reason not to stay on the i5 (I forget,
is that the name everyone is foaming at the mouth at the moment and
jumping
all over anyone who dares to use AS/400, iSeries or some other
name?...wouldn't want to offend...).

IBM is saying to their customer, "Listen bub. You have 60 days to renew
your maintenance agreement. If you don't do it in that time frame, then
we
are going to arbitrarily tax you on it. And we'll keep piling on the
penalties until you finally agree to pay. That'll keep your dumb ass in
line! Teach YOU! To play with the big boys!"

That is so dumb.

Now, if the client was still USING IBM's software maintenance service to
get
upgrades, software support to resolve issues, etc...and they had not PAID
for the service they were currently using...then I can see a penalty
interest. Just like any bill that you owe for goods and services
rendered.
But if you're saying pay me a penalty on something you're not even USING,
whenever you decide you want to use it AGAIN! On something that is
already
so expensive that you are already looking for a reason to get rid
of...then
that makes no sense to me at all.

So..."Who should pay?"

No one.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Bipes
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2012 4:38 PM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: RE: SWMA question

Can't help you but I never use an individual email for such things. We
use
distribution lists such as purchasing@ or renewal@ . We always have more
than one individual in the list. We missed renewals and paid for it
before.
Not just from IBM either.

What is wrong with the picture? Well 1. IBM did not follow through. 2.
Their business partner did not keep track, 3. Their Accounting / IT
department did not tack it.

Who should pay for the mistake?

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Paul Nelson
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2012 2:27 PM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: SWMA question

List,

Do any of you know the person at IBM who deals with business partner
relationships? I have a customer whose hardware and software maintenance
agreements expired last winter.

I just learned about it when I tried to order their V7 upgrade. I tracked
down a clerk at the BP, who told me that she had emailed a renewal notice
a
month or so before the expiration date, but hadn't heard back from the
customer.

She told me the person to whom she had emailed the invoice, but got real
quiet when I told her that guy had been gone for almost a year prior to
her
email. She got even quieter when I asked if she had bothered with a
follow-up phone call.

She just sent me a copy of the quote for setting up an new agreement, and
the penalty is 116% of the agreement amount!

What's wrong with this picture?

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