[ILUG] thoughts on vendors entries

[Justin Mason]

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Timothy Murphy writes:
> On Thu 14 Jul 2005 12:43, Michele Neylon :: Blacknight Solutions wrote:
> 
> > > I don't like to be a spoil-sport,
> > > but are many people likely to look at the ILUG site to see where to
> > > buy stuff?
> >
> > There is a steady flow of clicks from our listing on linux.ie to our
> > website, so obviously somebody reads it / uses it
> 
> Glad to hear it.
> Apologies for the cold water.
> If I was looking for a .ie domain, maybe,
> but not if I was looking for a hard disk.

I've used the linux.ie hardware vendors list on occasion -- when
buying hardware, I'm either looking for

- - (a) super-cheap, no-frills, just-the-facts online vendors, like NewEgg
  in California, if I'm buying for myself;
- - (b) a company that has smart techies who can help out with support
  issues and RMAs competently, if I'm buying for a business.

(a) is easy.  I can risk buying cheapo hardware and waiting for RMAs if
it's just for me and my home use.  But (b) has a reliability requirement.

I've been stung in the past by buying business hardware from the bigger
hardware vendors where, unless you're in their Gold customers list, you'll
never get to speak to someone who isn't following a script.  If something
goes wrong, you'll spend days on the phone trying to get it replaced or
diagnosed, jumping through all sorts of ludicrous "does it work in
Windows?  Have you reinstalled windows yet?" questions.

It makes a lot more sense to have a decent relationship with a smaller,
*slightly* more expensive, but way smarter and better-run company, who
will go to the bother to take care of customers.  Bonus: if a company has
a member of ILUG working for them, that's usually a very good sign ;)

- --j.
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