I agree that this is an important lesson here (one that the "users" on
this group may not necessarily "appreciate".

On the whole, I think that "we" sell ourselves short - because we
"know" that the customer will not spend a lot of money, we don't charge
the true value of what we provide (NOTE: I'M NOT SAYING "RIP THE
CUSTOMER OFF!!!!"). The result is a self fulfilling prophecy -
"pick solutions are cheap" (read into that what you will).

I've seen it all too often. The reality is that by self-devaluing
your worth, you reinforce the message that you are "cheap" (and
that could also imply "nasty") - and people don't want to
necessarily invest in a "cheap" solution, they want the "best"
solution.

We then get into the associated "evils" that many multi-valued
suppliers haven't kept their skills abreast of current technologies,
and may not even have a basic understanding of commonplace technologies
(like networks - I remember the standard "not-working" putdown I
used to use)

I think that clients "like" the idea of a 1-stop-shop ... if they
can deal with a single company that looks after hardware & software,
from the back office server through to the desktop, and converging
technologies like communications, it makes it easier for them, and
better for "you".

This doesn't mean you have to do everything yourself (though the
likes of IBM, HP & SUN would welcome the competition I'm sure), but
rather have strategic relationships with people that can provide other
parts of the puzzle.

If your client wants to export data to Excel (how many times has this
theme been aired in this forum), gain access to better reporting tools
etc, DO NOT SAY IT CAN NOT BE DONE !!! (because you don't know
"how").

Find someone that can help fill in the technology gaps, or who is able
to service "that remote location" on your behalf.

Hmmm, how in the heck did I end up on this soapbox ? Seems a long way
from a question about R83, and yet '83 was 22 years ago !!! C'mon
guys, if you aren't willing to get your clients into the 21st
Century, someone else will.

Ross Ferris wrote:

Maybe this can help. Link to a book on Amazon.

Tiny URL
http://tinyurl.com/cg46a

Original URL:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...id=1115663722/
sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-4350832-9600146?v=glance&s=books&n=50
7846

--
Kevin Powick

Hi everyone.

Once again I must thank all of you -especially David - for taking an
interest in this subject and my dilemma. You will be interested to know
that today I prepared a memo for the shop manager outlining the
problems and the various suggestions I had received as to how to solve
them - includng the ones which would cost a lot of money - with a
recommendation that he should put it before the directors sooner rather
than later.

But I still don't think they will go for anything that costs - and they
still run their other foam distribution business almost entirely
manually - they won't even let me near it with R83 and System Builder!

As one of you said, it shouldn't matter to me - I'm out of there in
August come what may, and all I have to lose are the occasional support
and consultancy fees when they call me in to look at something they've
cocked up! But I've never been one to just walk away - even when I know
I'm up against a brick wall. It's a matter of professional pride for me
that having persuaded them to let me put the system in (as much to
retain my sanity in a very slow retail environment as for their own
benefit) I must try my utmost to leave them with something they can go
on using for as long as they want to.

So I'm still looking for R83 rel 3.1M (on 3.5" or 5.25" diskettes),
and/or an early AP Native release and an account-save of System Builder
5.1 from a Pentium-based system. I know common sense tells all of you
I'm fighting a battle which was already lost years ago, but please, let
me give it a go - and if ANYONE can provide the diskettes I'm after I
shall be delighted to hear from you a.s.a.p.

Incidentally, if anyone out there actually needs an old Pickie with R83
knowledge to act in a consultancy role, my contact details are on the
first posting!

Regards

Brian Heath