CompuServe Messages

Chris, If CBM were wiser, they would allow non-Amiga-only shops to become CBM authorized dealers/repair shops, in a way that would enCOURAGE them to do so (not, "you have to stock $50 million worth of 'our' stuff, or forget it", or whatever the requirements are). While single-system dealers and repair centers do well enough in the non-CBM arena, they do not do so well as CBM only ventures. I have seen, oh, 3-6 dealers/repair centers "dry up" in Saint Louis, Missouri, over the last 4-7 years, and it is hard, for some reason, to find MUCH of ANYTHING, even in the Chicago area! If CBM could develop a plan AND policy that would support non-CBM ventures in such a way as to help them to be profitable WITH the CBM gear, then we all would see at least a better foundation to work from, and perhaps, even some slight expansion. I feel for CBM dealers since they are in such a niche market, and they really don't have a lot of luxuries as do other platform dealers (eg; tons of supporting books in bookstores, additional "software shops", etc.). On the other hand, CBM has to do a better job of supplying items to dealers, regardless of whether they have a mega-buck inventory or not. I certainly won't go back to a dealer for CBM related equipment if I have to wait 6-12 months for a single part order to get filled, because the dealer in question doesn't have as much of a CBM sales history/inventory as they do Macintoshes. If nothing else, visit your local Amiga dealer and "cheer them up". They may make only enough money to survive, and your platitudes towards them may give them the necessary incentive to STAY CBM dealers. I would like to see Sears, Montgomery Wards, et cetera, at LEAST sell the A1200, and even better, the A4000, but CBM has to do enough "plowsharing" to make that happen, AND, they need to guarantee delivery of ordered items. K-Mart used to handle C-64's, but gave up when their orders weren't being filled in a timely manner. I don't know if CBM is consciously "supressing" the Amiga marketplace in the US or not. Maybe they are, for the gains elsewhere?? It is more likely, that they have yet to find the multifaceted, long term AND short term marketing policies that will expand the US Amiga marketplace. It appears that CBM keeps trying to find "short term miracles", and then "rotates the crop" when they don't materialize. I ALSO don't believe that it helps having a CEO who earns MORE than the CEO of IBM!! It would appear that most of the profits earned by CBM go to make certain components of CBM, "happy to be a part of the crowd", more than pushing its frontiers. I have to digress a little here, since CBM HAS improved on WorkBench, DID produce the A1200's and A4000's, is supposed to have completed a final version of Unix, IS in the process of upgrading their Ethernet based TCP/IP software, but, there would be more R&D capital if there were less exotic executives (?). Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu