CompuServe Messages

>The first thing on the list would be a serious study on how the dealer base can be expanded< Interestingly, this is an ideal time for them to attack this, because IBM/Compaq/Apple dealers are more open than ever before to looking at, well, any line they can make a profit on. If Commodore can give them 20%-30% profit margins, these dealers will look at it seriously. Within the last year, all 3 of the aforementioned big players cut dealer's margins tremendously AND started direct-to-customer mail-order catalog selling, and dealers are frustrated. At catalog-matching price (or list price, which is essentially the same), dealers are typically making only in the range of 10% to 17% on most of these company's popular products, which is not a good model for a successful retail business (except maybe for very high volume and/or non-support environments) – and they're competing directly against the manufacturer/supplier besides. The trades tell us that the dealers are unhappy. Give them something they can make money on, and you'll get their attention. This seems like an opportunity. ===Scott