CompuServe Thread

Matthew, nothing…they wanted the trademarks for use in Europe. Don

Hi ! Escom have apparently said that they want to sell "Home Computers" (i.e Amiga !) though the 170 strong chain of Quelle shops in Germany. Quelle is a huuuuuge mail order company who own 25 % of Escom. They also sell products through their on "catalogue" shops which is where the Amigas would land. This means IMHO good news for Amiga dealers in Germany as the sales personell in Quelle shops also have to sell skirts and dresses and maybe sometimes an Amiga ! So as long as ESCOM produce the machines, then the Amiga dealers will have a good chance to survive by providing the service and third-party add-ons, software etc, for which they are reknown. Whoever made money by selling the machines alone anyway (?). In the U.K., Escom have just bought out Rumbelows (I think 300 shops ..) who used to sell washing machines, fridges etc. So all in all ESCOM would have the chance to sell directly, but without support from Amiga specialised dealers it would be a no.goer. By the way, apparently Commo UK decided that ESCOM would outbid them anyhow and would therfore not bid in the hopes of tying up with the winner to arrange UK distribution. Opinion in Germany : Commo UK = Hot Air !!!!! Cheers Richard GTI GmbH