#Resellers/Internet
18 messages in this thread
Yes, the difference between CompuServe and Internet is *most* apparent in the
3D forums, particularly this forum. I think the attitude of the whiney college
kids on the Internet is a fine testimony of the evils of "educational pricing."
It only teaches them the price of everything, and the value of nothing.
>>> I think the attitude of the whiney college kids on the Internet is a fine
testimony of the evils of "educational pricing." It only teaches them the
price of everything, and the value of nothing <<<
Geee….John…I wish I had said that!
That's Great! <BG>
I've noticed a lot more calls coming in from Students with that attitude and
I've been getting a bit short tempered with them and their "you Owe Me-Support"
Attitude!
I just got off the phone with an "educational Institution" (acutally a
production facility!) that can't get a straight answer much less support for
3DS from their Educational software Dealer/Wholesale Boxmover wharehouse…pick
a name. <G>.
They call me because I know the answers but when I ask them to purchase
something from me I get the old line about them being an "Educational
Institution" Yada..Yada..Yada…!
Frankly I'm Feed up. If they want "Educational Pricing with No Support" Then
that's what they've got.
If they want support they can buy a legal production copy from me at a fair
price.
I'm getting tired of this "reverse discrimination".
Murph'
Murph,
Our receptionist has gotten in the habit of checking whether incoming
calls are "reseller" or "student". Too many calls were coming in from
potential customers wanting 3D Studio plug-ins and tech questions, then asking
for their student discount at the end of the conversation. It's more
manageable when that's at least known up-front.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
Gee I wish I had a receptionist…….
Murph'
>>>They call me because I know the answers but when I ask them to purchase
something from me I get the old line about them being an "Educational
Institution" Yada..Yada..Yada…!
Frankly I'm Feed up. If they want "Educational Pricing with No Support" Then
that's what they've got.
If they want support they can buy a legal production copy from me at a fair
price.
I'm getting tired of this "reverse discrimination".<<<
I had that same problem when I used to manage a couple of computer retail
stores. I had one guy that bought a system on price from my competitor but
called me to figure out how to get it setup and working. How do you tell
someone to "kiss" off nicely.
Howdy Tim!
>> I had that same problem when I used to manage a couple of computer retail
stores. I had one guy that bought a system on price from my competitor but
called me to figure out how to get it setup and working. How do you tell
someone to "kiss" off nicely. <<
The older I get the less concerned I've become with the "nicely" part. My
problem is it's a breaking point thing with me. Sort of like collecting
points. I'm nice about providing Service to people who really don't deserve or
warrent it to a certain point then I usually ask em' who the hell they bought
this "fill in the blank" from? It's all down hill from there on. =8-()
I think the problem I have is that I consider all my clients, _freinds_ of mine
and when a perspective new "client/freind" contacts me I have trouble
separating the business side of things. This has always been a problem with
me. I would never dissapoint a client just like I would never dissapoint a
freind…the problem is… not all people think this way.
So…..I get burned. I love 3D Studio and everything that's connected to it.
Trying to make a dealership survive doesn't always come in to line with this
particular state of mind..if you get my meaning.
Jim Murphy has come unhitched in time.
Oh well….So it Goes! Apoligies to Kurt Vonneget. <g>
Murph'
Jim – I know the feeling! Generally, if I can help someone out in five minutes
or so, I let it go at that. It's the people who call again, and again with the
same trouble that get to me. The third time they call, I draw the line and try
to get them on a service contract. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
Like you said, it's hard to be hard!
If I was going for the lame joke I'd have to say that even though it's hard to
be good a Good man isn't always hard to find <GR&D>
Murph'
I hear this all the time . It's one of the beneficial curses that goes with the
name!
It was so Lame I couldn't pass it up…I hope you forgive me? <BG>
Murph'
Forgiveness for an obvious disability is unnecessary – besides, I have spent my
life feeding straight lines to people around me to see if they have the wit to
make use of them.
You'll do.
I look forward to more comments in the future!
I take it, you've already run in to Greg P. the original twisted Mr. <GR&D>
Murph'
Unfortunately, I am one of the great unwashed who have not had the privelege
(or pilgrimage) to worship at the altar of THE GREAT ONE!
(Not being sarcastic, Greg – you're aware of your standing in this community)
>> Trying to make a dealership survive doesn't always come in to line with
this particular state of mind..if you get my meaning. <<
If it helps, I'm another who understands your situation. I don't sell 3DS,
but I do sell computing advice and graphics — people always want free help and
"demos": Many I know can't afford "proper" or reasonable commercial rates and
many others (especially certain well-heeled professionals I know!) pretend they
can't. I try to give everyone the benefit-of-the-doubt, but still state my
terms and sort of "cover-my-ass" from the start. The usual negotiation
notwithstanding, I _then_ can be generous with a reduced risk of being hard
done by.
I find doing low-non profit advice for friends (it is returned in many ways in
return) much more satisfying than hard-nosed "business deals" where everyone is
trying to do you for what they can. Easily said for me; I do part-time
teaching in I.T. to pay the basic bills! After 20 years in the world of hard
deals, I'm taking it easy. Poor, yes, but happy.
Enjoy your business and 3DS, don't let the hassles get you down. Maybe, like
me, an _additional_ source of income to finance what you enjoy (ie, helping
people and 3DS?) might help?
Cheers,
Chas
-Charles Dixon
I couldn't even think about doing anything else besides 3D Studio.
Teaching…..Teaching…..you mean like at a College or Something?
You flatter me sir….I've got 2 completed years of college and that's it.
The rest is the school of lifes experiences. I learned a lot and I'm always
trying to learn more. I've even surprised myself at times with little projects
like
building remote controled Helicopters and flying them after which I discovered
it
was just as expensive as learning to fly the real thing so I went out and got
my pilots
license. I've Dabbled in Several forms of engineering including biomechanics,
most of the CAD related Disciplines and I've even presented private research
regarding
Biofeedback and adolescent learning ( It seems that as children we have a great
deal of
very interesting Brainwave activity ) High Amplitude Theta for example. Which
is normally only asscociated with Deep Sleep is the primary brainwave activity
of children from just after birth to early childhood. Well I'm not trying to
impress anyone because I
can't even be hired at the local Tech college full time due to the fact I'm not
degreed in anything. It really doesn't bother me except when someone who is
degreed runs off at the mouth and I know he doesn't know what he's talking
about….<BG>.
Of course….who am I to have an opinion….<g>
I now do what I like to do and earning a living comes a distant second.
I happen to like to do 3D Studio so as Bukaroo Banzi
says…."No matter where I go……There I am!"
Hey! If you need to work something out with anything regarding 3D Studio and
anything related give me a shout I've got some very interesting and talented
clients that like to work as projects teams.
Murph'
>> I couldn't even think about doing anything else besides 3D Studio.
Teaching…..Teaching…..you mean like at a College or Something? <<
Yeah, at a college (part-time which suits me), and yeah, I've got a degree
(but not in computing, even though that's what I teach), and yeah I talk a lot
and don't know what I'm talking about 😉 (but as long as no one finds out,
I'll be alright!)
As to needing a degree to get into teaching, that is usually true, _however_
if you can make contact with someone in a college and 'allow them to discover
you know something about whatever it is you want to teach' and they need
someone deseperately (usually in mid-term, around Christmas when someone has
left for another job or been promoted) and whatever they ask to do you say
"Yes" (like starting the next morning @ 9:00 and you have x hours to find out
what the h*** you are supposed to do) and you do it (flying by the seat of your
pants and keeping one jump ahead of your students — like everyone does!), then
you can get into teaching _and_ then work towards your teaching certificate
and/or degree (here in the U.K. the Open University is a very good way to get a
degree if you work full time). And if you like the students, like helping
people, and know your stuff, then it's easy.
With all your interests you should be able work out something with the
college, but then again, if you are happy playing <g> with 3DS, which as you
say you are, then great!
>> …biomechanics …I've even presented private research regarding
Biofeedback and adolescent learning… <<
That sounds _very_ interesting… Out of pure curiosity, does that tie into
3DS in anyway (wild thought on my part)?
Anyway, I've rambled enough for now. As one of my students once said, "You
know, you could talk under water!"
Cheers,
Chas
-Charles Dixon
>>>> >> …biomechanics ..<< <<<<<
>>> That sounds _very_ interesting… Out of pure curiosity, does that tie
into 3DS in anyway (wild thought on my part)? <<<
Well…..it didn't at the time but it does and could continue to now.
I was heavily involved in BioFeedback in the early 70's and around 1975 the
Biofeedback Society of Wisconsin was holding a conferece that was "open to the
public" since I could qualify for that <g>…I paid my $250. bucks and attended
the 2 day conference and all of the training seminars since I was up on all the
technology I kept having to explain I wasn't a Doctor of anything or words to
that effect after which I was questioned at length to see just how much I
thought I knew by a particular group of Doctors, I think they were concerned
that I was going to misuse my knowledge because that was the original
tone…that is until I mentioned the research I'd done on my daughter since her
birth… It would seem that this hadn't occured to anyone to track the
electrical brainwave activity of a newborn through the first formative years of
her life.
After explaining some of the things I had discovered I was asked to bring my
notes in for the next days open sessions. A lot of lights went on. <BG> I had
a great time too!
One of the benifits of this little get-to-gether is that I've become freinds
with several people in the field. One freind of mine in particualr works with
brain damaged people using biofeedback to help them regain the use of motor
skills that traditional medical science had given up on until just
recently..(it takes the tradintional medical folks a little longer). He's also
a member on the board of the Biofeedback Society of Wisconsin and I'm doing an
animation for them as we speak, so that's the long and short of it. <BG>.
BTW I tried talking under water..the fish wouldn't listen. <g>
Murph'
Hi John,
Couldn't agree more…
Totally ditto…
Take Care
CU GH in OZ