#Disreputable distributor
24 messages in this thread
The product that I ordered was "Tornado", by Digital Integration. When I
ordered it, Sideline Software stated that they did have it in stock, and would
send it "right out".
As it happens, my package did arrive the day after I posted my message. This
does not, however, change my opinion of Sideline Software, since I infer that
only their last statement of having shipped was true, while their two previous
statements of having shipped must have been falsehoods, not to mention the
"right out" promise, which turned out to be three weeks. I will not order from
that company again.
By the way, "Tornado" is an EXCELLENT flight simulator – easily the best thus
far for the Amiga! And I'm a major flight sim fan. Amiga "Tornado" lacks some
features of the PC version, however, and I don't know why. Still, it's a
thoroughly commendable product. DF
>This does not, however, change my opinion of Sideline Software, since I infer
>that only their last statement of having shipped was true, while their two
>previous statements of having shipped must have been falsehoods, not to
>mention the "right out" promise, which turned out to be three weeks. I will
not >order from that company again.
It is very unfortunate that Amiga users are treated like this… You would
think that with the minimal amount of users (compared to like the IBM) you
would see company's treating us like gold for we are their life line…This is
however not the way things are with most Amiga dealers… It is sad but most
dealers are very rude, they don't tell you the truth when it comes to shipping,
etc etc…. Maybe they think since there are only a few they can treat us like
garbage… This can only lead to their only demise not ours as we can always
move to another platform…
>By the way, "Tornado" is an EXCELLENT flight simulator – easily the best thus
>far for the Amiga! And I'm a major flight sim fan. Amiga "Tornado" lacks some
>features of the PC version, however, and I don't know why. Still, it's a
>thoroughly commendable product.
Yes it is a good simulator but not anything compared to TFX when that comes
out… I have t for my IBM and it is fantastic…. It should be incredible and
it should blow away Tornado (of course if it evers comes out)…
Scott Sobel
"This is however not the way things are with most Amiga dealers…"
Doesn't that lead to the question of who many of these Amiga dealers are?
Why would anyone interested in making big bucks sell Amiga in the first
place? Strikes me that they would be trying to get Apple, Dell, IBM or other
dealer medallions. From the very few Amiga dealers I've personally dealt with
(aside from specialist video dealers), I get the impression that I'm dealing
with the bottom of the barrel.
My local "dealer", if you can even call them that, operates out of a
storefront that a self-respecting rat wouldn't call home. While the people
aren't unfriendly, they sure as heck don't know diddly about what they're
selling (which unfortunately is true of almost all dealerships these days). Old
software versions line the walls, inviting the unwary to buy obsolete stock.
In short, it's not the kind of place you'd want to visit or purchase from.
There are good Amiga dealers, I'm sure. I just haven't run into them. So far
my experience in mail ordering stuff for the Amiga has been pretty bad. Only
one dealer (DevWare) has been honest enough to tell me when they didn't have a
product. But, on the other hand, I'm still waiting for the promised 3D diskette
you get when you register CroutonTools.
My own feeling remains that the Amiga could be a neat niche product,
producing maybe $20,000,000 – $50,000,000 a year and could attract some really
good specialty dealers who rely on superior service to keep customers coming
back.
Oddly enough, it strikes me that there's probably a marketing opportunity out
there right now for someone to create a mail-order Amiga place that offers
efficient, honest service.
One big problem, though, is that buying Amiga software and peripherals is
really a pig-in-the-poke situation. The Amiga magazine reviews strike me as
being less than objective and there are few places where you can actually sit
down and see how something works. Returning Amiga stuff is a real grind with
some of these places, as other postings have noted.
Jerry
What exactly is a self-respecting rat?
Anyway, Creative Computers seems to be a pretty good dealer. They have a huge
ad in every AmigaWorld. They have a large store in Lawndale (I think), CA and
another small one in Santa Monica, CA. And when I've gone in there, they've
been helpful and knowledgeable, at least in the large store (the small one was
very small, and finding a place to park was difficult). They have given me tech
advice on the phone, and their mail-order has been prompt, but it's probably
not a good idea to ask for advice about a type of product – the salesperson may
not know what he's talking about – but if you know the specific item you want,
they're reliable about getting it to you, in my experience. Also, their prices
are pretty good, and I think that they even guarantee to have the lowest,
although you may have to hold them to that. Do, of course, make sure to ask
them if they have the item in stock. I suppose this is probably good practice
with regard to any computer product dealer/distributor. DF
"Do, of course, make sure to ask them if they have the item in stock. I suppose
this is probably good practice with regard to any computer product
dealer/distributor."
Yep. Creative strung me out on two items in regard to stock and shipment. The
third time, after I cancelled the order, they billed my credit card without
having ever shipped the product. Not the kind of performance to encourage
repeat business.
Jerry
I'm very sorry to here about your experience with Creative Computers. They were
getting to be about the only distributor I still thought reliable. I really
can't help wondering if there's something we, as potential customers, can do to
discourage foul practices among distributors. Maybe it's just the occasional
unfortunate event, or maybe there's some generalized perversity of attitude
occurring among many business enterprises – a sort of "don't give a damn, screw
'em" attitude. I'd hate to be cynical; there's so much cynicism already, and
that's part of the problem. Still, I can't help feeling angry and frustrated.
Yet even when I take the trouble to be civilized, composing a careful,
comprehensive and polite letter of complaint or suggestion, or several such
letters, it's as if such an effort is not even answered with a decent response.
In the case of Computer Express, I got nothing but a couple of form letters
which were entirely irrelevant in content, as if they hadn't even bothered to
read what I wrote. Oh well, I'll endeavor to keep trying, as circumstances, and
my patience, warrant (if you can keep your head, when all about are losing
theirs…). Good luck, DF
I have heard good things about AmigaMan….
Personally, I have had mixed experiences with Creative Computers. I bought a
300 on "blowout" that arrived DOA. I returned it and then had to fight with
them for a week to get it fixed or replaced. However, I have to note that the
manager threw in a free copy of Cinemorph for my trouble; but I had to >hassle<
them for results. Eventually, I discovered it had spent 3-4 days in their
shipping dock.
(Once I got it back, it worked fine…)
A number of people have reported worse problems than this with CC, but report
good experience with AmigaMan. (This is from a similar topic on Genie). I have
not had the chance to order from them myself, however – I've been waiting to
see what happens.
AmigaMan is located in Hermitage, W. PA. and I've visited their store
(which goes by a different name. They are very small, but quite
knowledgeable, and extremely helpful.
Creative I've done s/w business with only, and always been pleased with
the service I received. But then again, I haven't actually bought anything
from anyone in about a year… but should be rejoining the ranks of the
living shortly. Hope my computer of choice isn't dead by that time!
Nice, but CA is a little far to go from NH.
-ash
Creative comp. gave me a VERY bad expereance. I had ordered a CD32 from
them. It was supposed to have 4 free games with it. Well the first one had
a falty CD Drive…And I took me $10.00 in long distance phone charges to
get a return number. The games were backorderd, and thay didn't send them
in. Well after $10 more dollars in packiging charges thay sent me a new
CD32. It took in excess of 2 weeks to arrive. In the origanal box was a
copy of the Chaos Engine. While driving up another $10 phone bill calling
them about the Chaos Engine which was also included as a certificate with
the CD32. The people said they would call me back in a few days, however,
they never called me back. By the time they got me return code for the
Chaos Engine, the certificate had already expired. I kept the certificate
beacuse I needed proof there was a certificate!!! Well, I never got the
Chaos Engine, or the other game on the certificate, Microcosm. Then when I
asked about the other free games, I got a copy of Amiga User intnational
CD Magazine. Then i finally got to talk to someone competent on there
customer service line. They said I had to send in the add from Amiga
World, however by this time I had lost the magizine. It was May '94. I
feel I have been cheated $150 in games by Creative.
-Daniel H.
Autopilot
Soaring in the CasCades
I still have my copy of May '94 AmigaWorld. If it would be any help, maybe you
could explain the details of what you need, and I could fax you a scan of the
ad (b&w only, since using GPFax and a modem), or cut out the section and mail
it to you. Sorry about Creative Computers; see my reply to J. Saperstein
#75300,632. DF
One thing that would help is for people here to review or comment on
products. Perhaps a special section? More demo programs would help sales.
I want to replace Aegis Draw with something that would work with Imagine,
but at $500 to $1000 a program, I'm not real happy buying sight unseen.
-ash
"One thing that would help is for people here to review or comment on
products."
That would be helpful. One of the things I've notice is the relative paucity
of Amiga related products who offer online support. Most of those who are
online here are terrific, but there are a lot of Amiga related publishers and
manufacturers who are conspicuous by their absence.
Jerry
I happen to share your views Mr. Spaerstein… I too have come across too many
Amiga dealers who I probably would not have bought from again if not for the
fact that Amiga dealers are so rare…. I remember ordering Cnet BBS software
from the now defunct Bri-wall… I was on vacation at the time and really
wanted to setup a BBS during the week of my time-off.Anyway I called them up
and they said they had Cnet in stock although they only had onme copy in stock.
I told them to please comfirm this as I was going to travel to their store
which was a good 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive from my home… He came back and told me
that he did have it…. Well guess what happened when I got there 3 hours
later…..NO CNET! Thats right he made a mistaake and that piece of software
was not on the shelf like he told me… This unfortunately has happened to me
(not the driving 3 hrs) quite often, Ordering something from an Amiga dealer
because they had it in stock and having to call 2 weeks later after not
recieving it to find out that it is actually on back order…. Let me tell you
that this really ticks me off. If you don't have then don't lie and say you
do… Unfortunately for me I don't have an Amiga dealer close to me, well Manta
Computers used to be 45 minutes away but they have since gone under blaming
Commodore for lack of product…. All I know is I hope that whoever gets the
Amiga technology, really pushes to get other stores besides the normal Amiga
dealers to carry it… Without new dealers I believe that nothing will
change… Grant it I am not putting down all Amiga dealers but until you can go
back to your local mall and buy Amiga items again, then the Amiga will end up
the way of the Ford Pinto….Yeah when was the last time you saw one of those
on the road!
you are right about the AMIGA-Dealers (the most of them).
But it is not only the fault of them. If you are not able to make enough on the
Products, you either give them up or you try to cheat out.
Those dealers, who still stick with COMMODORE-Products (not the spezialists),
either cannot calculate or they dont have any know how to sell anything else.
By the way, there are dealers of that kind selling MS-DOS-Computers as well
trying to kick out the real ones with extremly low prices.
I don't know where you are, but in Germany I propably can help you getting what
you need.
Ronald
"By the way, there are dealers of that kind selling MS-DOS-Computers as well
trying to kick out the real ones with extremly low prices."
The same kind of thing happens with Apple dealers and probably everyone else.
Just a matter of trying to avoid the fast-buck guys, I guess.
Jerry
Ronald,
I wish that the American market respected the Amiga as much as the Germans
support it. When you mention Amiga in Germany do people say "Oh, the Amiga,
isn't that just a game machine?" Unfortunately, Commodore never got past that
image in the U.S.
Thanks for your offer. If it gets really bad in the U.S. for Amiga products,
I'll let you know.
Nancy
I can tell you, in Germany the AMIGA is a GAME-Machine as well as everywhere,
because COMMODORE sold it as that.
Even ATARI has a better name in Universitys and scools, because ATARI gave a
lot of them free to these institutes to give the kids early contact to theire
produkts.
Commodore did not even try to get enough softwarehouses on board.
Right now we see the situation, that latest releases of software are not
published in german anymore, because nobody does the conversion and nobody
supports them.
Sad but true.
I am still trying to push the AMIGA into the professional market.
Regards
Ronald
Ronald,
It's sad to hear that Commodore made the same marketing mistakes in Europe that
they did in the U.S.
We have been fairly successful marketing the Amiga as a professional multimedia
machine, particulary for kiosk use using the Scala Infochannel. You might try
looking at that program as a road into the professional sector.
Best wishes,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
thanks for the hint
Best regards
Ronald
AmigaMan has always done fine by me. They are helpful, and if THEY have a
problem they can't solve they admit it and refer me to the people who can help.
SW