[asterisk-biz] Not one to bitch and moan, but...

[Steve Totaro]

Kim,

Are you talking about glossy tri-fold brochures? 

I am confused.  It almost sounds as though you are complaining about 
price.  If you are speaking of support, then buy the Business Edition 
although all hardware comes with support directly from Digium so you 
shouldn't need to. 

If you are complaining about the price, then go out and get 3com or 
Cisco certified so you can view pricing and buy those products.  Compare 
pricing and the hoops you will have to jump though. 

You really lost me here, "There needs to be some program in place that 
recognizes that need and creates a program that will support the 
consultants."  Seems like too many "Programs" to me, not to mention 
programs creating programs is probably a bad idea.  It sounds 
quasi-governmental to me (and if not careful could give rise to some 
sort of killer AI entity. :-)

Please clarify what you are really moaning and bitching about (your 
words, not mine) since we have all probably faced the same challenges in 
winning business.  Is there an existing "program" that has a structure 
similar to what you are envisioning for Digium sales?

Thanks,
Steve Totaro

Kim C. Callis wrote:
> I was thinking about all of the Digium products that I have either 
> bought for clients or have had the client purchase equipment from 
> Digium, and realized that while there is a big push for reseller and 
> distributors, there is nothing in place for the, for want of better 
> word, interconnect. I find myself jumping on the web, looking at 
> Digium's site for general pricing, and then playing the hunt for what 
> reseller is going to provide me with the best price. I would be nice 
> if there could be some formalized synthesis between the reseller and 
> the consultants.
>
> Right now, most consultants more or less stumble into an opportunity. 
> Asterisk has become the watch word as a ton of sometimes clueless CIO 
> types attempt to see how Asterisk fits into the equation. When I go 
> out to pitch a deal, I have to develop my own marketing crap, go and 
> seek out the biggest bang for the smallest buck, and pull rabbits out 
> of my hat. I would really be nice is I could get some of the benefit 
> that Digium offers to resellers and distributors... The reason I bring 
> all of this up is because I went to see what would be needed to get a 
> reseller relationship with Digium. As I started looking at the Q&A, I 
> realized that I would not fit in any sort of way in their 
> requirements. I was also looked at another company (who does not sell 
> any Digium items), which does allow for consultants to receive 
> discounts, does provide some marketing  materials, and gives priority 
> for support.
>
> Without being arrogant, to some degree, it is the consultants that 
> create the need for Digium hardware! There needs to be some program in 
> place that recognizes that need and creates a program that will 
> support the consultants.
>
> Just my $0.02 and anyone is will argue this point... Or not! :)
>
>
> -- 
> Kim C. Callis
> kim.callis at gmail.com <mailto:kim.callis at gmail.com>
> _____________________________________