[ic] Beima's Response!

[Ed LaFrance]

At 06:13 PM 04/02/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>On Sun, 1 Apr 2001, John Beima wrote:
>
>JB>>The documentation has an entire chapeter on discounts and quantity 
>pricing...
>
>I am now convinced that you have a different set of documents than I
>do. Remember, I just started with IC version 4.6.3
>
>JB>>Then looking at the examples in the Construct database and old Art 
>Store demo,
>
>I'm sorry, but I don't have the old 'Art Store'.
>
>JB>>you should MORE than understand how to do it... Otherwise I sujest you 
>hire a
>JB>>REAL Interchange/Minivend consultant to hand hold you through the 
>basics...
>
>I don't have a problem with hiring someone to help, but I do object to
>getting ripped off!
>
>I asked Akopia to assist me in installing the IC 4.6.3 server. I was
>told that the fee is $180 per hour with a 3 hour minimum. I hired a
>consultant that had never seen the software before, and paid him
>$100/per hour. He had it up and fully operational in less than an hour!
>And, he had never seen the software before. In addition, he fully
>explained to me what was happening as we went along. I needed to do a
>re-install by myself, and I had no problem because of his explanations.
>
>I would expect that Akopia would be able to do it in far less time than
>my consultant did. I think that $540 for a one hour (or less) job is
>outrageous!

I really can't understand this attitude.  RH/Akopia has to make money 
somehow!  They distribute what is arguably one of the best e-commerce 
products for the microcomputer platform - completely free of charge.  They 
have a staff of many talented people and undoubtedly all the overhead that 
goes along with that.  It should come as no great surprise to anyone that a 
"premium" price will be paid when hiring their services - and I quoted 
that, because honestly, $180/hour is PEANUTS compared to price commanded by 
many, many other firms (most of them not even the authors of the products 
they use).

- Ed L.


>I'm not here to try to set something up so that I can play hostmaster
>and run other peoples stores. I've got an e-commerce business that is
>growing by leaps and bounds. I've outgrown the commerce.cgi package
>from Carey Internet Services. I've got a business to run, orders to
>fill, merchandise to be ordered, etc. I don't have the privilege of
>poring over the docs for a year like you did and poking and prodding to
>find what works and what doesn't. I need to take something, anything,
>and convert it to my needs. Take out a piece, put in a piece, and get
>it available on-line for my customers.
>
>Now, if someone is willing to come in and help me, at a reasonable fee,
>and not try to rip me off, I will be glad to pay someone to help me set
>up my store. But, in the meantime, "If it is to be, it is up to me!"
>
>Now! With that out of the way, and in view of the fact that some people
>are saying that they are having problems finding hosting, I've got IC
>4.6.3 server running (apparently) flawlessly. The T-1 is due in by the
>end of the month, and the IC server is running on a 550mHz server -
>which will be upgraded once it shows signs of overloading. I'm willing
>to host space to anyone that wants to set up their store on my server
>and use my IC 4.6.3. But, this is strictly a by-product of dealing with
>my own frustrations.
>
>But, I am convinced that the documents that you have available to you
>are definitely different than the docs that are available to me!
>
>-= Jim =-
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>Jim's Linux-Operated Underground Bomb Shelter
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Tagline for Monday, April 02, 2001 at 17:50 PM:
>CHIP: One California hi-way patrolman.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>This Linux System has been up 70 hours
>
>My web page: http://www.idk-enterprises.com
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Interchange-users mailing list
>Interchange-users@lists.akopia.com
>http://lists.akopia.com/mailman/listinfo/interchange-users

===============================================================
**** Virtual Hosting w/private IC Installation, $65/month! ****
---------------------------------------------------------------
New Media E.M.S.               Software Solutions for Business
463 Main St., Suite D          eCommerce | Consulting | Hosting
Placerville, CA  95667         edl@newmediaems.com
(530) 622-9421                 http://www.newmediaems.com
(866) 519-4680 Toll-Free       (530) 622-9426 Fax
===============================================================