Bell Tech Pricing

[Karl Denninger]

In article <243 at belltec.UUCP> dar at belltec.UUCP (Dimitri Rotow) writes:
>In article <6475 at bcsaic.UUCP>, paula at bcsaic.UUCP (Paul Allen) writes:
>> [ ... summarizes pricing comments & replies ...]
>> 
>> [It just occurred to me that, since Bell Tech is willing to sell me just
>> a license, I should be able to copy a friend's floppies and
>> documentation.  That would give me a licensed running complete Unix for
>> $145, just like the ad says!  1/2 :-) ]
>
>We'd be happy to sell you just a license, except that you cannot copy your
>friend's diskettes [AT&T's rules, not ours].  Since AT&T imposes profound
>restrictions on the physical duplication of UNIX media we believe that we 
>must sell at least one copy of physical media to each licensee in order to
>have a defensible case in court with AT&T.  

Then your ad is not only misleading, but knowingly misleading.  In many
circles this would be construed as fraud. 

If your firm will not sell just the license to a single purchaser, then you
cannot get "REAL UNIX" in any way, shape or form as an individual for
$145.00.  I *must*, due to AT&T and your policy, buy the media kit as well
-- which has an additional cost.

As a result, you should change your advertising -- to reflect reality.  If
you require that a purchaser buy at least one copy of the physical media,
your FIRST COST is $145 + media --- not $145.  Stating it any other way is
dishonest.  

What would be legit, and honest, would be to say something like:
	"REAL UNIX for $xxxx (145 + media cost) -- with additional licenses
	at $145."  
	
This misleads no one.  Your current advertising, especially in light of the
statement that you require at least one copy of media to be purchased, is
extremely misleading and dishonest.

Please change it.

--
Karl Denninger (ddsw1!karl) Data: (312) 566-8912, Voice: (312) 566-8910
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.    "Quality solutions at a fair price"