>and here the problems start. The people have already paid for
>SMSQ so the new reseller is practically only supposed to distribute
>upgrades and provide support. This appears even less interesting
>for potential resellers because they can hardly charge very much
>for an upgrade.
Most upgrades to SMSQ/E have been provided free. The only exceptions
were for the systems where there were colour driver implementations and
where the actual version number changed. Jochen and I have done this
without charging for anything except the postage for sending it out.
>So market forces would dictate someone become a reseller, quickly
>sell a few binaries and quit beeing a reseller.
If you are waiting for market forces then the whole thing would have
died out years ago. I can count the number of new SMSQ/E users over the
past two years on one hand. I have not had a single enquiry about buying
it since we halved the price.
>Your license doesn't
>say anything about how long a reseller is expected to provide
>support, nor whatever you consider support. Why don't you reconsider
>the "get support in exchange for paying binaries" in favor of
>normal support contracts?
Jochen and I have been supporting SMSQ/E for the last six years. I
expect that, even if I stopped selling QL products now I will still get
called an emailed and, believe or not, I would still try to help out. I
fully believe the same goes for Jochen. Maybe your market forces would
produce a shallower trader.
--
Roy Wood
Q Branch, 20 Locks Hill Portslade. Sussex. BN41 2LB. UK
Tel : +44 (0)1273 386030 Fax : +44 (0)1273 430501 (New number!)
Mobile +44(0)7836 745501
Web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk
