Aki I am glad we are having this discussion because your latest explanation makes even less sense in my opinion and would welcome your further thoughts.
You say we should "Separate the goods market and the services/solutions market". Why?
Aren’t some goods “solutions”. If I need a solution to the problem of having to type out a CV then the solution is a good i.e/ a computer. The distinction you have created makes no real world sense.
Why is it that I can walk into your shop and ask for advice about hardware without a peep of complaint for you, yet if I ask a question on Skunkworks looking for solutions (which, incidentally, could also be hardware) you would expect me to initiate a bidding process?
Let's take this down to the lowest denominator. You are implying that advice on hardware should be treated differently from advice on software. Why? This is illogical and does not make sense and in fact even you do not follow your own advice. For example, if I walk into a shop and ask for advice on whether I should buy Windows7 or Windows Vista would you expect me to pay for that information? I think not. You would expect me to pay for the proposed solution if I decide to take it. So why is it that when I ask for advice on Skunkworks I should initiate a bidding process? Why not implement the policy you advocate repeatedly on this list in your shop?
From my initial question I have now been presented with three options. Two different pieces of software one retailing at USD 30 another at USD 59 as well as a hardware solution a Firewall retailing at USD 850. I will have to make a decision and then I WILL PAY at that point for what I need and that will make whoever developed/built the solution I choose happy!
Your not very thought out bidding/tendering process reeks of a banana republic government which adds layers and layers of red tape for no benefit to anyone at all.
In addition how exactly are we supposed to find out about what solutions exist if you want us to pay to access the information on those solutions? and remember we are talking about KSH 3000 - KSH 5000 software here. How do you expect the developers you purport to be defending to find out what the market wants if you expect the market to pay to ask questions? Microsoft, Apple do not charge you to find out what Windows7 or OSX does. They charge you when you actually purchase the software. How is asking questions on Skunkworks different from this?
I’ll stop there and look forward to your response because in my opinion this tactic of yours is dangerous in that it achieves the exact opposite of you claim it does, your tactic does not help developers/coders/manufacturers, it hurts them.
On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 3:27 PM, Daudi Were <daudi.were@gmail.com> wrote:
Relax, don't shoot the messenger. I hope someone onlist will bid to your query and respond with a minimum bid amount to resolve your problem. :-)Aki, you'll forgive me for me for finding it irritating when someone can not or refuses to defend their position sufficiently. Sorry, you are going to have to defend this positions (if for nothing else, to educate me on the point you are making).Here is a scenario: I walked into a computer shop a few years ago and asked for a device that could print and scan. I was told the various options available, I bought the one most suitable for my needs. I went to the same shop a couple of months later and asked for a computer that was fast enough for video editing, they told me the various options available, I bought the most suitable one for my budget.At no point did the staff in the shop ask that I pay them to tell me which computer or which printer/scanner to buy. That information was supplied so that I could make a decision. I could have very easily walked out and into a shop next door and bought the stuff there.This was your shop (or one that you were connected to at least) why do you not apply your own principles as advocated in this thread to your shop? Why not charge potential customers for the providing advice on which computer they should buy? Would you find it reasonable for a computer shop to charge you to inform you of what RAM for instance would work best with your motherboard?Let's discuss this.If you feel my examples are not a fair comparison, explain why.@Daudi, thanks very much that you did buy from the shop and I appreciate it. :-) Though I don't play any major role and my role is specific to the online site, I wish one day to offer speciality services and at least some of my developed software. Then it will mean product = sales people and speciality product/solutions services = time and consultancy ( and the meter is ticking ) .Separate the goods market and the services/solutions market, you'll see what I mean. At least for those who are trying to survive on services & consultancy from skills, they should have the chance to bid for work on this list because you are a potential client for them asking for free info to make a decision on a service oriented product-solution. Suppose someone told you linux can do it, they can configure the system on a used pc, how then would you decide? labour charges or linux charges?I'm not going to bid nor have I ever done so, but I have a service background so know what am writing about.--
The EL_Diablo is a metaphor...
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