Jeff King wrote:

> Thats a attitude that is quite common. Its also a reason for me not
> to deal with a company. Case in point... I had to spec a low end
> microcontroller for a project. Looked at a number of companies
> (Motorola being one). Motorola had almost exactly the attitude
> you mentioned... I just wanted a few samples to evaluate them..
> The only company that provided the support I wanted for my evaluation
> was MicroChip. They got my business and so far I have bought over
> $10,000 in product from them in 1996. Small potatoes, maybe... but
> as my company grows I won't forget the snub I got from Motorola. Remember,
> many companies (like HP..Apple) start in garages... I think its short
> sighted to snub these people. Analog Devices is another one that is
> ignoring smaller companies... at least in the multi-media market.
> Suppliers, we won't forget this as are companies grow.
> 
> I'm sure Jan's case is a different issue, but you hit upon a hot
> spot of mine.
> 
> Regards,

Great response
Would like to add that as in Jan's case it often happens
that the company says "sorry send it back and we will refund you"
perhaps somebody (Bob or Craig maybe) will jump in and work out
the real cost incured
ie: waiting for delivery(6 weeks)
and the time after delivery
desperatly trying obtain info/work it out yourself (4 weeks )  

Compare this cost to the profit that the company
stood to make on this one sale(maybe 70 dollars in this 
case,in most case's less than a dollar )
!#*&^%$£!**$$()! 
An apology just does'nt come close, blood seems more
apropriate, lots of it
Peter
-- 
Peter Cousens                                                      
email: peter@cousens.her.forthnet.gr                               
snailmail: Peter Cousens, karteros, Heraklion, Crete, 75100, Greece,
phone: + 3081 380534,    +3081 324450   voice/fax

After Bill Gates announced to the world that he was Microsoft,
his wife was asked to comment. She said that as his wife, she 
had been the first to notice this problem