From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=1.0 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_05, LOTS_OF_MONEY autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,27539c823b51b306 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2001-08-21 07:05:06 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!newsfeeds.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!psinet-eu-nl!psiuk-p4!uknet!psiuk-n!news.pace.co.uk!nh.pace.co.uk!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Ada vendors and the art of selling used cars Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 09:59:04 -0400 Organization: Posted on a server owned by Pace Micro Technology plc Message-ID: <9ltpfa$4tb$1@nh.pace.co.uk> References: <3b7fdb8a_2@news3.prserv.net> <87bslabaro.fsf@chiark.greenend.org.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: dhcp-200-133.miami.pace.co.uk X-Trace: nh.pace.co.uk 998402346 5035 136.170.200.133 (21 Aug 2001 13:59:06 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@news.cam.pace.co.uk NNTP-Posting-Date: 21 Aug 2001 13:59:06 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:12167 Date: 2001-08-21T13:59:06+00:00 List-Id: Its pretty easy to go "Prices good until Whenevuary 32, 2001, Payable in US dollars drawn against a US bank, Terms subject to change without notice." Typically, the reason for not doing this is because then the product becomes a commodity that is bought from the lowest bidder. (Its a dirty little secret that marketing folks would rather you didn't know about. :-) There are some currency exchange issues, but generally currency doesn't fluctuate erratically in big jumps from one day to the next, so price quotes for fairly inexpensive items (not, say $100m worth of Japanese steel - but a few hundred worth of software) over a fairly short time is not likely to be a problem. If you can get someone to talk to a sales rep then the rep can start pointing out the product distinction that justifies the (possibly) higher prices. With Gnat out there downloadable free off charge, anybody who says "Here's my Ada compiler for $20..." is at a disadvantage because $20 is more than $0. Someone has to be able to explain that for $20 you get efficiency improvement by a factor of 10, absolutely no bugs, free 24 hour a day telephone support, and a rep coming to your house to install the compiler and lean over your shoulder for the first month fixing anything that goes wrong. (Now is it worth $20 to you? How about if I throw in a set of Ginsu Steak Knives? :-) MDC -- Marin David Condic Senior Software Engineer Pace Micro Technology Americas www.pacemicro.com Enabling the digital revolution e-Mail: marin.condic@pacemicro.com Web: http://www.mcondic.com/ "Matthew Woodcraft" wrote in message news:87bslabaro.fsf@chiark.greenend.org.uk... > > All these reasons would seem to apply to any product sold > internationally, yet most companies seem able to quote prices. > > In my experience, computer hardware changes price much more rapidly than > software, yet I see many hardware companies advertising prices. > > I think if you were to publish indicative prices in US dollars, most > people interested in buying an Ada compiler would be able to make an > adequate estimate of the currency conversion. > > -M-