Sos: First of all, the "grey market" products are a point for EC and their distributors to handle. Obviously, the "bad" distributors / dealers that are undermining the other distributors / dealers within the EC ( or any other company's ) network need to be rooted out and disposed of. The fact that customers that own EC products are feeling the brunt of EC's poor management / marketing is evidence that SOMETHING is very wrong. This should not become the customers problem, as they have already placed their confidence in EC by purchasing one of their products. As such, EC's lack of business skill ends up holding what should be happy customers / owners of their products as hostages. A person in Ernie's situation is now a VICTIM of EC's own unscrupulous dealers / distributors !!! The right way to do things would be to satisfy the customer AND correct / remove the source of the problem ( bad dealers / distributors ).
Judging by the fact that Alan handles business the way that he does tells me that EC is either unaware of his actions as one of their company representatives or that they condone such treatment of their customers / owners of their products. Neither looks good on their part. As such, i once again stress that Ernie REALLY needs to contact EC and present his situation to them. As they have the final say in how their products are supported, how their customers are treated and who deals with them, Alan's perspective may mean very little in the grander scheme of things.
The bottom line is that an individual that is happy with an EC unit needs customer service, is willing to pay full retail for it, has gone out of his way to do so and the company / distributor are telling him to take a hike. That is the whole situation cut and dried. If EC / Alan were "good people" and proud of the product, regardless of who sold it and profited from such sale, they would stand behind it and take care of a "cash in hand" customer.
Ernie has been a vocal proponent of the EC player and i imagine that he would continue to do so after the upgrades were performed. Rather than be able to do so, Alan has spit in his face and then told him that he will "help him out" for twice the price after highly inconveniencing the man. As i mentioned, this is not a matter of a warranty claim or a reduced profit transaction. It is simply a matter of customer / product support for what was previously thought to be an "upgright" brand of products.
As a side note, i find it interesting that you chastised Joe aka Trelja for offering his perspective on Alan, how he is as a person and what to expect out of business dealings with him. Given the fact that Alan's attitude and business mannerisms are what brought this whole thread about, i find Joe's comments to be very applicable to the situation. The fact that you called Joe to task and asked if he would repeat such comments to Alan's face while i have stated much worse makes me laugh. Using the "shame on you" routine to try and embarrass / silence someone only works when the person stating their point of view lacks conviction / has no balls. Judging from Joe's prior posts, i would venture to say that he wouldn't have stepped up to the plate without a bat in hand and an eye towards the fence. I don't think razzing from the bleachers is going to distract him one bit or change his point of view. Especially when he's already been up to bat against the pitcher and knows EXACTLY what to expect from them.
Ernie: You have to decide if you like the player / desire the upgrade enough to want to continue further with this. If you do, you need to bypass those that you've been dealing with and talk to the head of the company / front of the horse. Once you've heard things straight from the horse's mouth, you'll know just how influential the other end of the horse really is and if they were following the lead given to them by the head. For your sake, I'm hoping that the scent coming out of one end is a lot more pleasant to deal with than the other. Otherwise, EC will have generated twice as much "product" for potential customers to step into. Sean
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Judging by the fact that Alan handles business the way that he does tells me that EC is either unaware of his actions as one of their company representatives or that they condone such treatment of their customers / owners of their products. Neither looks good on their part. As such, i once again stress that Ernie REALLY needs to contact EC and present his situation to them. As they have the final say in how their products are supported, how their customers are treated and who deals with them, Alan's perspective may mean very little in the grander scheme of things.
The bottom line is that an individual that is happy with an EC unit needs customer service, is willing to pay full retail for it, has gone out of his way to do so and the company / distributor are telling him to take a hike. That is the whole situation cut and dried. If EC / Alan were "good people" and proud of the product, regardless of who sold it and profited from such sale, they would stand behind it and take care of a "cash in hand" customer.
Ernie has been a vocal proponent of the EC player and i imagine that he would continue to do so after the upgrades were performed. Rather than be able to do so, Alan has spit in his face and then told him that he will "help him out" for twice the price after highly inconveniencing the man. As i mentioned, this is not a matter of a warranty claim or a reduced profit transaction. It is simply a matter of customer / product support for what was previously thought to be an "upgright" brand of products.
As a side note, i find it interesting that you chastised Joe aka Trelja for offering his perspective on Alan, how he is as a person and what to expect out of business dealings with him. Given the fact that Alan's attitude and business mannerisms are what brought this whole thread about, i find Joe's comments to be very applicable to the situation. The fact that you called Joe to task and asked if he would repeat such comments to Alan's face while i have stated much worse makes me laugh. Using the "shame on you" routine to try and embarrass / silence someone only works when the person stating their point of view lacks conviction / has no balls. Judging from Joe's prior posts, i would venture to say that he wouldn't have stepped up to the plate without a bat in hand and an eye towards the fence. I don't think razzing from the bleachers is going to distract him one bit or change his point of view. Especially when he's already been up to bat against the pitcher and knows EXACTLY what to expect from them.
Ernie: You have to decide if you like the player / desire the upgrade enough to want to continue further with this. If you do, you need to bypass those that you've been dealing with and talk to the head of the company / front of the horse. Once you've heard things straight from the horse's mouth, you'll know just how influential the other end of the horse really is and if they were following the lead given to them by the head. For your sake, I'm hoping that the scent coming out of one end is a lot more pleasant to deal with than the other. Otherwise, EC will have generated twice as much "product" for potential customers to step into. Sean
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