Conference 7.286::digital

    It is possible.  If my memory serves me, for about $350 you could get,
    say, a DECpc 316sx w/1 meg, 3.5" floppy, keyboard, and mono monitor.
    This wouldn't include hard drive, DOS, WINDOWS, etc.  You'd also be
    limited to 2 available drive bays and 3 slots.
    
    Check CAM3::EMPPURPRO for details.
    
    -- Russ

That's probably the price for just the base system which usually includes:

1MB memory, 1.44MB 3.5" floppy, SVGA+, IDE controller, Mouse Port, Keyboard
port, serial port, parallel port.

1-800-PC-BYDEC  After 5:30pm EDT.  VTX EPP has more info.

--Scott

Oh, also see the EPP conference on CAM3::EMPPURPRO

    re: .2
    
    The price for the 320sx base fitting your description is $250 (then
    subtract 20% employee discount).  The 316sx would be $200 before discount.
    
    These numbers are from memory, so I might be off.
    
    -- Russ

Yes, the prices are reduced.  I have in front of me a 4 (of 18) sheet report
of new PC prices.  Several people in my office, including me are ordering a PC.

The system referred to in previous replys is indeed a 386 20Mz system box.
It has 1MB of memory, a SVGA adapter, and a 1.44MB floppy.  Desktop Direct
price is $250.00 EPP price is $200.  The same system is available in a 16Mz
flavor for $160.00 EPP.  I can't see why not to spend the additional $40.00.
This is a great way to upgrade from a 286 if you have one!

As for myself I'm ordering a DECstation 320sx system with SVGA adapter, 3.5"
floppy, DOS, WIN 3.1, mouse, 122MB IDE drive, 5MB memory, and 14" color multi-
sync monitor.  Catalog price $1499.00, EPP price $1199.00.!!!

The amount may me financed by DEC at 0% interest for up to 24 months and with
automatic payroll deduction with certain restrictions applying.

SEE "VTX EPP" FOR MORE INFO.

A complete list can be obtained from 1-800-PC-BY-DEC.

Oh yea, this system plus a Deskjet 1000 bublejet printer (~$270.00), comes
to a total of around $1500.00 or about $15.00 a week!

Regards,
John

>Oh yea, this system plus a Deskjet 1000 bublejet printer (~$270.00), comes
>to a total of around $1500.00 or about $15.00 a week!

Don't forget to order the cable, and possibly the sheet feeder.

   Gary

    Hi,
    
    is this EPP worldwide or US only? To be more specific does it apply to
    Germany?
    
    thanks in advance,
    
    Paul
    

                      <<< Note 1970.8 by MUNICH::KRNETA >>>
                        -< valid worldwide or US only? >-
    
>    is this EPP worldwide or US only? To be more specific does it apply to
>    Germany?

.. and in the UK ?

    Re .-1;
    
    Don't know.  I use VTX then keyword EPP.
    
    

    EPP's depend on local legislation, so typically have to be signed off
    on a country by country basis.
    
    q
    

    EPP in the UK for PC's always bears comparison with prices in, say, PC
    Magazine.
    
    /a

Well, here's the UK prices. I'd be interested in seeing how these prices
compare against the US ones. If you exclude VAT (Very Annoying Tax) at 17.5%,
and then multiply by 1.92 (dollar/pound exchange rate), which country comes
out the most expensive and by what percentage?

Craig

 ------- Forwarded mail received on 17-Aug-1992 at 19:30:48 -------

From:	RDGENG::RDGENG::MRGATE::"SUBURB::ROBIN_SHUFF"
To:	@Distribution_List
Subj:	PC INVENTORY CLEARANCE

From:	ROBIN_SHUFF at SUBURB
To:     See Below

    
                     ***  PC INVENTORY CLEARANCE  ***
    
    To make room in our warehouse for new PCs, we are making very 
    special offers to our customers on existing stock.
    
    Equally good news is that this offer is also available to you as a 
    Digital UK employee!
    
    With immediate effect you are entitled to purchase one of the 
    personal computers described below, subject to the employee 
    purchase terms and conditions for PCs and WHILE STOCKS LAST.  The 
    systems on offer are the 16MHz 386sx DECstation 316, and the 20MHz 
    386sx DECstation 320.  They are each available in three different 
    configurations: all systems include VGA 14" Colour Monitor, 
    Keyboard, Mouse, Power Cord, MS-DOS 5, Windows 3.1.
    
    Order Numbers and special price to employees are as follows:
    
    		DECstation 316	Employee  DECstation 320  Employee
    				Price			  Price
    
    Diskless	UK-PC651-A3	�527.86	  UK-PC652-A3	  �571.93
    40MB Disk	UK-PC655-A3	�615.99	  UK-PC657-A3	  �660.05
    120MB Disk	UK-PC656-A3	�660.05	  UK-PC658-A3	  �704.11
    
    The prices shown above include 25% employee discount and are 
    inclusive of VAT at 17.5%.
    
    Payment may be made by credit card or personal cheque.
    
    Your DECdirect contacts are: 
    
    Pat Roberts @REO  (DTN: 830-2812) for credit card or cheque 
                                      purchases or 
    
    Juliet Burke @REO (DTN: 830-2819) for credit card only.
    
    You will need to supply your name, badge number, location and the 
    part number (above) of the system you require.  If paying by 
    credit card, you must provide: credit card number, name on card, 
    card expiry date and your home address.  The PC will be delivered 
    to your office address as soon as possible.
    
    Best regards,
    
    Robin Shuff - PC Product Manager.

    Can anybody from EPP come onto our notes conference and have a dialog
    about prices, config's etc>?
    
    It appears that if you look on our on-line Price File you get one price
    for a config...this is supposed to be commercial pricing.  Now if you
    go into VTX_EPP and look at some of their pre-configured pkgs, the same
    part # is $ 400 more + or -.
    
    What gives...do us employees get something that the public doesn't?  Or
    is the 'Interest free' actually built right in?
    
    Please alleviate me of my nasty thoughts, Father DEC.

>    Can anybody from EPP come onto our notes conference and have a dialog
>    about prices, config's etc>?

	Of course they can. Will they? I sort of doubt it. This conference
	is hardly the center of the world. Especially as there is a whole
	other conference that deals with EPP (CAM3::EMPPURPRO). I'd look
	there. Or call 1-800-PCBYDEC after 5:30 eastern time. I've found
	the people on the other end of the phone great to deal with.

	Alternatly you could send mail to AIMHI::EPP and ask questions that
	way.

			Alfred

    As of yet, I have called my so called EPP rep twice after 5:30PM
    leaving a voice on her phone mail.  I have A1'd her twice, no response. 
    I even sent forwarded a note to Jane Curry, EPP Mgr, who didn't respond
    back.
    
    I know employees are thought of last around here - EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES
    TO CUTTING EXPENSES!
    
    I would have thought that since we were contributing to the bottom line
    on the revenue side, we'd get at least some attention.

>    As of yet, I have called my so called EPP rep twice after 5:30PM
>    leaving a voice on her phone mail.  I have A1'd her twice, no response. 
>    I even sent forwarded a note to Jane Curry, EPP Mgr, who didn't respond
>    back.

	Maybe I'm just lucky. My PCBYDEC rep always returns my voice and 
	Email. Maybe not as fast as I'd like but I do get replies. And my
	problems get taken care of.


			Alfred

    RE:17
    That's because they know the power you have in the notes conferences
    Alfred. They dare not get you angry;);)



    Jim

The most common causes for the problems mentioned in .14 are:

1.  The EPP info doesn't get updated as often or as soon as the regular price
info, and thus is slower to reflect price changes.

2.  The price you're seeing in the price file reflects some number that
has no basis in reality, such as a price without warranty service when we
never sell the product without warranty service.

The EPP notes file is a better place for more detailed answers.

   Gary

I left a message with an EPP rep and got a reply within a half hour.
I hadn't ordered a system yet; I wanted to know whether getting an extra
floppy would take longer. She said it would not.

Now, I'll just have to see if it takes more than the 10 days they quote
for systems they have in stock. After looking around for a while, outside
of Digital, EPP had some machines I was interested in become available.
The price is a bit higher than I would have paid outside, but I get a
much better machine - 486DX2 (50 MHz) instead of a 486SX at 25 Mhz. This
way, I pay the extra for the machine, not for interest.

I've dealt with EPP extensively. I've had lots of contact with Jane Curry and
several sales and tech support people. They've all been extremely helpful,
cooperative and courteous. They've handled well some very off-the-wall requests
and questions from me. Yes, they're sometimes slow in responding. I think that
they are also spread very thinly and are very busy. Perhaps the people doing so
much complaining about EPP should learn to be a little more patient?

Larry

    REPLY .21
    How patient should people be?  I've been waiting for an answer, any
    answer, since June.  I'm currently escalating it up through my
    management channels since it appears that they only respond to 'fires.'

I started dealing with EPP in late May of this year. I don't know why you've had
the problems you've had in dealing with EPP. I can only relate that my
experiences dealing with them have all been positive.

Larry

    
    
    re: .20
    
    		I've seen these config's built , but they are on ship
    	hold due to an issue of FCC Liscense. No, can't say as one is
    	for you, but have a heart, we'll ship no PC's before their
    	time.
    
    		The 50Mhz 486 can scream......
    
    				Paul Ussery
    			ABO Manufacturing, PC's
    			    

Re .24 - are you talking about the Tiger or the older
series? I understood these 450DX2's were the older 
Tandy units, which are available now in Radio Shack
(for the same price as EPP this week, I think; or that 
might be without monitor, I didn't look too carefully.)

Now, to my complaint - I was told "10 days" by the rep,
so I ordered the machine. The order confirmation gave a
ship date of 30 days. Since I wanted to get it so that 
my wife could use it during a 7-week course she is taking,
this delay is unacceptable. I heard from a co-worker that
the 5.25" floppies have a 3-week delay, so that could explain
it, but I got no such explanation. If they can't ship the system
earlier, with or without the 5.25 drive, I'll probably get
something elsewhere and then cancel. Or I'll scrounge something
that is sufficient that I can borrow for the 7 weeks, and decide
later about cancelling.

    Re: 14 - The price in the Price File (I assume you are referring to
    VTX_PRICE) is based on MLP (Meaningless List Price).  It used to be
    that MLP was the list price and any discounts were applied to MLP.
    With reference to PCs, the Desktop Direct price may or may not be
    tied to MLP.  MLPs are a requirement to get most programs approved
    through PAC and are ordinarily set a couple of months before the 
    product is announced while Desktop Direct pricing tends to be tied in
    more with the competition.
    This process is BTW being examined.
    Nancy