Re: Happy Holidays!
Re: Happy Holidays!
- Subject: Re: Happy Holidays!
- From: Matt Johnston <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 15:38:04 +0000
On Thursday, December 26, 2002, at 01:44 PM, John Linthicum wrote:
Sounds to me, that like other Apple resellers, you're expecting Apple
to do your work for you.
With respect, John, you don't know what you're talking about.
We only started being a reseller in the last month (opened 26th
November). I've been asking for support from Apple for our MUG for the
last four years. My cry for AppleScript support went our more than 6
months ago.
It also sounds to me like you've crossed the like from being in a MUG
because you believe it's a worthwhile way to spend your time, to being
in a MUG because you believe it will help you and your venture
capitalist friends make some money.
Actually we started the MUG. We started it LONG before we thought of
opening a Mac store.
I moved from working in an enterprise company working with PCs to being
in charge of service and support for Macs in this country because of
the crappy experience that Mac users get in this country. To that end I
even took a cut in pay because working with Macs is actually less
stressful than working with Windows.
If that's the case, then it's OK too, I'm sure you're not alone on
this list. Lots of resellers have affiliations with MUGs because they
believe it to be a captive audience for their sales pitch.
Speak to our members who have been asking Apple to help a reseller get
started for as long as I've known them.
If you want (or need) assistance in preparing an AppleScript demo, why
not ask the people here, or those who have a bit more experience in
preparing demos for a User Group how to do it.
I did ask the people "here". Check the archives.
I'm sure someone here in the 20-something years of MUGs has done what
you want to do. That's what *we're* here for. None of us expect to
foot the bill to hire an Applescript consultant nor foot the bill for
his/her travel expenses to come to our MUG to do a demo. Maybe I'm
speaking out of turn, but our MUG budget certainly won't allow that.
Also, none of us expect Apple to foot the bill for it either. So it is
up to us, as leaders, to figure it out, with or without Apple.
Actually I expect Apple to assist us keep Apple in the marketplace. I
expect them to aid us in marketing their Apple-only and
Apple-proprietary technologies. When a print and publishing group came
to our MUG (not the reseller) and asked us for a demo of this
mysterious AppleScript thing that could automate their workflow, wer
turned to Apple who suggested we import a consultant.
So, don't get into the "me" mode because in my experience, Apple
isn't out to help "you" anyway.
Cheap shots like that one won't make you any friends on this list. So
if you ever do need help from anyone here, you might want to check
your attitude before you ask.
Again, that's alright to say when you're in the US and pampered by
Apple. Outside of the US we have to make our own special deals and
fight for every one. Like I say, we didn't get free .Mac accounts, we
didn't get free copies of Jaguar.
Let's compare NiMUG and XMUG?
XMUG has 30+ members with a catchment area of the Richmond-area Mac
users in Virginia. Individual membership costs $36 per annum with
concessions for families and students. There's a free (sic) email list
for tech support and XMUG members get special discounts on Apple
hardware and software, up to 30% off.
NiMUG has 170+ members with a catchment area of Northern Ireland (1.5
million people), we don't charge for membership but we provide a free
email list and bulletin boards, quarterly meetings and and a free,
online, tech support-based community. The only support we get is from
our local reseller which we had to start ourselves and even then, it's
nothing like 30% because then the reseller would make a substantial
loss on every MUG sale.
Next time Jeff sends out the AUGB Leaders bulletin, then check out how
many of the deals are applicable outside of the US. The last one I have
is the October issue. Ever been to applemugstore.com. It's US only.
We make our own luck. It's evident that you have no idea what it's like
running a MUG outside of the US and less idea of the pressures faced by
just being a Mac user outside of the US. It's frankly amazing what some
of the guys here can manage. I have amazing admiration for Amaya and
Yan Feng and others who are doing a sterling job in spite of the lack
of sanctioned Apple support.
It's easy to be a MUG when you get free stuff and 30% discounts. It's
harder when you have to play a 20% surcharge just to get the machine
and, as in some countries, a Mac costs several months salary. It's
harder when there isn't anywhere in your country to BUY a Mac or Mac
software, nor if there is anywhere in your country to get your Mac
fixed when it breaks.
So, yeah, I guess we only involve ourselves with the MUG because we
want Apple to do the work for us and maybe it might be a neat way to
make ourselves some money.
M
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