Gateway Computer Company did me wrong

**quick-tech** · 07-08-2007 08:27 AM

I had asked Lane Johnson Inside Channel Account Mgr. at Gateway for a quote on 200+ computers that I was trying to bid on a job for and that I really needed it in a hurry. When I was talking to him I got the impression that he didn't take me or my company seriously because I wasn’t a really big company/VAR. I emailed him the specs he asked me who and what department I needed the bid for. I told him and he never got back to be with the pricing, no call, no email, no nothing. I feel he took my information, said screw me and went put the bid in himself. Is this the way Gateway does business? Needless to say I couldn’t advance my company because they never gave me the pricing, I couldn't put in a bid for the 200+ computers and a potential lucrative contract that could have took my small company to the next level as far as clientele goes and volume.

**usakos** · 07-08-2007 09:13 AM

buying and selling is about presentation, how you present yourself, and if you had emailed him the URL of your company as noted in your signature, then he's right, he or anyone else won't take you serious if you're trying to buy a bulk of 200+ computers.

First, clean up your web site, make it presentable and professional, and then may be try again. And if you don't have success with any manufacture, then may be you should try vendors such as CDW.com

**crackah** · 07-08-2007 09:47 AM

Then try Dell? or what not.. duh?

and yeah, it is all about how you present your self.

**ceo77** · 07-08-2007 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by quick-tech

I had asked Lane Johnson Inside Channel Account Mgr. at Gateway for a quote on 200+ computers that I was trying to bid on a job for and that I really needed it in a hurry. When I was talking to him I got the impression that he didn't take me or my company seriously because I wasn’t a really big company/VAR. I emailed him the specs he asked me who and what department I needed the bid for. I told him and he never got back to be with the pricing, no call, no email, no nothing. I feel he took my information, said screw me and went put the bid in himself. Is this the way Gateway does business? Needless to say I couldn’t advance my company because they never gave me the pricing, I couldn't put in a bid for the 200+ computers and a potential lucrative contract that could have took my small company to the next level as far as clientele goes and volume.

You should look to see if they have a Partner/Reseller program. Thats what I'm in the process of doing with HP.

Some companies however won't deal with you if you don't meet certain critera.

Apple for example won't let you be a partner/authorized reseller unless you've been in business for at least 2 years and prove that you are financially trust worthy.

**Unreal030** · 07-08-2007 11:04 AM

I personally dislike Gateway and last I checked they have been sliding downhill in a multitude of different aspects related to their industry the last couple of years if not longer. I would suggest Dell and/or Alienware.

However I cannot in good conscience say all of this without saying your website needs work. I agree with Usakos if I knew you ran that website I would not take you seriously either. Get it redesigned, doesn't matter how you do it, but make it look professional, make it at least on the same level as your competitors aesthetically, or at least get some ideas for improvement from them.

It is unfortunate at times but ethics and politeness are rarely as important as money and all things tied into that in relation to a business. If they can't take you seriously then thats pretty much it unless you are willing to see it as an educational event and make it so that next time you do business with someone they will treat you with the respect you think you deserve.

**radreality** · 07-08-2007 11:13 AM

You can't blame the lack of advancement on someone else. As the owner of the company you need to take responsibility. Gateway is not your only option, there are tons of other ways to get what you need to get. Just from what you said (and you might of left out other details) it sounds like its not gateways fault, that its actually your fault.

I'm not trying to tear you down, I'm trying to help you out for the future. It’s a learning process.

______________________________
Robert Falk
Business Developer / Investor
Self Help & Success Forum

**ceo77** · 07-08-2007 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Unreal030

I personally dislike Gateway and last I checked they have been sliding downhill in a multitude of different aspects related to their industry the last couple of years if not longer. I would suggest Dell and/or Alienware.

However I cannot in good conscience say all of this without saying your website needs work. I agree with Usakos if I knew you ran that website I would not take you seriously either. Get it redesigned, doesn't matter how you do it, but make it look professional, make it at least on the same level as your competitors aesthetically, or at least get some ideas for improvement from them.
It is unfortunate at times but ethics and politeness are rarely as important as money and all things tied into that in relation to a business. If they can't take you seriously then thats pretty much it unless you are willing to see it as an educational event and make it so that next time you do business with someone they will treat you with the respect you think you deserve.

You can't judge a business by how a website looks. Putting a lot of dollars into a website is not financially responsible, especially when you're starting out. However, the thing about this website that probably did him in was the lack of contact info and the overall all content.

To me a website is like a business card unless your website is going to be the actually product.

If you really want to impress prospective business partners, you have to make sure your business is legit as possible (ie. physical address, toll free number, incorporated/LLC, registered with your state, business licenses, DUN number ect.)

**quick-tech** · 07-09-2007 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by ceo77

You should look to see if they have a Partner/Reseller program. Thats what I'm in the process of doing with HP.

Some companies however won't deal with you if you don't meet certain critera.

Apple for example won't let you be a partner/authorized reseller unless you've been in business for at least 2 years and prove that you are financially trust worthy.

That was going thru the reseller program. You have to be selling alot of computers to even get a resellers number from them. If I'd gotten a sale for say 10 computers then they would have said okay here is you number and access to the website.

**quick-tech** · 07-09-2007 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Unreal030

I personally dislike Gateway and last I checked they have been sliding downhill in a multitude of different aspects related to their industry the last couple of years if not longer. I would suggest Dell and/or Alienware.

However I cannot in good conscience say all of this without saying your website needs work. I agree with Usakos if I knew you ran that website I would not take you seriously either. Get it redesigned, doesn't matter how you do it, but make it look professional, make it at least on the same level as your competitors aesthetically, or at least get some ideas for improvement from them.

It is unfortunate at times but ethics and politeness are rarely as important as money and all things tied into that in relation to a business. If they can't take you seriously then thats pretty much it unless you are willing to see it as an educational event and make it so that next time you do business with someone they will treat you with the respect you think you deserve.

Some of my competitor’s websites really suck and a few who actually have the skill to do web design or pay a professional thousand of dollars to do theirs have those really flashy sites. I'm not a web designer and I won't shell out thousands of dollars to have someone do it. Our website doesn’t reflect our skills as IT people (we are certified and degreed in networking, helpdesk and technician) nor does it reflect my ability to get my clients or potential clients the hardware and/or software that they need and we also do affiliate marketing. We are a two person operation consisting of my wife and myself. I have a room for my office and my whole living room is my work station with everything I need to do what I do. We are working on the revamping the website, but we are not professionals. It just takes to almost everything that we do, it's not flashing it's straight to the point. My website can't fix your computer; fix your network only I can do that. But it can get you great deals on computers & software, get you extended warranties on your machines, get you cell phones, get you the best communications deals, it does tell you how much we cost, it does lead you to web hosting and numerous other things. Within the next two weeks/one week it should be changed.
Thanks for the feed back, I appreciate it
.

**ceo77** · 07-09-2007 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by quick-tech

That was going thru the reseller program. You have to be selling alot of computers to even get a resellers number from them. If I'd gotten a sale for say 10 computers then they would have said okay here is you number and access to the website.

Some will work with small orders. Don't limit yourself to gateway computers.

We're bascially in the same business, but I'm focusing more on international clients, and I'm strictly sales, however I'm exploring the possibility of contracting IT services so my company could be a VAR. Good luck

**pbradish** · 07-09-2007 06:39 PM

Why would you want a Gateway anything?

When I was 18 I worked for Gateway as a tech and boy were their PC's terrible.

**quick-tech** · 07-10-2007 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by pbradish

Why would you want a Gateway anything?

When I was 18 I worked for Gateway as a tech and boy were their PC's terrible.

The bid was for 200* gateways to certain specifications. I would have went to infotel, tiger or cdw but they couldnt get them exactly the way the bid specified.