... just as one my good friend used to say. He worked for Government as a contractor and though he wasn't paid top dollar, he was still paid well and regularly.

That reminds me again that probably I am in the wrong business. Why should I say that? It is because of the same issues with a Small Retailer that "I am tired of, bored with and pissed at" (dear Mr. G. Carlin, please excuse the quote) we encounter on daily basis.

First of all, they tend to not give a damn about the technology they’re buying or using, secondly, they prefer to not give a hoot about the qualification of the people to whom they entrust their technology solution and lastly they will not care about learning to use the technology. I suspect it all derives from the fact that majority of Retailers pays minimal wage with no benefits to their “monkeys’ and therefore it beats them to even think about paying $50/hour or more to someone they consider a clueless geek.

Microsoft requires certification in RMS for its Partners for a reason. There's no certification needed to resell MS Office or XBox. Because anyone can install it - no brainer. But RMS is a different beast. It is a business application. It is like an accounting system that must be installed and tuned up by a professional if the user doesn't want to get into problem with IRS.

Microsoft considers those who have taken the RMS certifcation exams at least dedicated to the Retail Technology marketplace and hopefully posessing the necessary hands-on experience. A high school student or another freelancer who's never dealt with Retail Technology is not qualified to do the job simply because effective customer service in this field goes beyond just the A+ skills.

An expereinced RMS implementer talks the language Retailer understands and answers questions that go far from the technical field. In addition, they often cover wide area of system setup beyond the software installation - such as networks, connectivity and remote access, security etc. Some organizations offer even more - like software customization and add-ons, full outsourced remote support etc.

But still, we see the same attitude all over the place. After we do a demo, the customer goes and buys software online, gets cheap hardware in a corner store (or keeps using their old rusty Windows 98 PC), runs into troubles and then blames Microsoft for "bad software full of bugs". And this hurts Microsoft in the first place.

Why noone sells Great Plains on e-Bay? Or Navision? Isn't RMS one of the Microsoft Business Solutions products? Why then Microsoft allows some of the RMS Resellers drive down prices to the point where any profits from selling RMS virtually disappear and the Partners who invested time, money and efforts into buidling their businesses around RMS are forced to look how to make their ends meet only because some jerk sells RMS online for some seven hundred bucks. Huh?

I must be getting tired. Let's go get some sleep.

Thanks for your reply. Interesting that you brought up being an employer makes difference. Our employees are quite more expensive than minimal wage and the training takes quite longer than in retail environment, so I DO KNOW the difference.

With all respect, Ron - I think you are an anomaly. Perhaps, you find troubleshooting your computers interesting, or maybe you just got wrong computer people you worked with in the first place. If you're saying you know more about RMS than your partner, it certainly says a lot about them (not to downgrade your knowledge, but for you it is a rather hobby while for them it is profession).

However, most of the people don't fix their car when they get into accident but get it to a qualified mechanic. Nor they take their law cases to the court without a lawyer. I certainly don't. I think these professionals have spent lifetime perfecting their knowledge so with all my wits I cannot be any better than them (you have to excercise common sense though, of course, and check references). So I'd rather pay premium price for their services rather than try to do it myself and step in the minefield.

I am good in what I do (software). And you must be good in what you do (retail). Let's stick to our own trades.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon that people who have little understanding of technology try to do their own thing and get themselves into trouble (and again, I don't mean specifically you - you may be very good at it, but as I said it is rather anomaly). The point is: if each of us keeps doing his own thing, we both will be more productive and succesful. Isn't it just a common sense?

Granted my background is more extensive than most. I've been a technician for 25+ years so obviously it's nothing new for me to crack open a book.

My point was that the web whores are an irritation at best.

My 3 stores sell Nextel (now Sprint) so you can imagine what I see. Yet I've done nothing but grow over the last 7 years from the original three owners to 26 employees. Meanwhile the Web whores keep offering free phones.

Your not even dealing with the consumer market so be gratefull for that. Business owners talk (as do consumers) your reputation will get you more work than anything. Don't sell your customers short many realize your value and they're the customers you ultimately want, not the price shoppers. I've never wanted more than the 15% that will pay for service.

My reputation and service excellance has put me where I am, The sales just came with it. Business is business, doesn't matter what trade it is...