Author: Phil (adsl-64-168-20-87.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net)
Date: 05-17-2003 09:35
I want to add that this is all true. I talk with the dealers regularly.
One bad thing about this scenario is that these companies run their Falcons 24 hours a day 7 days a week. (Basically running them into the ground down to the point of abusing them) Once they break, they get tossed into the garbage. Who knows, it could have been a simple fix (like Dan's bad TOS chip). But instead of sending it back to get it fixed, it just gets tossed. Why? Because the mail firm says that it's not worth their time to box it up and ship it back. <ARGH!> Not only that, the dealers (Best and B&C) say it's not worth their time to fix it because they are so hard to fix (everything is surface mounted). <ARGH!> Then they have to box it up to send it back. (This is the businessman's mentality. Screw the users, just get the $$$!)
ATY was the only dealer that didn't do the above. They convinced the mail firms that ATY dealt with to send them the broken machines, then ATY would send them a working machine immediately as a replacement. I think this was great, because then, the supply wouldn't dwindle quickly (keeping prices reasonably sane) because the machines were always being recycled. In fact, about 90% of the repairs that were done on these Bell & Howell Ataris that ATY repaired were either a bad power supply or a bad floppy. (both of which are easy replacements) Can you imagine if all those Best/B&C-sold Falcons in the garbage were only because of a bad floppy drive or power supply? <ARGH!>
The worst part about this is that THEY DO NOT HAVE TO USE FALCONS!!! Nope, the mail sorting program that they use to run their mailing machines runs on an ST! Even a 520ST! (the TT is the only imcompatible machine) The only reason why they use Falcons is because somehow, Best and/or B&C convinced these mail firms (who know nothing about computers) that the Falcon is "better", even though it's not true (because it can also run on a 520ST). Why did they do this deceiving tactic? Because while Best and B&C can sell 520STs for only about $200(!) new, they can sell Falcons for $1000+ REFURBISHED/USED! Guess which one they would rather sell for more $$$ in their pockets?! I know this because the mail firms ATY dealt with used 1040ST/MegaST/STes. (They bought whatever model ATY had on hand) Hell, I wonder if this mail sorting program works on emulators? That would kill Best and B&C's golden egg, huh? hmmm <evil grin> >:-)
I think one of the reasons why the Bell & Howell machines run by Ataris is not known much is because the Ataris were VAR machines. Basically, Atari supplied the computers, but the VARs would package them with their software/hardware. In fact, these Ataris didn't even have Atari badges on them. The "ATARI MEGAST4" (or whatever) label was replaced by "Bell&Howell". So no one (except knowledgable computer people) would know it's an Atari. Maybe it was an agreement between Bell&Howell and Atari to keep it a secret so that the world won't know their mail is being sorted by a "game machine". <grin>
It makes me sick that Best and B&C are lining their pockets with $$$ at the expense of real Atari/classic computer enthusiasts, who would take much better care of their Falcons. I can only imagine how many more happy Falcon owners there would be if these two Atari "dealers" would sell Falcons at a reasonable price to people who would use them and take care of them instead of the stupid Bell & Howell Atari murderers who butcher and abuse their Atari machines. I wish they could be banned from buying Falcons off of Ebay and let the hobbyists buy the Falcons. *sigh*
I can't see how any Atarian could be happy about this. Unfortunately, I can't think of anything we could do. Best and B&C are a monopoly in the Atari world. I can only continue to hope for a few things to happen:
1. Bell & Howell will stop using Ataris.
2. The program will work on an Atari emulator and somehow, get this info to the mail firms so that they can start using (and thrashing) PCs instead.
3. Bell & Howell port their mail sorting program to PCs.
Sorry for the long post. I too, have been wanting to get this out. In the meantime, the great Falcon search continues for so many people...
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