Comments on: Best Buy for Business To End SMB IT Consultants? http://www.vladville.com/2006/02/best-buy-for-business-to-end-smb-it-consultants.html Vlad Mazek on IT, Business and Technology Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:49:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Anonymous http://www.vladville.com/2006/02/best-buy-for-business-to-end-smb-it-consultants.html/comment-page-1#comment-1121 Anonymous Tue, 04 Apr 2006 22:36:00 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/blog/?p=326#comment-1121 This is somewhat serious. I am a SBS consultant / reseller. I just visited a potential client, who had just met w/ the BB-GS and they are pushing hard. They have what looked like a nice proposal package and likely the cost will be less than what I propose. I have 20 yrs exp. in IT/Tech. The potential client likes that and my approach. It looks like I may have the business, but BB-GS has resources that most of us smaller shops do not, so we will see how this plays out. A definate threat. When I sarted there where maybe 4 local PC fixers - Now 50+ and the Geek squad. The market is getting saturated with techs-Not good for us any way you cut it. Have you also notice Microsoft trying to horn in on the residential accounts with "One-Touch"? I remember those surveys they sent out to the partners. I NEVER answer such surveys, and that is why, they are just trying to fiure out how to steal our business and customers - hence MS CRM - This is somewhat serious. I am a SBS consultant / reseller. I just visited a potential client, who had just met w/ the BB-GS and they are pushing hard. They have what looked like a nice proposal package and likely the cost will be less than what I propose. I have 20 yrs exp. in IT/Tech. The potential client likes that and my approach. It looks like I may have the business, but BB-GS has resources that most of us smaller shops do not, so we will see how this plays out. A definate threat.
When I sarted there where maybe 4 local PC fixers – Now 50+ and the Geek squad. The market is getting saturated with techs-Not good for us any way you cut it. Have you also notice Microsoft trying to horn in on the residential accounts with “One-Touch”? I remember those surveys they sent out to the partners. I NEVER answer such surveys, and that is why, they are just trying to fiure out how to steal our business and customers – hence MS CRM -

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.vladville.com/2006/02/best-buy-for-business-to-end-smb-it-consultants.html/comment-page-1#comment-1120 Anonymous Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:32:00 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/blog/?p=326#comment-1120 I agree with gwilliams. I actually went on an interview with BB to check out what they had. The manager in charge was very excited but was obviously incompetent in technology. He didn't even seem to have good business sense. I am actually glad that they are getting into the market because I hope they put all the $25-75/hr techs out of business. If you are worried about this you are probably one of the weekend warriors or tech kiddies that shouldn't be in the business anyway, because you just create problems and make it hard for real consultants. I agree with gwilliams. I actually went on an interview with BB to check out what they had. The manager in charge was very excited but was obviously incompetent in technology. He didn’t even seem to have good business sense.

I am actually glad that they are getting into the market because I hope they put all the $25-75/hr techs out of business.

If you are worried about this you are probably one of the weekend warriors or tech kiddies that shouldn’t be in the business anyway, because you just create problems and make it hard for real consultants.

]]> By: gwilliams http://www.vladville.com/2006/02/best-buy-for-business-to-end-smb-it-consultants.html/comment-page-1#comment-1119 gwilliams Wed, 15 Mar 2006 17:29:00 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/blog/?p=326#comment-1119 I wouldn't woory too much - we're a 12-man shop in chicago, and just beat these morons out for a new client a few weeks ago. They came in, handed the client a proposal, and left. No follow up, and they did not address the client's issues, because they never listened to what the client was saying. They are fine if all you need is a tech-monkey, but they will not be able to compete with real consultants. I wouldn’t woory too much – we’re a 12-man shop in chicago, and just beat these morons out for a new client a few weeks ago. They came in, handed the client a proposal, and left. No follow up, and they did not address the client’s issues, because they never listened to what the client was saying. They are fine if all you need is a tech-monkey, but they will not be able to compete with real consultants.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.vladville.com/2006/02/best-buy-for-business-to-end-smb-it-consultants.html/comment-page-1#comment-1118 Anonymous Tue, 28 Feb 2006 16:02:00 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/blog/?p=326#comment-1118 Quick - name one industry where small consultants have lost all market share to a big player? Accountants? Plumbers? Carpenters? Who? Frankly, if your competition really is an ass-monkey in a VW with a fancy cell phone, you have bigger things to worry about than another competitor in your market (although an admitedly well-funded competitor). Rather than all this "the sky is falling" talk, why not ask yourself "why are these potential customers buying servers on impulse buy on Saturday mornings at a retail outlet? Why don't they know about me?" Quick – name one industry where small consultants have lost all market share to a big player? Accountants? Plumbers? Carpenters? Who?

Frankly, if your competition really is an ass-monkey in a VW with a fancy cell phone, you have bigger things to worry about than another competitor in your market (although an admitedly well-funded competitor). Rather than all this “the sky is falling” talk, why not ask yourself “why are these potential customers buying servers on impulse buy on Saturday mornings at a retail outlet? Why don’t they know about me?”

]]> By: CharlesM http://www.vladville.com/2006/02/best-buy-for-business-to-end-smb-it-consultants.html/comment-page-1#comment-1117 CharlesM Tue, 28 Feb 2006 14:25:00 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/blog/?p=326#comment-1117 This is certainly more than any of us expected them to do and it clearly cuts into the SMB consulting teritory. Their original teenagers doing break/fix and wifi installation was not a problem.. but the SBS pitch and MCSE on staff I have to admit I'm concerned. This could signal the end of IT consulting earning the premium rate it has enjoyed for over a decade. This is certainly more than any of us expected them to do and it clearly cuts into the SMB consulting teritory.

Their original teenagers doing break/fix and wifi installation was not a problem.. but the SBS pitch and MCSE on staff I have to admit I’m concerned.

This could signal the end of IT consulting earning the premium rate it has enjoyed for over a decade.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.vladville.com/2006/02/best-buy-for-business-to-end-smb-it-consultants.html/comment-page-1#comment-1116 Anonymous Tue, 28 Feb 2006 13:39:00 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/blog/?p=326#comment-1116 I'm speachless. I’m speachless.

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