Axed resellers urge rethink

Terminated resellers have accused Ingram Micro of challenging the validity of smaller players. The claim follows the broad-based distributor's decision to close more than 3000 inactive accounts.

But Ingram has insisted it will retain bona fide resellers that can present a valid argument for having an account.

Blue Mountains, NSW-based IT consultancy, RedRock Solutions, was one partner to receive a termination letter.

Company owner, Paul Julian, said he had written to Ingram expressing his dissatisfaction.

"My concern is that I am going to have to buy from another company that adds more margin to the sale," he said. "I am a reseller and should be able to buy from a distributor."

Julian said his average Ingram spend could fluctuate from nothing one month to $2000 the next. In recent times, he had sourced product from a partner that had a larger account with Ingram to ensure quicker delivery times.

"I just did a job with $35,000 worth of gear, including high-capacity HP SCSI drives," he said.

"More than half of this would have been bought from my other supplier through Ingram.

"Most of my customers are small businesses that don't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment in a year. But when they need stuff, they need it quickly. I have to buy big-ticket items through Ingram."

Home and small business IT provider, JLW Information and Technology, also had its account closed.

Staffer, Warren Campbell, said the Blacktown, NSW company had been sourcing HP and IBM PCs, clone machines, peripherals and software. Its monthly spend was just under $1000 per month.

"A few months back we spent about $30,000. But there could also be odd months where we didn't purchase anything," he said.

Campbell said JLW had integrated Ingram's pricing list into its accounting system, which staff accessed remotely via PDAs. It also used the information for its online store. It was now looking for an alternative supplier to offer similar facilities.

"We want to give the best service with the least amount of hassle or our customers will go elsewhere," he said.

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