Foundation Plan

I often wonder about the legitimacy of these online discount retailers. However keep in mind that with RMS, when the software is ordered from MS your dongle is registered to the end user, so I high doubt these discount retailers are selling illegal copies.

You might pay half price for the software, but are you going to install and configure it on your own? Even if you're familiar with computers, you're likely to run in a few problems the first time you install RMS. If you all of a sudden call Reseller B and ask for help, especially if you've already been discussing a purchase of RMS from them, but then bought it elsewhere, I bet they're going to change you a lot more for setup than if you had bought the software through them originally. Same when it comes to support down the road.

Personally I don't believe in the so-called "Wal-Mart Philosophy"; More for Less. That is not what drives the economy, but hurts it. People don't want to pay for anything these days. But there's not much use ranting about it.

Comptrix,

It doesn't really matter where you buy the software from (as long as it's legal). You will still need service at some point. Your Microsoft RMS Certified Partner is going to give you the best, fastest, most cost effective service. For example, I have a single lane retailer who wanted to upgrade from QuickSell2000 to Store Operations. But, he only wanted the software and no service. He said he had a guy who could help him over the weekend.

That was 4 weeks ago. He first had trouble installing Store Operations. Then he had trouble upgrading/importing the database. Now, he is having problems getting his OPOS drivers to work. I could have gotten him up and running in a few hours. Every problem he's had has a relatively simple fix, but he doesn't have the proper experience. Four hours of my time would have cost him $400.00. Now that it is four weeks later, and who knows how many hours he's actually spent on this, do you think he saved money?

There really is no margin anymore in hardware and software. Your value is in the quality service you get from an experienced Microsoft Partner.