Now that Misco no longer exist I only have one listed IT supplier (Insight).
I need to add at least two new suppliers to my list, who would STW recommend? Cheapest isn't the main criteria. Stock, service etc comes higher up the list of priorities for me.
I always used Probrand in Birmingham and Stone Computers.
NHS uses XMA & Redbridge pretty heavily
Have a look at Viadex? I'd recommend my account manager, she was ace, but she's left now.
Softcat work for me.
These places always seem to be a racket, from what I can tell. We have to go through an official procurement procedure that goes to these suppliers and stuff costs a fortune. Why can't I buy it from Amazon and expense it?
Ok so I'm not buying 100s of PCs which is probably where it differs, but still. Their prices for peripherals and the like seem steep.
Softcat for sure on the list, they are great.
SolTech well worth a look.
For proper techie infrastructure stuff, Q Associates (great guys) or you're into the likes of CDW (you need to be buying big to retain their interest)
Techdata have the best website, think CRC for pooters and stuff. Not always cheapest and unless you spend a million a month they don’t care about you.
Servers /Laptops direct are good and cheap but they’re consumer facing so if you’re reselling your customers will find everything you sell and at what price.
Ballicom and Scan for smaller things.
Why can't I buy it from Amazon and expense it?
I've been told tax reasons in the main - if you buy it and get say Clubcard points, it's classed as a benefit in kind. Or something like that. There is also an argument that if everyone does that, there is no chance of getting the proper discount level you might get if all orders went through a preferred supplier. I'm with you though, the majority of the time I can find a cheaper deal, more quickly delivered on my own.
These places always seem to be a racket, from what I can tell. We have to go through an official procurement procedure that goes to these suppliers and stuff costs a fortune. Why can't I buy it from Amazon and expense it?Ok so I'm not buying 100s of PCs which is probably where it differs, but still. Their prices for peripherals and the like seem steep.
Because you are paying the whole cost - including support, not just the retail cost...
Because you are paying the whole cost - including support, not just the retail cost...
Fine if you're buying a server, mince if you're buying a box of mice.
Same with office stationery, so much more expensive that online or even the high street.
Softcat and Bechtel used to be our go to suppliers. Buying from HP directly has saved us a few quid recently.
Fine if you're buying a server, mince if you're buying a box of mice.
Ok... because you buy only mice from an IT supplier... You are buying services of which part of the service is facilitated by hardware.
Mainly Ebuyer at the moment. Our Misco account manager is now at CCS Media.
What sort of stuff/brands are you buying?
@mols, like you wouldn’t believe...
These places always seem to be a racket, from what I can tell. We have to go through an official procurement procedure that goes to these suppliers and stuff costs a fortune. Why can't I buy it from Amazon and expense it?
There’s a couple of reasons for us to use the “channel”.
Robust returns and warranty procedure - maybe 1 in 100 or maybe 50 for some brands will turn up DOA, we can turn that around in 24 hours with tech data, eBuyer, forget about it.
Warranty is another big one, for some brands the clock starts ticking as soon as it leaves the factory, 12/24/36 months or whatever plus 1 is it, you buy a cheap “last year or the year before” PC from a drop-shipper and your office “next business day parts and labour” warranty is gone so you’re stuck with fighting some one man band operator with a Amazon shop.
Lots of grey market stuff about that’s a pain and counterfeits too!
Plus add in 30/60 turns and 5 figure credit limits mean we can get paid for stuff before we have to pay for it.
I wouldn’t use them as an end user though, you need to be spending half a mill a year to get even a modest discount and even then they don’t really give a ****, but I’d avoid eBuyer and amazon though. There’s a decent middle ground of box-shifters who make their margin from turnover from the major players - just be aware if needing “pro” machines if you’re buying consumer stuff.
Well i always appreciate a new customer if the transactional business has the potential to lead to a relationship, solutions and more exciting projects.
Tim(at)haptic-networks.com if it helps...
We are cpc framework partners do a lot of networking and enterpise wifi, but my experience is in the Microsoft stack and infrastructure.
Bechtle for hardware
Grey Matter for Software
we're forced into using SHI at the moment and wouldn't if there was any other choice.
Used to use Storm and CDW and never had any issues with them. Usually had a ton of stock and with CDW especially they had great support options (we used them to help spec a couple of data centres and they talked us down from overspeccing)
