Post by thread:[OT]: Client, who absolutely trusts in Delphi.

Hi, PICLIST members! I need an advice on marketing, if possible, please. I've developed software for small to middle companies manufacturing plastic and aluminium windows. The software, written in _MS_VB_, enables them to draw windows on PC monitor, calculate all parameters of all components, print them, calculate price, stock support and so on. The program is installed and worked successfully in some companies for 1 to 4 years. Now I have new potential client. He saw the program working. But, being a boss a little, he grasped nothing (post soviet specific). For computer related questions he has employee, who proudly calls himself a programmer. He didn't see my program, moreover he even has no intentions to see it on his computer, since he is absolutely convinced of Delphi being the only real instrument to develop software with. So the question is: What should I do to sell them my programm? I can't name them other clients, satisfied with my programm, by the way. Any ideas, please. Any similar experience? (Humour & sarcasm of any kind are always welcome. Jinx, no biped SPDTs, jumping as kangaroo are in sight. ) Mike. Ukraine. -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email spam_OUTlistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Convert to Delphi. It should not be a major task. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Singer" <.....mikeKILLspam@spam@POLUOSTROV.NET> To: <PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 6:29 PM Subject: [OT]: Client, who absolutely trusts in Delphi. {Quote hidden}> Hi, PICLIST members! > I need an advice on marketing, if possible, > please. > I've developed software for small to middle > companies manufacturing plastic and aluminium > windows. The software, written in _MS_VB_, > enables them to draw windows on PC monitor, > calculate all parameters of all components, print > them, calculate price, stock support and so on. > The program is installed and worked > successfully in some companies for 1 to 4 years. > Now I have new potential client. He saw the > program working. But, being a boss a little, he > grasped nothing (post soviet specific). For > computer related questions he has employee, > who proudly calls himself a programmer. > He didn't see my program, moreover he even > has no intentions to see it on his computer, since > he is absolutely convinced of Delphi being the > only real instrument to develop software with. > So the question is: What should I do to sell them > my programm? I can't name them other clients, > satisfied with my programm, by the way. > Any ideas, please. Any similar experience? > (Humour & sarcasm of any kind are always > welcome. Jinx, no biped SPDTs, jumping as > kangaroo are in sight. ) > > Mike. Ukraine. > > -- > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > email .....listservKILLspam.....mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > > -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email EraseMElistservspam_OUTTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

They don't need to know what it's written in, just that it does the job. They're not paying for it to be developed so it's just not an issue. Have you or they ever seen any commercial package that advertises what it was written with ? Probably not. Ask the Boss to get his 'Programmer' to explain to him _exactly_ why he thinks your program will not provide the benefits you claim to his business. Ask him to get the person who designs his windows to evaluate it & explain the benefits to his business. On Fri, 5 Jul 2002 01:29:49 +0300, you wrote: {Quote hidden}> Hi, PICLIST members! > I need an advice on marketing, if possible, > please. > I've developed software for small to middle >companies manufacturing plastic and aluminium >windows. The software, written in _MS_VB_, >enables them to draw windows on PC monitor, >calculate all parameters of all components, print >them, calculate price, stock support and so on. > The program is installed and worked >successfully in some companies for 1 to 4 years. > Now I have new potential client. He saw the >program working. But, being a boss a little, he >grasped nothing (post soviet specific). For >computer related questions he has employee, >who proudly calls himself a programmer. > He didn't see my program, moreover he even >has no intentions to see it on his computer, since >he is absolutely convinced of Delphi being the >only real instrument to develop software with. > So the question is: What should I do to sell them >my programm? I can't name them other clients, >satisfied with my programm, by the way. > Any ideas, please. Any similar experience? > (Humour & sarcasm of any kind are always >welcome. Jinx, no biped SPDTs, jumping as >kangaroo are in sight. ) > > Mike. Ukraine. -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listservspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

I am Delphi programmer - I love it, and I DO believe it is the best tool around. so having said that...I don't see what it has to do with him as to what language your app is written it. If it works, it works, no two ways about it. The client is paying for a compiled machine-code file. I guess you can't just tell him that he is being silly and that it doesn't make (much of) a difference once the program is up and running (at least in this case, it doesn't seem like it would). Richard -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList @spam@piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspammitvma.mit.edu

Tell him the core libraries are written in Delphi and add some phoney DLL's to the distribution. In any case, don't start recreating something if you haven't got the deal sealed, signed and delivered. And Mike is right, they pay you for the product, not for the development. Regards, Claudio -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: pic microcontroller discussion list [KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU]Namens Mike Singer Verzonden: vrijdag 5 juli 2002 0:30 Aan: RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU Onderwerp: [OT]: Client, who absolutely trusts in Delphi. Hi, PICLIST members! I need an advice on marketing, if possible, please. I've developed software for small to middle companies manufacturing plastic and aluminium windows. The software, written in _MS_VB_, enables them to draw windows on PC monitor, calculate all parameters of all components, print them, calculate price, stock support and so on. <<SNIP>> -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList spamBeGonepiclist-unsubscribe-requestspamBeGonemitvma.mit.edu

>>Convert to Delphi. It should not be a major task. >What a waste of time as a speculative development >to persuade an ignorant customer... I agree converting would be a waste of time, but it is not the potential customer who is ignorant, but his employee on whom he trusts for advice. The way to approach this is probably to ask potential customer about employees ability, and if employee is so good, why has he not already organised such a program for his employer? -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList TakeThisOuTpiclist-unsubscribe-requestEraseMEspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu

I use a similar rule with customers as with dating. If the girl is keen, then date. If you have to really spend a lot of effort talking her into it, don't bother. A "trouble" customer like this is never worth it, he hasn't given you a cent yet and is already complaining and telling you what to do. Some people are just like that and you really don't need to do business with them, it will only get worse. For the effort and heartache this guy will cost you, you could spend the same effort finding a few *good* customers. -Roman Mike Singer wrote: {Quote hidden}> > Hi, PICLIST members! > I need an advice on marketing, if possible, > please. > I've developed software for small to middle > companies manufacturing plastic and aluminium > windows. The software, written in _MS_VB_, > enables them to draw windows on PC monitor, > calculate all parameters of all components, print > them, calculate price, stock support and so on. > The program is installed and worked > successfully in some companies for 1 to 4 years. > Now I have new potential client. He saw the > program working. But, being a boss a little, he > grasped nothing (post soviet specific). For > computer related questions he has employee, > who proudly calls himself a programmer. > He didn't see my program, moreover he even > has no intentions to see it on his computer, since > he is absolutely convinced of Delphi being the > only real instrument to develop software with. > So the question is: What should I do to sell them > my programm? I can't name them other clients, > satisfied with my programm, by the way. > Any ideas, please. Any similar experience? > (Humour & sarcasm of any kind are always > welcome. Jinx, no biped SPDTs, jumping as > kangaroo are in sight. ) -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList RemoveMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

Mike, I think you have two possible solutions to this problem: 1 ... tell the customer he takes your product as it is and you put your energies into looking for other clients. 2 ... tell the customer that you might consider converting it to delphi and that you would like the input of one of the customers end users of the product to see if there are any minor features that could be tailored to the customers requirements during the port. When you have the customers representative at your mercy, impress him/her with your product. Evaluate any changes they might require. Write a report with the *help* of the representative Then send a leter to the boss indicating the price of the original product, the cost of adding the extra features using VB, the cost of porting the original product from VB to delphi and the cost of adding the new features in delphi. Don't forget to add a copy of the report. If, after this, he still wants it in delphi, tell him you have other commitments and that it will be several months before you can start the port.. Regards Sergio -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList piclist-unsubscribe-requestEraseME.....mitvma.mit.edu

> 2 ... tell the customer that you might consider converting it to delphi and > that you would like the input of one of the customers end users of the > product to see if there are any minor features that could be tailored to the > customers requirements during the port. When you have the customers > representative at your mercy, impress him/her with your product. Evaluate > any changes they might require. Write a report with the *help* of the > representative Then send a leter to the boss indicating the price of the > original product, the cost of adding the extra features using VB, the cost > of porting the original product from VB to delphi and the cost of adding the > new features in delphi. Don't forget to add a copy of the report. If, after > this, he still wants it in delphi, tell him you have other commitments and > that it will be several months before you can start the port.. I would double-negate the proposal, a pricing for delphi but a significant discount if it is on VB. Try swaying the customer to VB by offering incentive. But I would say it is on Delphi if it is on VB. Without trust, you can charge penny but there is no deal. So treasure it. Cheers, Ling SM -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList EraseMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestmitvma.mit.edu

Thank you, John, Mike, Richard, Claudio, Alan,Roman, Sergio,SM Ling,Bill for comments. Roman wrote: {Quote hidden}> I use a similar rule with customers as with dating. > If the girl is keen, then date. If you have to really > spend a lot of effort talking her into it, don't > bother. A "trouble" customer like this is never worth > it, he hasn't given you a cent yet and is already > complaining and telling you what to do. Some people > are just like that and you really don't need to do > business with them, it will only get worse. For the > effort and heartache this guy will cost you, you could > spend the same effort finding a few *good* customers. For the last time this is my approach to customers too, they are real bastards sometime, at least here in the Ukraine. But the reason, why I posted my questions is I doubt this way is most effective. Claudio wrote: > Tell him the core libraries are written in Delphi and > add some phoney DLL's to the distribution. In any > case, don't start recreating something if you haven't > got the deal sealed, signed and delivered. Bill wrote: > Sounds to me like your client's programmer wants > to become a competitor. After converting (a waste > of your time) he would want the source code. and > then he could sell your package. I have no intentions to cheat anybody. I am not afraid of somebody could recreate the program, nobody can do it for a price comparable to what I ask for the program. Actually, they used to try it, after I installed demo. It takes them from 4 weeks to 2 months to realize that they could not even formulate the conception of the application. Guys who are hired here as full-time software supporters are too weak, but with big ambitions to compensate their weakness. Richard wrote: > I don't see what it has to do with him as to what > language your app is written it. If it works, it works, > no two ways about it. He pays money, so he establishes rules. Sergio wrote: >... When you have the customers representative at >your mercy, impress him/her with your product. >Evaluate any changes they might require. Write a >report with the *help* of the representative Then >send a leter to the boss ... I'll just get negative result doing so here. From Soviet times people used to think that "real things" are hard to find; things with foreign labels are always better then those with domestic (excepting military ones) From modern times they learned that if they are asked to pay money for something, they definitely are to be cheated. As hard they are asked to pay money, as more probability they are to be cheated. Let's wait and see. Mike. Ukraine. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics