Maybe, though I doubt that very much. What I do know for a fact is how much I paid to buy offie directly from Microsoft - no middlemen involved. I've bought 3 packages from them through enterprise offers and in every case it was less than $30 (once I think it was $15).
As to how much an enterprise pays for what they get, it is a very complicated question. Large enterprises get volume discounts. On top that, they also get credit towards support and various events. So you pay $X for N software seats, but you get so much free support or extended warrantee or training or whatever. What was the real cost?
Cisco gave me a free VIP pass to Cisco Live. I got to have good free meals with other execs, got to go to live concerts, got days of free training and tech talk, met their CEO, etc, etc. The package was listed for $5,000. I paid zero b/c our company is large enough and buys enough HW from Cisco to make them want to keep us happy. So what was the true cost of our purchases?
In my professional role I have to interface with our vendor management team at least twice a year. This is because I need to convey with them how much of what software and hardware I need and where we are going, and they in turn share their perspective with me and see if we can substitute one product for another to make the cut to a volume level and a contract that makes everyone, including the vendor happy.
Oh, and BTW, we had Microsoft, Service Now, and other vendor teams permanently stationed in our offices. Calling the support line is for other people; we get to walk to our dedicated support liaisons. |
