Sal, >Even PCs are easily argued to be commodity items.< I disagree there. One feature of a commodity is that the seller and buyer don't communicate with each other except to buy and sell the commodity. Wheat, corn, coffee, orange juice, etc. Maybe you could add Packard Bell to the list also (not that I know personally). Packard Bell tried to sell the PC as a commodity (sell them at Costco with cheap components, rock-bottom prices, didn't provide adequate support, etc.) Packard Bell sales consequently fell like rock. CPQ, DELL, & HWP, maybe even IBM are ones who know that they MUST provide adequate hand-holding for PC buyers. PC's are just too complex, especially now-days. Guess who took market share from Packard Bell?
DK |
