Those disto things

[matt_johnson]

Pat,

The agreement doesn't get in the way of anything. In fact, it gets us "more in the loop", and in a better position to improve the products for appraisers.

As I've said before, a DISTO is normally replaced 2 to 3 years after it is released. That isn't a trade secret. With that in mind, here's when you can expect replacements for current products:

DISTO A2 -- Released 09/06. New product in late 2008 or 2009.

DISTO A3 -- Released in 10/05. New product in late 2007 or 2008

DISTO A5 -- Released in 10/05. New product in late 2007 or 2008

DISTO A6 -- Released in 06/06. New product mid 2008 or 2009

DISTO A8 -- Released 11/06. New product in late 2008 or 2009


When we get details on new products, we'll release them as soon as Leica says we can. Of course, that goes for all dealers, even if they aren't involved in product development or under an NDA. For those that disclose information early, they run the risk of losing their DISTO dealerships. It's sort of like hitting a number for a lender. You can do it, but you run the risk of getting caught. If caught, you may lose everything. The risk/reward just doesn't make sense.

 

[Pat Butler]

Pat,

The agreement doesn't get in the way of anything. In fact, it gets us "more in the loop", and in a better position to improve the products for appraisers.

That's just not true! You were still selling the old Disto to your customers along with an add-on scope for some outrageously high price just before the new Disto with the built-in scope came out. My dealer told me to wait and not waste my money on the combo package (Disto + scope.) He saved me money.

Your NDA kept you from being able to tell your customers to wait also. So the fact that you are one of the largest Disto dealers was a huge disadvantage because you had more loyalty to Leica than other Leica dealers who didn't have such loyalty and were willing to save their customers money.

Not only that, but that also placed you in a position where you have a larger amount of product to stock and that gave you less incentive to tell your customers to wait because you would have had a bunch of scopes sitting around that would have been useless in the future. So you kept pushing the old product while I found a local dealer who gave me a tour of his store room and discussed the upcoming Disto release and told me to wait.

from your website-

Unlike our competitors, we provide support based on our field experience with the DISTO. We don’t read from scripts. When you call us for help with your DISTO, we know exactly how you should use the DISTO every day. We understand your needs and can give you all kinds of time-saving field tips specific to your work. No other company can even come close

What a flat out lie! The guy who sold me my Disto was a registered land surveyor. Good luck matching his knowledge with surveying. This guy had been using the Disto ever since it came out. When I picked it up he took me into his stock room and showed me how to use it. He didn't need a script either- I actually met him in person- not a virtual store on the Internet.

If you remember, our 'relationship' started when you bashed the company that I bought my Disto from. So long as you have the attitude that your competitors are inferior to you, you'll get a response from me.

Incidently, you're lucky that Wayne lets you violate the rules of this forum by using it for your own personal promotion.

 

[Head Surfer]

This one is locked.

Pat, we have been over this before, please don't beat a dead horse. You and Matt disagree on something. Let it go.