Sun MicroSystems Lost My Business

Yesterday afternoon I was trying to purchase an entry-level rack mount server for a project my company is working on. Initially I was planning on purchasing a Dell (out of convenience) but on a whim I decided to investigate what HP and IBM where offering. I quickly ruled out HP, as they don't sell servers direct in Canada and IBM was in my opinion was over priced for what I needed. I was resolved once again to purchasing from Dell when I just remember that Sun now offers reasonably prices Windows and Linux servers. So off to Sun's website (Canadian Site) I go. Unfortunately Sun's Canadian web site didn't seem to offer online direct sales so I called them instead with some pre sales questions. Despite my pre sales questions I was already convinced I wanted a Sun server too bad Sun wouldn't sell it to me.

The phone is dialing and after a few rings an operator answers. She was very polite and articulate and at this point in my Sun experience I was impressed. I explained I wanted to purchase a server and that I would need to talk to a sales rep first to ask some questions. The nice operator replied that all their sales reps where in some sort of meeting. That’s right! All the sales reps where in a meeting and therefore couldn't TAKE MY MONEY! I was offered to leave them a message and promised someone get back to me soon. The problem was I wanted to buy a server right away and I don't have to time to wait around for someone to call me back.

Next I decided to call Sun's Ottawa's sales office at it was next closest office to Toronto where I am located. Once again I was greeted with a pleasant and intelligent sounding operator. She asked where I was from and I said Toronto. She told me I would have to call the Toronto office, as that was the territory I was in. I explained to the problem I had with the Toronto office and said I just need to speak with a sales rep. Well guess what? All the Ottawa sales reps where also in some meeting as well. What kind of business cuts of their sales avenue at 2 pm on weekday? Sun MicroSystems.

Now I was only planning on spending $2000 with Sun for the server I needed. So losing my business is probably not going to dent their bottom line. If this type of service is typical of Sun well then shame on them. To conclude my story I ended up purchasing my server from Dell with zero hassle and in less than 10 minutes.