VAIT decides to boycott HP programs

DQW News Bureau, Chennai, July 14

Vellore Association for Information
Technology (VAIT) has decided to boycott all HP programs in Chennai, as
the vendor has not given channel partners their due respect. In fact, VAIT
members collectively boycotted an IPG training program, conducted recently by HP
in Vellore, and said it would step up the campaign if the vendor does not
address the issues at the earliest.

The issue began when HP recently brought in a new player - Jai Infotech,
from Pondicherry to open an HP Premium Retail Store in Vellore. Mean-while, it
is understood that HP has ignored its autho-rized channel partners and other key
resellers (most of them are VAIT members) while extending the invitation for an
IPG training program. Finally, HP has not paid VAIT the sponsorship amount of Rs
65,000 for participating in last year's expo.

“HP has completely forgotten and sidelined the channel partners who worked
for the company's growth here. All of a sudden it is bringing a new retailer
to the city from Pondicherry and supporting him in business. What have we done
to them (HP) except support and help them grow their business here?”
questioned A Venkat of Computer Care, one of the key members of VAIT. “HP
should have first offered us the chance to open a retail store here, before
going to a Pondi-cherry-based reseller.”

Intech Computers, Net-sys Technology and Scott Systems are the three HP
authorized channel part-ners in Vellore, while other key resellers such as
Vasavi Computer Academy, Com-puter Care and Vellore Online Systems are also
actively involved in pro-moting HP products in the local market.

“It was shocking news for all of us when HP opened a retail store here in
association with Pondicherry-based Jai Infotech. HP has never contacted us for
this purpose and we would be more than willing to do that for them. But, the
company completely igno-red all the authorized channel partners here,”
in-formed C Arumugam, Dir-ector, Intech Computers.

“We all worked as a team for HP. But, it is very unfortunate that HP is now
sidelining us. As a result, we have decided to boycott all HP programs here.
VAIT is quite resol-ved in this issue and we will step up our campaign against
HP in the coming months, if we do not get a proper response from them,” said P
Shrikanth, who is on the advisory board of VAIT.

However, HP is tight-lipped on this issue and when The DQ week contacted the
company's regional representative in Chennai, he said, “At this moment I
cannot comment on the issue and I am not authorized to speak to the press
also.”

According to market sources, VAIT, in the next stage, would request its
members to promote com-petitor brands of HP in business. “VAIT will meet this
Sunday to discuss the next course of action. In fact, initially we tried to
resolve this issue amicably with HP, talking to their regional representatives.
As we did not get a proper response, we decided to take up the protest mode. We
hope HP is watching the developments and the company's seniors would act fast
and find a solution,” said M Kumaran, President, VAIT.

In fact, soon after their first protest (boycott), VAIT was able to get its
pending payment from HP, for last year's expo sponsorship. Now it is HP's
turn to react to the market developments. And it is a wait-and-watch situation
here.