[ubuntu-uk] Ubuntu - Wrong Direction?

Gareth France gareth.france at gmail.com
Fri Dec 2 12:30:57 UTC 2011


I have also now applied to the partner program. My problem has been that I
can't even find someone in Canonical to tell me what I should be doing or
applying to. 2 email pasted below.

Petra,
Thank you for your reply. Although I understand the reasoning behind the
move to cut back on CD distribution I recently chanced upon somebody
selling home made copies at a computer fair. Although he was only covering
his costs it simply looks very poor and in a world where copied software
is pirated software most people won't trust it.

I am looking to retail systems with Ubuntu on and I think that having
professionally produced copies available for new users to purchase will do
a lot to boost my credibility. I will be making a purchase soon and hope
to make a small contribution to the userbase over the coming months.

Regards
Gareth> Dear Gareth,>> Mu appologies for a late reply.>> It's with
some regret that we announced the end of ShipIt programme a> while ago
and> with it the end of our official CD Distributor Programme.
Unfortunately> this is the reason why the link is not> working anymore
and I will make sure we update the FAQ page on the shop to> reflect
this.>> When we started the programme some time ago it was with the
intention of> helping get CD's to those areas where there there is
little or no Internet> connectivity making it impossible for users to
have Ubuntu. Since then we> have> shipped millions of CDs and brought
Ubuntu into the lives of millions of> individuals, we hope making them
a little better!>> Technology moves on and as we look at ways to
spread Ubuntu further, a CD> distribution programme makes less and
less sense.>> Of course, every person who has a CD is a potential
distributor---it is> after all free to copy, modify and redistribute.
We will> also continue to make the packs available through the store
which are sold> more or less at cost price (plus shipping).>> More
information can be found in this blog post about the end of Shipit.>
http://blog.canonical.com/?p=551>> We would like to thank you for your
interest in applying and you support> of Ubuntu, we> hope you can
continue your relationship with Canonical and Ubuntu in other> ways!>>
Also if you would like to buy and resell CD's that's absolutely
fine.>> Kind regards,> Petra Puchelova> Sales&  Business Development
Team>>>>           GARETH FRANCE2011-11-14 12:47:41>>> Amiee-leigh,> I
was just wondering how long it will be until I am contacted. I am
keen> to gather answers to my questions and have some more related to>
business. I am due to begin trading soon and require clarity with>
regards to what I may and may not do.>> Thanks> Gareth>>> Thanks!>
Aimee-Leigh>> On Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 12:35 PM, Aimee-Leigh>
<aimee-leigh at merchandisemania.co.uk
<http://cliftonts.co.uk:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=aimee-leigh%40merchandisemania.co.uk>>
<mailto:aimee-leigh at merchandisemania.co.uk
<http://cliftonts.co.uk:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=aimee-leigh@merchandisemania.co.uk>>>
wrote:>>     Hi Petra>>     Please advise>>>               Gareth
France>
<http://shop.canonical.com/squidge/customers.php?search=sales%40cliftonts.co.uk>>>
    sales at cliftonts.co.uk
<http://cliftonts.co.uk:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=sales%40cliftonts.co.uk>
<mailto:sales at cliftonts.co.uk
<http://cliftonts.co.uk:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=sales@cliftonts.co.uk>>>>>
              GARETH FRANCE2011-10-29 14:47:58>>>     Dear Sir,>     I
was very disappointed to read in your FAQ that you do not offer>
any discounts for bulk sales to retailers. I am in the process of>
setting up an IT support and sales business based around Ubuntu and>
  I feel that the contents of the Ubuntu shop would add a valuable>
 sense of identity if offered alongside my hardware.>>     I am also
interested in offering pre-burned copies of Ubuntu and>     Kubuntu in
the hope of converting those who do not need new>     hardware. The
link in your FAQ regrding registering to offer CDs>     does not work.
It also states this is for offering CDs via a>     website, rather
than in person. I would like to know where I stand>     on pricing
them, if I were to order some can I sell them on? If so>     may I
make a reasonable profit to reflect the effort and stock space>
taken or would they need to be sold on at cost?>>     Regards>
Gareth>>>>     *Q. How do I become an official Ubuntu CD
Distributor?*>     A. Our CD Distributor programme is open to
registered businesses>     that have the facilities in place to sell
official Ubuntu CDs from>     their website to end users. If you feel
that you meet these criteria>     and would like to become an
authorised distributor of Ubuntu CDs,>     please fill out
thisapplication form>
<https://forms.canonical.com/cddistributor>.>>     This link does not
work.>>     -->     Kind Regards>>     Aimee-Leigh Brown>     Customer
Services Representative>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------>>
    6 Elstree Way>     Borehamwood>     Herts>     WD6 1RN>     United
Kingdom>>     t. 0845 202 2388>     f. 0845 202 2389>>>     e.
aimee-leigh at merchandisemania.co.uk
<http://cliftonts.co.uk:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=aimee-leigh%40merchandisemania.co.uk>>
    <mailto:aimee-leigh at merchandisemania.co.uk
<http://cliftonts.co.uk:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=aimee-leigh@merchandisemania.co.uk>>>
    url. www.merchandisemania.co.uk
<http://www.merchandisemania.co.uk>>>     6 Elstree Way>
Borehamwood>     Herts>     WD6 1RN>     United Kingdom>>     t. 0845
202 2388>     f. 0845 202 2389>>>>     url. www.recycledmania.com
<http://www.recycledmania.com>>>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------>
    *>>     Disclaimer - This e-mail and any attachments is intended
for the>     named addressee only. It contains information which is
confidential>     and which may also be privileged. If an addressing
or transmission>     error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify
the author by>     replying to this e-mail. If you are not the
intended recipient you>     must not use disclose distribute copy
print or rely on this e-mail.>>     Although this e-mail and its
attachments are believed to be free>     from any virus, it is the
responsibility of the recipient to ensure>     they are virus free.>>
   Merchandise Mania Ltd is Registered in the UK.>     6 Elstree Way,
Borehamwood, Herts, WD6 1RN.>     Company Reg No. 3957211>     VAT Reg
No. 752 4755 18>     *>>>

Dear Cezzaine,
Having phoned up earlier today I understand part of my query was relayed
to you, although not entirely accurately. I had expressed disappointment
at the fact bulk orders are not available on the merchandise sold in the
web store. I feel great value would be added to the Ubuntu brand if
retailers were able to offer the clothing, mice, usb sticks etc. However I
am not challenging this, simply expressing my opinion.

I contacted Canonical as I am in the process of redeveloping my business
to offer Ubuntu pre-installed on new and second user systems at local
computer fairs. I feel this is a neccesary step towards gaining a
reasonable share of the desktop market and hope in time to work towards
acquiring a shop to base my efforts from.

However I do not feel I can make a polished and professional looking sales
point without proper POS materials, I was wondering if this is something
you can provide to retailers? If not would there be any issues with me
using the Ubuntu logos on banners, window stickers etc which I had
designed myself?

Further to this I note that I may buy the pre-recorded live CDs from the
web store in bulk, may I resell these to my customers? If so what are the
rules regarding pricing on these?

I am also interested in any support services offered to system builders/IT
technicians, for instance as an IT technician supporting home users could
I subscribe to a support package such as Advantage in order to gain help
when supporting my customers? Would I be able to resell Advantage and the
Home Support package I have just noticed (Which I'm sure wasn't there last
week!)

Is there any other support offered to people in my situation?

I do hope you are able to assist me with some of this as I feel Ubuntu is
on the verge of something great, and I'd like to be part of that.

Regards
Gareth France
Clifton Test Services



On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 12:23 PM, Alan Bell <alanbell at ubuntu.com> wrote:

> On 02/12/11 12:19, Gareth France wrote:
>
>> However I've been waiting since the 14th November.
>>
> can you forward me the email please.
>
> Alan.
>
> --
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