Vendors

Artner's article was good. I take steps to limit the number of vendor representatives, and establish an agenda. I find no need to use scare tactics. Research is done in advance; the web is a good resource as is the telephone. I specify one salesand one technical representative. I insist on a senior technical consultant. Over the years, I have learned more from interaction with those senior consultants than most classes I have attended. I strive to establish a good rapport with the technical consultant and explore the service offered by the vendor. After all, if you buy a product, you buy in to their service (help) support. All vendors, like customers, are not equal, nor are they innately evil or set on "just a sale."