
Apple Takes Farm Market from Gateway
Apple recently started a campaign just like it did with schools, only
this time with farms. "We were wondering what to do with all the Apple II's
we still had in storage." said company spokesman, Mike Filler. "So we talked to Guy Kawaski and he said lets market them to the farms, and so we did."
The promotion was a huge success. With the number of Apple II computers Apple
had in storage, that model is slated to be the top of the line seller for 1996.
Gateway 2000, formally holding the farm market, under its, "We Love Cows So Buy
Our Computers" slogan was in shock when they heard what Apple was doing. "We were shocked. We never ever considered Apple II computers would be competing with our
systems." said CEO Ted Waitt. When asked when they were going to recover the market Ted said, "We think the big turn over to the Apple II's is the 5 1/4 drive system along with
the green monitors. So, we have decided to put dual 5 1/4 drive systems on each Gateway computer, and each system will come with a green monitor."
"With the popularity and environmental friendly aspects of 'green' monitors, we knew our our Apple II green monitors would be a real hit with the farming market." commented Filler.
Jack Rosher, a wheat farmer in Salina, KS told us, "It really had nothing to do with the larger 5 1/4 drive system or the green monitors, it was dependability. We all agreed that the problems we had with our Gateway systems was the major cause of our 'less than expected' yields over the last 3 years. Apple approached us and we said YES. Plus, who could really turn down that beep it makes when you turn it on."
Apple Computer really knows the heart of the American farmer.
- Web Banner News © 1996
Guest Editorial - Gateway Sucks
by Ken
I am a former management staff of Gateway, when I got my system the keyboard was DOA and they didn't ship the microphone for the modem. I have a G-6 200 the basic flagship of the company, I was a little disappointed in the Quality checks.
As to tech support most techs try very hard to satisfy the customer. The techs are among the lowest paid employees of equal position. They start at $8.00, $8.80 or on occaision up to $10.00, Their salary ranges up to near $13.50 for a grade 29 (TSP) but Gateway has some 80% of all it's employees at the lowest end of their respective grades. The average tenure of a tech is just over 7 months. - Who can blame them when Sprint starts the equivilant position at $12.00 /hr. Most of our former techs have increased their incomes $5.00/hr or more after leaving.
Gateway provides little to no long term incentive to stay, a poor benefits program - they contribute 25% of 1%, max of 4% towards a matching 401k plan. - at a management level and a 2 year employee with no performance issues that amounted to about $300. compared to the $2200+ I put in.
As to employee purchases we are offered 5% discount - that use to be only on the factory outlet systems but they finally expanded it - and they do offer no interest payrole deduction for either 1 or 2 years ( a nice feature). On 1/2/97 there will be an overhaul of the benefits.
The new employee purchase will be 15% discount for employees after 5 years tenure - who makes it that long?
Maybe there is hope for the other inadequacies. They say they will pay the KC employees more, in comparison to the job market we are in, making us competitive with the industries in KC. As of yet this is only a promise from Ted hopefully they will deliver.
There are many other issues at Gateway but the efforts of most of the techs are not one of them.

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