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From: rupp@cod.NOSC.MIL (William L. Rupp)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Atari's Marketing Approach
Message-ID: <909@cod.NOSC.MIL>
Date: Thu, 3-Dec-87 17:15:43 EST
Article-I.D.: cod.909
Posted: Thu Dec  3 17:15:43 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 7-Dec-87 06:40:16 EST
References: <8711301706.AA18559@cory.Berkeley.EDU> <899@atari.UUCP>
Reply-To: rupp@cod.nosc.mil.UUCP (William L. Rupp)
Organization: Computer Sciences Corp., San Diego
Lines: 49

In article <899@atari.UUCP> neil@atari.UUCP (Neil Harris) writes:
   
   >>The reason for the ad policy is simple. We have plenty of game machines and
   >>terrific distribution for them.  So we advertise heavily.  On the computer
   >>side, the distribution is not as strong and we're pretty much sold out of
   >>product this season.  Why advertise if the consumer is unlikely to find the
   >>machine available?
   >>-- 
   >>--->Neil Harris, Director of Marketing Communications, Atari Corporation
   >
   >

Well, I give Mr. Harris a lot of credit for publicly signing his name to so
preposterous/humorous a statement!  What does it boil down to?  This:

   1. We push our game machines because we have a lot of them.

   2. We don't push the computers because we don't have a lot of them.

   3. Anyway, if we *did* push the computers, people would be really
      sad because of point #2.

   4. We are unconcerned that continued lack of publicity for the computer
      line may tend to:

        (a) preclude winning any new customers, and
        (b) dry up whatever interest that has been generated despite
            Atari's non-existant advertising for the product.

As Dr. Venckman said in "Ghost Busters" to the possessed Sigourney Weaver when
the later asked "Do you want this body?", IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION??

Mr. Harris, pardon me, but is it conceivable that you *would* be able to
advertise (and sell) more ST's and other Atari computers if you *built more
of them*?!  

I don't think anyone would blame Atari for advertising their most profitable
products.  The question that you have raised in my mind is,  are
you serious about selling Atari computers?  If Atari is serious, then
produce more units and advertise more vigorously.  If you do not feel that
that policy is viable, then I have to question why you continue to carry
microcomputers in your product line.

Bill
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I speak for myself, and not on behalf of any other person or organization
.........................How's that, Gary?

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