> > Since they don't know what the the firewall does nor how it works I
> > guess they depend on some sales rep or consultant's opinion to make
them
> > feel happy. Not a smart consumer in my book.
Rick responded:
>
> How is that any different than someone coming to this list to ask
> an opinion? I mean isn't this what professionals are for? To
> answer questions and solve problems for things that you may not
> be as qualified to answer or solve on your own?
The other thing to remember is that a salesman is a professional also. It
doesnt much matter whether you wear a suit or a sweatshirt, professionals
come in all shapes and sizes and flavours. Some salesmen are very good
technically and some engineers are very poor.
Some consultants are highly experienced and technically competent, but
some are very underskilled (accept in charging for their time). Frequently
the least skilled consultants are employed by the large consultancies who
cant afford to hire good people after they have invested in lavish offices
because there is only so far that you can screw a client.
Being an engineering professional doesnt guarantee that your opinions are
worth hearing and being a salesman doesnt guarantee that you are not
highly competent in every area of your job.
OTOH many vendors seem to go out of their way to hire sleezeballs, with a
single brain cell (shared between several), and the technical knowledge of
an earth worm, to staff their sales operation although that may just
reflect the capabilities of the senior management who naturally dont want
to be mentally challenged by subordinates.
The drive to cut costs in sales and marketing has also encouraged the
employment of the unskilled who are given a sales script to work from
presumably in the belief that the technique has been proven in telesales
operations.
Ian J-B.
References:
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