that which has no value...

'we can be as low-cost as anyone in this business.' -- the old man.

that's not the story. that's just something the old man said recently that really sums up asinine, inc's approach to business -- charge less.

don't make the best quality software. don't offer the best technical support options. don't deliver on time. just charge less. we do a lot of stuff for free that most (all) other software companies would (justifiably) charge for, and when someone says, 'hey, we could charge for this,' there is a lecture about how sometimes you have to do free stuff to create customer goodwill, and we 'don't understand the business side of things.'

not long ago, a customer called in and asked for an enhancement. kelly forwarded the request on to people who make decisions and told the guy he would hear from them soon. the guy was emailing every day -- he was very excited about the enhancement, and had even gone so far as to come up with a design.

he specified, repeatedly, that he was willing to pay for this enhancement.

the decisionmakers decided it would be better to put this enhancement in, for free, 'by the end of the year.'

the guy said he would pay to get it in sooner.

asinine, inc said 'no thanks.'

(pause)

the guy also asked for two other enhancements. he was willing to pay for those as well.

we're making them a part of the original enhancement request and doing them for free.

(pause)

nothing says, 'our product is worthless' like an unwillingness to accept payment for it.