Unity among Kerala resellers a distant dream

Unity among resellers in Kerala looks like an impossible dream even as a new association, Computer Dealers Association of Trivandrum (CDAT), has been formed to take up issues with renewed vigor. The eighty odd members of the association have once again resolved to fight the common issues and problems faced by the reseller community more vigorously than before, according to association president Gokul who is proprietor of Compu-Needs and Secretary S Surie of Misuvi Sales Co.

In fact, it was resentment with the functioning of the All Kerala Computer Products Dealers Association (AKCPDA) headed by John G (Cyber Corporation) formed a decade ago that forced the resellers to form the new outfit. This resentment was expressed by many during the recent executive committee and general body meetings of the association, sources said. 

Some alleged that AKCPDA had not succeeded in uniting even the resellers in Thiruvananthapuram and therefore the name itself was quite misleading. In the new association John G is an executive member, while all the major resellers in Thiruvananthapuram including Logtech Systems, SS United, Addon Technologies are represented. Many resellers have alleged that AKCPDA was not functioning democratically and the same governing body had been controlling the administration ever since inception.

However, John claimed that AKCPDA as an umbrella association is still very much alive and that CDAT and similar associations linked to AKCPDA was functioning from many districts up to central Kerala. 

Resellers agree that an association could be very much useful in fighting the common problems and issues faced by the community with vendors, distributors, manufacturers and the government. But unhealthy competition and infighting has always come in the way of unity. Still others felt that resellers were more concerned about promoting their own individual businesses than dealing with collective
problems.

Earlier, Kochi based All Kerala Computer Manufacturers and Dealers Association (AKCMDA) and AKCPDA were one. But subsequently, computer manufacturers and those based in central Kerala and beyond were grouped under the AKCMDA that now has over 90 members. Both the associations have not stood together when fighting common issues, some resellers alleged. 

CDAT has already taken up the issue of Microsoft raids on resellers to detect unlicensed operating system and software. And the following message has been displayed on resellers belonging to CDAT on their premises: "Warning. Software Piracy is illegal and punishable under criminal act. Use only licensed software. We are not responsible for any illegal software found in your PC". And buyers unwilling to spend money on licensed software has been directed to take home PCs pre-loaded with Linux versions. 

(CNS)