RE: Change a Serial Number?

["Jeff Crosby" <jlcrosby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dennis wrote:

> I recently had Service Director report a problem & the serial 
> number of the 3570 reported to IBM was incorrect.  Where is 
> SD getting its info?  When I printed out my hardware 
> resources, it is also wrong there.  How do I go about getting 
> the last digit of the serial number changed from a 6 to an 8?
> IBM wants to bill me to work on the unit because the serial 
> numbers don't match.

I don't have good news for you.  I had a similar problem 3 years ago when I
installed an iSeries 270 (RISC) to replace a model 300 (CISC).  The 3570 had
already been installed on the CISC.

The rack config printout I gave to the BP stated one S/N which is what they
quoted be a price on.  IBM had a different S/N recorded.  The bottom of the
tape drive states one S/N but a different S/N is visible on the inside ONLY
IF THE CE REMOVES THE COVER.  The BP claimed it was my fault because I
"provided the wrong S/N" on the rack config.  My contention was 1) how the
h*ll am I as a customer supposed to know there is a different S/N on the
inside? and 2) I didn't have the foggiest clue how to get any S/N onto the
rack config.  The difference was $3000 in maintenance.

To make a long story short, the BP had already made 2 other
omissions/mistakes that had cost my company extra money after the buy
decision had been made, so I put my foot down.  I had to write a 2-page
letter to an IBM ombudsman and ultimately the BP decided to eat the cost
difference.  But they also decided to quit doing business with my company.
The sales rep was a gentleman I had known for 25 years starting with his
days as an IBM SE.  It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth because I don't
know how I could have prevented the whole situation.

-- 
Jeff Crosby
Dilgard Frozen Foods, Inc.
P.O. Box 13369
Ft. Wayne, IN 46868-3369
260-422-7531

The opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily the opinion of my
company.  Unless I say so.