Stop Core

So things are getting slightly ridiculous. RJ Van Spaandonk, after his meltdown on Twitter on Tuesday came back this weekend in a column in “The Weekender”, the transcript of which you can find here. I need to say that this is the LAST time we will mention RJ in this blog as frankly we’re not going to get called out by his taunts and come across like the acrimonious nut jobs that we’ve been painted as. You need to ask yourself an important question, why would we feel the need to be vindictive and to grind an axe? Frankly all we want is some interaction with Core.

RJ goes on to explain how he was ripped apart online and recommends businesses shouldn’t interact with their customers online as they will just be malicious without any recourse. As an example, RJ talks about how most of his comments were taken out of context as only half of his purposefully sarcastic comments were shown as an example rather than the entire conversation. The simple fact of the matter is that we at Stopcore cannot show you the entire conversation and this is purely because we’ve been blocked from seeing his Twitter stream. Here’s the thing, this is not a way to engage with your customers. Honesty and openness will go much further than your taunts RJ.

I’m sorry, but the simple truth is when someone goes as far as to create a blog with the terms “stop” and your company name, you’ve probably upset a large amount of people. What this means is that engaging with them in a sarcastic manner (as smart and paradigm changing as you think it is) is not smart as you’re dealing with people who don’t find that funny. RJ talks about how business should not interact with their customers online as “I learned to my detriment that tyrants lurk around, trying to exploit your every mishap, and Twitter has rapidly become, like unmoderated blogs before it, the preserve of anonymous agitators trying to look clever at the expense of others.” This is absolutely rubbish. If you look at the likes of Dell, that have interacted online with their customers and created brand loyal customers. If I’ve managed to learn anything about people that complain online, all they need is honest interaction to change their tune. The thing you’ve misunderstood RJ, is that us “vindictive agitators” are actually terribly fickle and all we want is some honest, humble interaction rather than what you’ve described as “my brilliance”. I mean who even writes about themselves with terms like that?

Were you to interact with us in the same way you romance the traditional media, you’ll find we have the potential to be your biggest supporters and to grow your business even further.

The comment about how Apple is only 12.5% more expensive than in the US is illogical as well. Using the example of forward cover being set at nine rand when the actual exchange rate is just under 8 still does not add up. The amount (for a 15-Inch MBP 2.5Ghz at the R9.01 exchange) comes to R15291 for the unit (this is retail pricing not wholesale that Core pays) and even at ten rand to the dollar the amount comes to R17000. Now if you do the math and divide R20999 by R17000 you get a twenty percent markup. Now maybe since we’re a bunch of “vindictive” bloggers we’re obviously useless at maths but the simple fact is 12,5% and 20% are not equal. From my inquiries with importers Forward Cover it’s only worth getting if you’re getting paid over 6-months later as in general, this is the only length of time where the exchange rate will fluctuate dramatically. I’ve also been told that forward cover adds around 7% on to the cost so this makes me wonder where RJ gets his nine rand to the dollar figure. While this seven percent does technically add up to our twenty percent markup this is purely convenient (and incorrect) maths. Even if it were correct maths there would be two issues to consider here. The first issue is why should we as the consumer have to cover your long stock holding times (I mentioned it only makes sense to take forward cover for Core as their expensive products sit on their shelves for months) and secondly this amount makes sense on the retail, not wholesale price that Core gets their products at. When you take a lower wholesale price the cost is lower thus the Forward Cover percentage markup is on a lower amount meaning that there should be a less than 20% markup. It also means there is a lower VAT amount paid. The simple fact is, if Forward Cover is causing you such a hassle surely you’ve considered negotiating with the banks to lower the rate based on the amounts of money you bring in? If you want some help, I know people that import products and sell them at a lower rate than their competitors and still manage to live very comfortably. I say this in the most honest and not sarcastic tone possible if anyone has possibly made that mistake in confusing my tone.

The simple (and final) word on this is as such: stop with your and I quote “sarcasm” RJ, it’s not particularly helping endear yourself to anyone and more importantly it seems to have permeated your entire organisation. You’ve created a company that has made people grateful for being ripped off and having constantly bad service. The sad thing is you’re sitting on the biggest PR win in the entire country if only you engage us honestly. The thousands of people coming to this site and other blogs and forums are your customers and could be the best brand ambassadors you’ll ever have. Your sudden need to defend yourself shows only one thing: we are getting under your skin. The simplest and most elegant comment I’ve heard on your latest outburst is this: re: RJ – As they say, “a poor workman always blames his tool” and that is the final comment we will have in this frankly childish war of words.

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