05-06-2008, 11:18 PM
I'm really annoyed now, and I could use some advice from people who are familiar with IT stuff. Please take the time to read this story and get annoyed as well.
A few of you might remember that a few months ago, I asked what the best way to install wi-fi in a building is. You guys gave decent answers, thanks. In the end, the project was left to the EDP (Electronic Data Processing) guy, because he just sits on his butt all day and maintains the programs he supposedly created but probably stole from some other EDP guy. I'm the marketing manager for the company.
Anyway, for this building wi-fi project, the EDP was supposed to canvas and look for companies who can supply the equipment and set-up the wi-fi network. It was an easy project, as each floor in the building already had an existing router, and each room had a LAN port. I was given the assignment to just make sure that the company he chose was competent, which was what I did by bringing my laptop and testing the wireless connection on the test floors. It worked, and I told the EDP guy it worked, so good.
Now, for the problem.
When we got the bill, the equipment cost went like this:
3 units 8-port network switch, 1750 ea.
48 units for an AP bridge and repeater in one, 5,200 ea.
41 units 4dBi antennas, 5,500 ea.
All the equipment was manufactured by a company called ZyXel, which I've never heard of before. The total price was around half a million, which was shocking for a building with 15 floors. That would be about 3 APs per floor, with only one antenna each.
Because I was so surprised at the cost and the nature of how he intended to enact the project, I did my own canvassing.
The cost for similar products from PC Express or sellers on tipidpc.com went like this:
3 units 8-port network switch, 710 ea.
15 units Linksys access points, 2000 pesos ea.
15 units 9dBi antennas, 1,400 ea.*
30 units Linksys repeaters, 3000 ea.
* Yes, antennas with twice the signal strength actually costs less than half of what the fucktard quoted.
What the mess is all about
Naturally, I raised the issue of pricing (when it wasn't even my job to do the canvassing) with the bosses. What the EDP guy said in his defense surprised me. He said that he had already received the overpriced items from the company he supposedly canvased for, and that they were demanding payment already because the items were in the building.
To put it in perspective, this is what he wanted: EVERY FLOOR = 3 ACCESS POINTS, 3 5k peso antennas
cost = 30k PER FLOOR
He also wanted a wireless gateway which costs 46K
This is what I wanted = 1 AP, 1 Antenna, 2 extenders
cost = 9.4k PER FLOOR
I found the same gateway he wanted on ebay for 16K.
And now he's blaming ME for authorizing HIM to buy the equipment from that company which he canvassed for. It wasn't my job, nor my responsibility to canvas for companies. Even PC Express and Columbia sold products for only half the price of what he was getting. We have a PC Express branch down the street from our office. What kind of fucktard IT guy doesn't know about these shops, or even about tipidpc.com?! Or even EBAY.
A few of you might remember that a few months ago, I asked what the best way to install wi-fi in a building is. You guys gave decent answers, thanks. In the end, the project was left to the EDP (Electronic Data Processing) guy, because he just sits on his butt all day and maintains the programs he supposedly created but probably stole from some other EDP guy. I'm the marketing manager for the company.
Anyway, for this building wi-fi project, the EDP was supposed to canvas and look for companies who can supply the equipment and set-up the wi-fi network. It was an easy project, as each floor in the building already had an existing router, and each room had a LAN port. I was given the assignment to just make sure that the company he chose was competent, which was what I did by bringing my laptop and testing the wireless connection on the test floors. It worked, and I told the EDP guy it worked, so good.
Now, for the problem.
When we got the bill, the equipment cost went like this:
3 units 8-port network switch, 1750 ea.
48 units for an AP bridge and repeater in one, 5,200 ea.
41 units 4dBi antennas, 5,500 ea.
All the equipment was manufactured by a company called ZyXel, which I've never heard of before. The total price was around half a million, which was shocking for a building with 15 floors. That would be about 3 APs per floor, with only one antenna each.
Because I was so surprised at the cost and the nature of how he intended to enact the project, I did my own canvassing.
The cost for similar products from PC Express or sellers on tipidpc.com went like this:
3 units 8-port network switch, 710 ea.
15 units Linksys access points, 2000 pesos ea.
15 units 9dBi antennas, 1,400 ea.*
30 units Linksys repeaters, 3000 ea.
* Yes, antennas with twice the signal strength actually costs less than half of what the fucktard quoted.
What the mess is all about
Naturally, I raised the issue of pricing (when it wasn't even my job to do the canvassing) with the bosses. What the EDP guy said in his defense surprised me. He said that he had already received the overpriced items from the company he supposedly canvased for, and that they were demanding payment already because the items were in the building.
To put it in perspective, this is what he wanted: EVERY FLOOR = 3 ACCESS POINTS, 3 5k peso antennas
cost = 30k PER FLOOR
He also wanted a wireless gateway which costs 46K
This is what I wanted = 1 AP, 1 Antenna, 2 extenders
cost = 9.4k PER FLOOR
I found the same gateway he wanted on ebay for 16K.
And now he's blaming ME for authorizing HIM to buy the equipment from that company which he canvassed for. It wasn't my job, nor my responsibility to canvas for companies. Even PC Express and Columbia sold products for only half the price of what he was getting. We have a PC Express branch down the street from our office. What kind of fucktard IT guy doesn't know about these shops, or even about tipidpc.com?! Or even EBAY.
