Websense to raise UK prices 15 per cent

Resellers informed of imminent price hike, ChannelWeb can reveal

Money troubles: Exchange rate fluctations reportedly prompted Websense to raise its prices across Europe

Exchange rate fluctuations have provoked web-filtering vendor Websense to raise its prices for UK partners by 15 per cent, ChannelWeb has learned.

Resellers were contacted this week via distributors Computerlinks and e92plus and informed that prices will go up from 16 August. Quotes issued prior to that date will be honoured if orders are placed before the end of the month.

Prices in eurozone countries are to go up five per cent. Price lists containing updated information will be published and given to partners in the near future.

The price hike is reportedly designed "to support adjustments in international currency rates". VARs are also assured that the changes "do not alter the margin structure to Websense partners".

Miles Rippon, vice president of worldwide channels at rival Clearswift, criticised the price hike and claimed competing vendors would benefit. Channel partners will be the ones to suffer the most, he added.

"Every customer I have been to see recently has received cuts in their budget or is expecting them," he said. "In these challenging times, it is vendors' responsibility to look at creative ways to reduce cost or add more value.

"Hiking up prices does not help customers in this climate and puts enormous pressure on the partners, as they will have to take the hit. The real crime is trying to slip this out during the summer vacation."

Jonathan Lassman, managing director of gold partner NTS, was unruffled by the increase. He claimed that vendor price lists are effectively irrelevant.

"I have not looked at a retail price for over a year," he said. "You can quote whatever price you want, if there is a deal to be done, the deal gets done. The market has a price, and it will buy at that price."

Websense declined to comment.