Landis release upsets Bay

Network Distributor forced to send second release over vendor relationship.

Confusion has arisen between Landis and Bay Networks after therelationship. distributor issued a release stating it would receive full vendor support, without the vendor's full confirmation or approval.

In a release issued by Landis on 23 January, Jon Axon, Bay EMEA director of channel sales, was quoted as saying that the distributor was entitled to sell Bay products in the UK and Europe. The release also claimed Landis had submitted a business plan which had been received by Bay Networks on time.

However, David Parker, Bay UK distribution manager, told PC Dealer this week: 'I still have not seen the business plan which was due before Christmas.'

He added: 'Nothing in the press release has been written by Bay. I have been back and told Landis that it was incorrect,' he said.

But Roger Paul, managing director of Landis, was insistent that Bay Networks had full knowledge of the press release, although he was unable to specify who at Bay had given him approval to issue it.

According to Parker, a conversation had taken place between Axon and Paul in which the Bay director said he had not given approval on quotes for the press release.

Axon said: 'The person who approved it did not realise other people at Bay had made a couple of changes.' He blamed crossed wires because of staff being away from the premises.

However, on 2 February, an amended and vendor-approved release said an incremental reseller document - rather than a business plan - promised by Landis UK, was completed and received on schedule.

A reseller letter, signed by Elaine Webb, pan European channel manager at Bay, had also been drawn up at the time of the first release to 'set the record straight'.