Bay scolds Landis for pushing its kit

Distribution Landis is selling Bay product, even though it lacks the vendor's authorisation.

Bay Networks has thrown down the gauntlet to Landis after thecks the vendor's authorisation. Dutch-based distributor continued selling the vendor's products, despite assurances to comply with its demands.

Graeme Allan, UK managing director at Bay Networks, previously described a meeting with Landis, which took place over two weeks ago, as positive (PC Dealer, 19 November).

However, Allan said: 'Landis had agreed to come up with a business plan to allow it to sell in the UK, but it failed to do this. I think it intended to do that all along.' He added: 'We are less keen than we were two weeks ago.'

Other vendors, which include Cisco and Ascend, have also voiced their reservations about the distributor since Landis has continued to sell both vendors' products unabated, despite a lack of local authorisation.

Phil Holcroft, UK general manager at Ascend, said: 'We are advising customers in the UK that products bought from Landis cannot be supported by the company.'

Holcroft added: 'Other vendors I have spoken to are very unhappy - they are very much in agreement with me on this.'

Landis launched in the UK more than two weeks ago and has already caused unrest in the channel. Landis managing director, Roger Paul, admitted to poaching staff from Computacenter, while employees have moved from Ilion and Azlan to the distributor.

Paul said: 'I am not aware of anything negative happening with Bay Networks.

In fact, the last meeting I had with Graeme Allan was very positive.'

However, Allan said: 'It is very likely that the Dutch branch will be receiving a call from us for a frank discussion.'

Richard Bradley, channel sales director at Cisco, said: 'Landis is authorised to sell our products in Holland, but it is not authorised to sell our products in the UK.'

He added: 'We are looking at our legal position, which we have been reviewing for some time.