Midwich Thame and QMS Clash Over Leads

QMS denies allegations as reseller claims QMS contractor passed on sales information to rival

A row has erupted between peripherals distributor Midwich Thame and printer vendor QMS, after a reseller alleged that a company contracted to QMS for installation was passing on sales leads.

Richard Palmer, director of reseller EDR, claimed that Computer Repair Centre (CRC), which has an exclusive contract to install printers for QMS, passed on his client?s details to a rival reseller, AMV Supplies. Palmer also alleged that AMV Supplies undercut him on a deal, costing him about #900 per month in lost business, as AMV Supplies buys consumables from QMS at cost.

One source claimed it was widely believed that Alistair McDonald, MD at AMV, still has access to CRC?s database. McDonald is an ex-employee of CRC. ?McDonald and AMV always claim that they?re not using the QMS installed base, but no one has ever believed tham. There have been instances of this happening before,? he said.

McDonald confirmed he had bought consumables direct from QMS, but dismissed the allegations as ?absolute nonsense. We don?t have any information on CRC whatsoever.?

Nick Pye, managing director of Midwich Thame, said: ?We?ve made it clear to QMS that we?re not happy about this sort of thing. However, we firmly believe that our relationship is strong enough for QMS to take action to prevent this kind of occurrence.?

Tim Brown, QMS UK marketing manager, said: ?CRC does not recommend any suppliers of QMS consumables. In line with all other printer manufacturers, we sell to consumables distributors, many of which have user divisions.?