Stone targets customers 'left in limbo' after RM exit

Reseller launches PC trade-in scheme and range of incentives to lure RM customers

Education reseller Stone has launched a programme of support designed to aggressively target customers it claims have been left in limbo since its rival RM exited the PC market.

Back in October, RM announced it was going to stop building PCs and would cut 300 staff in an effort to improve profitability in its Education Technology business.

At the time, a number of rival VARs in the education space said they were keen to cash in on the firm's exit and did not rule out looking to hire some of the hundreds of staff that were leaving RM.

But today Stone has gone a step further and has outlined a formal plan to support RM customers.

As part of the transition programme, Stone is offering a trade-in scheme through which customers trading in any working RM PC can get up to £100 off any Stone PC.

Stone is also offering flexible payment plans that give customers the opportunity to get their hands on products ahead of paying for them when they get their budgets.

A maintenance programme for those wishing to continue running RM hardware is also being pushed by Stone, as well as a "vanilla install" scheme which allows customers to replace certain RM networks.

"Stone Group is on a mission to reassure the education industry left in limbo that they are poised to help with ongoing support during this time of change," the reseller said.

"[We are] 100 per cent committed to servicing RM's customers moving forward and providing customers with a comprehensive transition programme."