I should probably keep quiet, but:

Kristen, please don't take offense -- Steven's been great to us, I know -- but he's starting to sound like a used car salesman.

After I saw Kristen's post, I had thought you'd actually feel happy knowing that you are apparently valued enough that he's willing to do what he can to try to make his offer more tempting.

I mean he should just make us his best offer. I don't think we should have to haggle or threaten to walk.

I don't think you are haggling or threatening, and I personally don't see that anyone's forcing you into such a situation. If you feel that way, I'm sorry, but know that that's never been our intention. You decided before the stated deadline to go elsewhere. You don't *have* to do anything but whatever is the right decision for you. All that was being asked was that you do it in enough time to allow him to work with *his* suppliers. At the time, that was his best offer. Now, apparently, he has more wiggle room. His situation has changed.

You don't have to like or choose the Fangeek/IH offer. But I really don't think there's been anything shady, sneaky, under-handed or whatever about it. I'm not offended or hurt or anything by any of the posts, but I just had to pipe up for the service that we -- and, in INCREDIBLY large part (I mean 99%) -- Kristen and Steven have provided. Our environment may not end up being the one that will suit your needs, but we've been upfront with you guys every step of the way.

How long's this offer for, Kristen?

I personally think we should go for it. It sounds a lot better than what we've got now.

I had thought you'd actually feel happy knowing that you are apparently valued enough that he's willing to do what he can to try to make his offer more tempting.

I was. I am.

How long's this offer for, Kristen?

I'm not sure. He's checking to see how long he can get the same price on the hardware. I'm hoping for Tuesday or Wednesday.

Also, on the commitment front, with a higher setup fee [$250 as opposed to $100], we can do a month-to-month agreement. I would, however, want to change the TOS to add in a 60-day notice requirement of cancellation.

As far as I can tell, Steven has little motivation to not cut his stressy lossy with us, so I don't see anything shady about the offer. Extra memory is always great, but I wish the incentives had been a discount.

But whatever. We have another offer, and we have another deadline. Let us consider. Yeah -- what is the deadline?

But I really don't think there's been anything shady, sneaky, under-handed or whatever about it.

That's not what I meant at all, although I see why you'd think I did. We said we didn't want his offer and he came back with a better one. That's a form of haggling in my book. YHMV.

His situation has changed.

C'mon. What could have possibly changed in the course of an hour or two? I'm willing to be convinced, but I find it hard to believe.

C'mon. What could have possibly changed in the course of an hour or two?

Jon, really don't want to be rude, but I'm reading you as pretty confrontational. Could you rephrase?

OK, before people jump on me, I can see how he might have gotten a time-sensitive deal on hardware and only just found out that he could get a better deal. I apologize. It's Friday afternoon and I'm not thinking (or writing) as clearly as I should be.

Seriously though, why would we want a bigger drive and more memory? Aren't we still better off with iStrata?

Snerk. Okay, how 'bout as people jump on you?

Heh. You were right though, Helen. It's just that whenever I hear one of those "Now! For a limited time!" type offers, my sceptic-o-meter jumps into the red. Doesn't mean that there aren't occasionally good reasons for the deadline.