Manufacturers sometimes change versions (chipsets) of various products without changing the product names. Sometimes people want a particular version to work with Linux or open source firmwares and so on. Here is what typically happens if we try to get a particular version:
Email to suppliers:
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Hi guys,
Do you have any of the old D-Link DUB-E100 adapters that look like this? –
NOT this model –
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Normally I’d just get a standard response like “we are shipping the latest version available in Australia” (with no indication which version that might be) but in this case supplier 1 says:
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Thanks for your query. This are the only old models that we stock , Please see details below:
D-LINK USB 2.0 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Adapter
VPN: DUB-E100
2 In Stock in Sydney
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Ok, so I interpret that as meaning they have two. I later look on their website and see they list two of the new model in stock. That’s too much of a coincidence so I suspect they’ve mis-read my email even though I sent pictures and couldn’t have been clearer. By this stage we’ve taken the customer’s money and placed the order along with the pictures of the products with a note re-stating that these must be the old version and NOT the new version, as discussed with the sales rep’s name and CC’d to them as well. We cancel it to be on the safe side but find out not only have they ignored our instructions and shipped it already but someone else ordered one before us and they’ve part-shipped the order even though their policy is not to part ship without our express request to do so (because it means extra shipping costs).
Supplier 2:
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I have 3 units in stock
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So we order these (again with the pictures of the products with a note re-stating that these must be the old version and NOT the new version, as discussed with the sales rep’s name and CC’d to them as well). The following day we get an email from the customer, and you guessed it, they’ve sent the new version…
If you think this is bad, you should try dealing with the red tape and shenanigans over the next few weeks to get this mess sorted out…
