Donelson Computers is basically a one man show. Me...that's it. I'm the guy that answers the phone, runs the service calls, does the marketing, takes out the trash, everything...with the exception of some of the filing. My wife helps me keep the paperwork straight. That's the way I like it. Simple chain of command, my clients know who's coming out. Right or wrong, that's the way it is. It's been working very well for me...until I decided to get tangled up with Microsoft Financing.
I am a Registered Microsoft Partner,..and I WAS planning on moving up another level, and adding the Small Business Specialist to my resume. As it stands right now I don't see the need.
I have a existing client looking to open a new business. Like any new business, money is an issue. I suggested Microsoft Financing...like a good little partner and proceed to convince them to give it a try. I make the 30 minute trip out to their site, at MS Financing suggestion to submit the application online to speed up the process. I find out that being a registered MS partner doesn't get you into MS Financing so OK, I sign up for that as well. Submit my clients application and go away happy that we've gotten everything taken care of.
NOT SO FAST THERE SPARKY
I check on the status of the application a few hours later,...I don't have access to that part of the website. OK, no problem. I call in to see what's up. They can't find my client app, but everything looks good on that partner end...they don't know what I don't have full access, but put in the client app again and all will be OK. So...I do as they suggest for the second time Monday rolls around and still no access to check the status of my client apps. I call them again. Yep...the app is there, but it denied due to no business history. Ok...I can even understand that.
Call the client, they so ..fine run it under the parent company..so I do. Again with the no access to the site to check status, but I can enter apps all day long...sigh...back to the phones I go.
NO...NOT YOURS
Call MS Financing up and you'll talk to very nice people. Very cheerful...you can hear the smile in their voice...as they tell you they can't find any apps under your clients name...again. I ask them, what's up with my access to the rest of the site? Well..they don't know but they'll check into that very thing for me and let me know. In the mean time, just enter that client application again and let's get that taken care of. So again...drinking for the MS Kool-Aid off I go entering in my client information. I had to make a run down the street for a bit so I waited a good hour to call them back.. you know...just in case.
Well to keep from giving myself hand cramps (and because I'm still pissed off) I'll cut to the chase. Because I'm a Sole Proprietor I don't have a listing with the Secretary of State so according to Microsoft I'm not able to be a partner with MS Financing. What that has to do with anything they couldn't really tell me. Guess my small deals are too much of a bother for them to deal with. So...because I'm a small business my clients aren't able to "take advantage" of the chance to pay MS Financing 13.70$% interest. Oh...but they'll be MORE than happy to take my $300.00 every damn year for my Action Pack, they want me to travel all over the place and spend butt loads of money going to Microsoft conferences. I'd bet they'd welcome me to pay them tons of money to upgrade my partner status...or to certify in one thing or another.
Too bad I wasted my time AND my clients time chasing this dead fish.
Thanks Microsoft...way to help out your smaller partners.
