Beware! Trap Ahead

Bhartendu Mehta (Name Changed) stormed into my chamber this morning. He seemed to be furious.

Without exchanging any pleasantries he started, “How can my machinery manufacturer loot me?” He demanded to know. I was surprised for a minute. After all, besides being a good friend, Bhartendu was a polished businessman; a stalwart in metallizing line and a thorough gentleman in his behavior.

What happened Bharat? I asked him while handing him a glass of cold water.

Now he sat down, took a long breath and started-“I bought a metallizing machine from a famous European manufacturer which costed a bomb. Now they are arm-twisting me into buying an absolutely unknown brand of diffusion pump oil at an exorbitant rate. Otherwise the machinery manufacturer is threatening not to honour the machine warranty.”

I could not help but nod in agreement. I had also noticed that in last two years absolutely unknown and untried brands manufactured by absolutely unknown companies were being promoted by some machinery manufacturers. These “brands” are manufactured by companies which were not in existence two years back. Even today they are registered as trading companies.

Bharat continued, “These brands are like cadavers being carried on four shoulders of the machinery manufacturer. Don’t you see a nexus?” he asked.

Now I spoke- “Yes Bharat. Principles of ethical business require that machinery manufacturer must spell the specifications of oil required, not the Make.”

“Absolutely”, Bharat said, “Look, you and I are both engineers. Don’t we know the very basic tenet of engineering is specifications and interchangeability. What if tomorrow a car manufacturer dictates that you buy petrol from a particular petrol pump only otherwise warranty will not be applicable?” “I will never buy such a car!”, I commented. “Precisely”, he said, “nobody likes to be forced and forced into buying crap at exorbitant rates!”

I told him, “I can understand your anguish. You trusted a reputed machinery manufacturer who is now acting greedy and trying to arm twist you through unethical practices.”

Bharat again started, “I am told half of the money received by these unknown oil brands is being passed on to the machinery manufacturer for ‘Endorsement’ “.

I told him, “Look Bharat I agree with you that all this is not only unethical but immoral also. In the present competitive scenario a manufacturer like you can ill afford to squander money like this. But presently till warranty expires you have no option but to stick to the “recommendation”. Later on you can buy an equivalent vacuum oil manufactured by a reputed and established manufacturer which meets the specifications.”

I also pointed out that one of my most famous blog Vacuum Oil Equivalents details equivalent of all oils manufactured anywhere in the world.

Bharat nodded, “Not only this but I am also going to make sure that these machinery manufacturers impose no such conditions in future. After all till I had finalized the purchase these people were listening to me and this arrogance was not there. Alternatively I may also explore the option of buying Japanese, Korean or Chinese machines which are available at half the cost.”

I smiled in agreement as cold glasses of Mojito were brought into my chamber by my office assistant who knew Bharat’s taste too well.