D-Link settles claims issue

D-Link India has increased the number of shortlisted partners entitled for a
trip to Goa from 34 to 88. This was part of the loyalty reward program (LRP)
that closed in September 2001. D-Link officials revealed this when asked to
clarify on various allegations resellers had made on D-Link’s loyalty reward
program.

Furious over the alleged lackadaisical attitude of D-Link towards the
settlement of claims arising out of the loyalty reward program, around 15
resellers of D-Link products had met Mumbai-based DC Infotech, a D-Link dealer,
to get a commitment about its promises.

Subsequently, some of the resellers approached TAIT to take up the issue with
D-Link. Explaining the situation to DQCI, company officials admitted that there
was a delay in settling claims, but that occurred because D-Link wanted to
ensure "maximum benefit to maximum partners".

"If we had taken a hasty decision to settle claims, a large number of
our partners would not have got the benefits of the scheme. The delay was caused
because a large number of claims arrived with incomplete information and hence
we had to send the claims back to the resellers asking them to give the required
information. But in the end we honored all the 540 participants with monetary
rewards," says Prabodh Vyas, Director Sales, D-Link.

Resellers had alleged that D-Link was not transparent in announcing winners’
names and did not inform participants about the lucky draws or the date of Goa
trip as promised.

"As far as the trip to Goa is concerned, we have planned to give more
than we promised. We are taking 54 additional partners to Goa instead of the 34
planned earlier, despite the fact that the additional 54 have not even qualified
for the trip as per the scheme," says Vyas.

NELSON JOHNY