Help, I realize asking someone to explain HP pricing to me is like asking my 13-year-old to explain nuclear fusion to me, but...

I am looking for a printer to replace a C30D in the computer room. I checked the HP web site and found a printer that seems to suit our needs.

I contact our HP sales rep, who directs me to Client Services. Client Services directs me to an East Coast VAR (whom I will not name). I get a quote from the VAR and the price of the printer is about 10% higher than the price HP quotes on its web site. When I questioned the VAR about this, I was told that HP quotes 'street' prices on the web pages and the price on the web page is almost exactly what HP charges them for the printer.

Now why is it that I can't buy the printer from HP (unless I want to put it on my credit card via the web site), I have to buy it from a VAR and I have to pay more for the printer from the VAR.

To paraphrase Ricky Ricardo, "HP, you got a lot of 'splaining to do!"

steve hammond
washington dc