[BIC-announce] problems with Le James for computers? was: Purchasing computers for University-related activities / Achat d’ordinateurs destinés aux activités universitaires

Sat Sep 26 10:54:16 EDT 2020

Hi,

I fully support Sridar's PCard proposal: this would give the flexibility
and cost advantage with short delays and accountability.

Cheers
JB

On Fri, Sep 25, 2020 at 10:30 AM Sridar Narayanan, Dr. <
sridar.narayanan at mcgill.ca> wrote:

> Hi Louis,
>
> Apple products through Le James always cost more, as there is one
> educational price from Apple (which you have direct access to if you order
> from apple.ca), on top of which Le James adds their own markup/service
> fee. They also have *much* slower delivery. The only advantage is being
> able to pay with a FOAPAL, and that sales tax rebates are applied up-front,
> instead of credited later.
>
> Commodity items have been less of an issue for us (in terms of pricing),
> but the very slow delivery remains a problem.
>
> Personally, I think they should reinstate more widespread use of PCards.
> That provided a simple mechanism to purchase needed items quickly at a good
> price (e.g. a 1-day, 40%-off sale on UPSs) that could still be properly
> tracked when charges were reconciled to the appropriate FOAPAL, without the
> hassle and overhead of expense reports.
>
> Sridar
>
>
> On Sep 25, 2020, at 8:52 AM, Louis Collins, Dr. <louis.collins at mcgill.ca>
> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I’m writing to solicit your help in a discussion that I intend to have
> with Purchasing at McGill.  According to the email below, we are supposed
> to buy computer equipment from Le James.  I find this difficult to accept,
> because I (and others) have not had good service from Le James. For example:
>
>    - I tried to order a MacBook from Le James.  It took 6-7 days to get a
>    quote and they were going to take another 10 days to order it.  I ordered
>    one on the web and had next day delivery to the Apple store on
>    Ste-Catherine.
>    - Last week I tried to order a common 1TB SSD drive, Le James could
>    not get the model I wanted. NewEgg has 2-3 day delivery.
>    - Peter ordered a keyboard and mouse from Le James recently and it
>    took two weeks to arrive.
>    - Simon tried to order 1 workstation and 1 regular desktop from Le
>    James.  Despite detailed quotes with specific items supported within the
>    BIC IT infrastructure, Le James insisted on buying another product that
>    will result in difficulties with support
>    - One colleague ordered a MacBook 3 months ago from Le James, and he
>    was still waiting for it at the beginning of September.
>
> Such lack of service Le James is unacceptable since Apple.ca
> <http://apple.ca/>, NewEgg.com <http://newegg.com/> and Amazon.ca
> <http://amazon.ca/> and others all offer good (or often better prices),
> often with next day delivery, and much better service (including returns).
> Forcing profs to subsidize the lack lustre Le James using public funds is
> ridiculous..
>
> If you’ve run into difficulties with Le James, can you please drop me a
> short email, and I’ll include you in the list (with or without your name,
> let me know) above when I communicate with Purchasing next week.
>
> thanks and have a good weekend!
>
> -Louis
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From: *MRO McGill Communications <mcgillstaff.mro at mcgill.ca>
> *Subject: **Purchasing computers for University-related activities /
> Achat d’ordinateurs destinés aux activités universitaires*
> *Date: *August 26, 2020 at 1:30:17 PM GMT-4
> *To: *x-All McGill Staff <x-AllMcGillStaff at campus.mcgill.ca>
>
> *This message is sent on behalf of **Procurement Services and LE JAMES
> Bookstore.*
> *Le présent message est envoyé au nom du Service des approvisionnements et
> de la Librairie **LE JAMES.*
>
> *La version française suit.*
>
> Dear colleagues:
>
> As you plan for the upcoming academic year, please remember that all
> University-related computer purchases *must* be made through the
> Institutional Sales unit of McGill University Bookstore (LE JAMES). This
> includes computers relating to research and administrative activities.
>
> Institutional Sales will help ensure that the products will meet McGill
> requirements and work with the University’s infrastructure. The awarded
> contracts have provided the University with a wide range of top-tier
> manufacturers, including: Apple, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, Toshiba
> (Dynabook) and ViewSonic.
>
> Buying computer equipment through LE JAMES is a necessary part of
> compliance with our contractual commitment in accordance with the Quebec’s
> Act Respecting Contracting by Public Bodies and in adherence with the
> University’s Procurement Policy, the University’s Minimum Standard
> Requirements for IT Assets as well as the University’s Asset Management
> Program and Procedures. In early 2019, the University, through the launch
> of two public calls for tenders, entered into delivery order contracts with
> various computer suppliers for the resale of the computer equipment through
> LE JAMES.
>
> The ordering process is fast and efficient:
>
>    1. We can assist you in finding any machine as per your requirements.
>    Standard machines are listed on our website (
>    https://lejames.ca/institutional)
>    2. The LE JAMES Institutional Sales staff (is.bookstore at mcgill.ca) is
>    available to assist you with your product selection or technical enquiries.
>    3. Request a quote from Institutional Sales: is.bookstore at mcgill.ca.
>    Any additional information including in the request (specific requirements,
>    model numbers, etc.) will help expedite this process.
>    4. Once you have received your quote, issue a purchase requisition
>    through the McGill Marketplace (please speak to your supervisor if you need
>    access).  Upon receipt of an approved requisition, LE JAMES will order the
>    requested product(s) from the appropriate contracted supplier(s).
>
>
> Please direct any follow-up inquiries to LE JAMES Institutional Sales for
> greater efficiency.
>
> We look forward to assisting with all your technology needs.
>
>
> Chers collègues,
>
> À l’heure des préparatifs pour l’année universitaire à venir, nous vous
> rappelons que vous devez *obligatoirement* faire tous vos achats
> d’ordinateurs destinés aux activités universitaires par l’entremise de
> l’équipe des ventes institutionnelles de la Librairie LE JAMES. Cette
> consigne s’applique aux ordinateurs destinés à la recherche et aux services
> administratifs.
>
> L’équipe des Ventes institutionnelles s’assure que les produits répondent
> aux critères de l’Université et sont compatibles avec son infrastructure.
> L’Université a conclu des ententes avec plusieurs grands fabricants, à
> savoir Apple, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, Toshiba (Dynabook) et ViewSonic.
>
> Nous devons acheter le matériel informatique par l’entremise de la
> Librairie LE JAMES pour respecter notre engagement contractuel,
> conformément à la *Loi sur les contrats des organismes publics* du
> Québec, observer la *Politique d’approvisionnement* de même que le *Programme
> de gestion des actifs* et les procédures connexes de l’Université, et
> satisfaire aux exigences minimales de l’Université relativement au matériel
> informatique. Au début de 2019, l’Université a lancé deux appels d’offres
> publics qui ont mené à la conclusion de contrats avec divers fournisseurs
> pour la revente de matériel informatique par l’entreprise de la Librairie
> LE JAMES.
>
> Le processus de commande est rapide et efficace :
>
>    1. Nous pouvons vous aider à choisir l’appareil qui vous convient.
>    Vous trouverez la liste des appareils offerts sur notre site Web (
>    https://lejames.ca/institutional).
>    2. L’équipe des Ventes institutionnelles de la Librairie LE JAMES (
>    is.bookstore at mcgill.ca) peut vous aider à choisir un produit et
>    répondre aux questions techniques.
>    3. Pour demander un devis à l’équipe des Ventes institutionnelles,
>    rendez-vous à is.bookstore at mcgill.ca. Plus vous serez précis (besoins
>    particuliers, numéro de modèle, etc.), plus votre demande sera traitée
>    rapidement.
>    4. Lorsque vous aurez votre devis en main, faites une demande d’achat
>    dans McGill Marketplace (au besoin, demandez un droit d’accès à votre
>    supérieur). La Librairie LE JAMES passera la commande auprès du fournisseur
>    visé dès réception de la demande d’achat approuvée.
>
>
> Par souci d’efficacité, nous vous demandons d’adresser toute demande de
> suivi directement à l’équipe des Ventes institutionnelles de la Librairie
> LE JAMES.
>
> Au plaisir de vous servir!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> BIC-announce mailing list
> BIC-announce at bic.mni.mcgill.ca
> https://mailman.bic.mni.mcgill.ca/mailman/listinfo/bic-announce
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> BIC-announce mailing list
> BIC-announce at bic.mni.mcgill.ca
> https://mailman.bic.mni.mcgill.ca/mailman/listinfo/bic-announce
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.bic.mni.mcgill.ca/pipermail/bic-announce/attachments/20200926/980b122c/attachment-0001.html>