You know, I'm not looking to get into a pissing match here, but I often wonder about this. We all fully expect to pay our doctor, lawyer, plumber, mechanic, electrician, etc. for their expertise, no matter how seemingly simple the issue may be. Any business is in the business to make money (even non-profits have incomes). Bills have to be paid, utilities, rent, insurance, you name it.

Why do people have such a difficult time in extending the same courtesies and expectations to technicians in the telecommunications business? It seems as if more and more, when we aren't willing to give away the farm, the typical reply is "well fine, I'll just go buy an IP system". Is it really that simple or am I missing something?

Ed Vaughn, MBSWWYPBX