D-Link Updates VAR Program to Combat Recession

D-Link Systems Inc. Monday announced a 5 percent upfront discount from a partner’s distributor of choice and other sales incentives as part of its Premier Partner Program in an effort to help the company’s VARs during the recession.

The rebate can be combined with other promotions to provide authorized D-Link VARs with additional revenue through increased sales of D-Link business-class products, including network switches, WLAN, IP-camera surveillance and storage solutions.

D-Link also is offering partners volume incentive rebates payable from the first dollar purchases, quarterly spifs and promotions, 50 percent off demo equipment and proposal-based market development funds. Also, a 5 percent upfront discount is available for public sector, education and nonprofit customers.

In addition, D-Link and GE Capital’s Commercial Distribution Finance have teamed to offer a special financing plan designed to give solution providers and VARs more convenient options when purchasing D-Link products and services. Channel partners can benefit from a variety of financing options, including interest free net 60-day repayment plans.

“In today’s economy, solution providers need more support and flexibility than ever before. Many of our aggressive rebates and new incentives can be stacked with other promotions and discounts, such as those offered by our Government/Education partner programs, to help give our partners a competitive edge as they compete for business out in the field,” said Komal Shah, director of channel programs and promotions for D-Link.

Shah said that, unlike many competitive vendor partner programs, D-Link does not require the VARs to specify how their rebate money is allocated. “We want our partners to focus on selling and not spending so much time calculating where their rebate funds are generated from – product by product. It is much more important to us that they enjoy increased profitability with the least amount of administrative work possible.”

From a support standpoint, D-Link said the program gives partners access to 40-plus dedicated account managers and field-based sales and engineering resources, a bid desk for competitive situations with a committed response time of from four to 24 hours priority Level 3 technical support.