IBM UK has sent customers details of improved Volume Purchase Amendments on 3380 disk drives and 3880 controllers but the company has not accompanied the announcement with either the trade-in offer for new D and E double density drives available in the US, or straight price cuts similar to the 3% to 18% cuts announced by IBM France last week (CI Nos 608, 611); however the new structure gives substantial savings to anyone buying more than two drives. The VPA discounts on 3380s now start at 10% for three to eight drives compared with the rather more modest 3% on orders of four to eight drives before. Buyers now get 12%, instead of 5%, on nine to 12 drives; 15%, instead of 8%, on 13 to 16; 18% instead of 11%, on 17 to 24; and 21%, instead of 14%, on 25 or more. The reduction on 3880s is similarly dramatic: 13% instead of 6%, on two to three; 16% instead of 9%, on four to five; 19% instead of 12%, on six or seven; 22% instead of 15% on eight to 11; and 25%, instead of 18%, on 12 or more.
