IBM is so heavily backlogged on its new 9336 disk drive that it is having to make US users a special offer – take the discredited 9332s or 9335s now and replace them with 9336s when they do become available in adequate quantities. US customers with a 9336 on order before April 2 can buy predefined configurations of 9332s and/or 9335s and either trade them in and get 100% credit toward a 9336 of equal or greater value, and get an additional credit of $4,000 for a half-rack configuration and $8,000 for a full-rack configuration; or retain their 9332 or 9335 and receive a $12,000 credit for a half-rack configuration and a $24,000 credit for a full-rack configuration. Those who responded to IBM’s now clearly ill-advised come-on for the 9336 made last November, can now also retain their 9332 or 9335, receiving the same credit as above. Customers wanting to trade in their 9332 or 9335 for a 9336 must signify in writing by no later than November 1, and must install their 9336 on or after January 1, 1992, but no later than May 29, 1992. Those ordering qualifying 9332s or 9335s must do so by October 2, and installation must be after January 31 and by December 31. The 9332 and 9335 special offer announced in August and withdrawn in December is reinstated order by May 31 and install by July 31. And IBM also has a new offer for buyers of the AS/400 9406 50, 60 or 70 with 9332 and 9335 drives: they can either take a 100% credit on the disks towards purchase of 9336s of equal or greater value, or take the $4,000 for a half-rack, $8,000 for full-rack credits. And if they decide to keep their old disks, they can have a triple credit of $12,000 for a half-rack configuration, or $24,000 for a full-rack configuration towards other IBM products and services.
