Missed version fee???

Hi there,

New to the group so forgive me if this issue had been previously
covered. We recently allowed our Solidworks subscription lapse and
are currently a couple of versions behind. We are now being quoted an
additional "missed version fee" of AU$1,000 by the Australian
distributor, on top of the single version upgrade fee. I'm a little
annoyed - even Microsoft doesn't resort to this kind of thing!
Anybody else in Oz or other markets come across this?

veecee

 

Yepp....samet thing here in Sweden.... not really one aus grand but close
enough. Called reinstallation fee.
Krister L

 

Yup, in NZ there's a reinstallation fee of NZ$1100 (in lieu of upgrade) if
you don't miss a complete version, plus the support fee at NZ$2600.
IF you skip a version, there's a missed version fee which is NZ$1100, plus
the upgrade at $2200, and that still doesn't get you support/subscription.

 

Yes,

I just went though this last year. I was on 2001Plus, and to go to 2004 was
$1295 USD for the subscription and a $500 USD missed version fee.

Muggs

 

It's not because you missed a version. It's because the subscription
fee was overdue by more than a month. It SUCKS, and it's tantamount to
extortion. (BTW, less than 30 days overdue the charge is $100.)

'Sporky'

 

It's a bit of con when subscription is essentially giving you access
to their bug fixes!?!?! Thanks everyone for responding.

 

I agree with you, veecee. It's very irritating that you must have a
subscription simply to access the service packs. Even MS gives the service
packs and patches away.

 

I have heard the SW corporate will send you the SP's for the Version that
you had for your subscription period free. You need to contact them direct
and not through your VAR

 

It is even more of a con when someone who has not paid their
subscription calls a VAR and asks for support. You would be surprised
how many VARs will help out even though they are not getting paid for
it.

It amazes me that so many people think that having paid a very small
price for a competent CAD package (using Pro/E as the standard on
normal pricing) that they are entitled to unlimited support, upgrades,
etc. The only reason that MicroSoft can "give away" service packs and
the like is that they sell millions of copies of their overpriced OS
to every seat that SW sells in a year. That and the fact that they
want to avoid a performance based lawsuit like the plague.

 

Not quite true. IF you have reported a particular bug and that bug has
been addressed by a particular SPR, then you can ask for (and receive)
that SPR. So . . . I guess that means that if you don't want to pay for
Subscription Support, then it behooves you to report as many bugs as you
can.

'Sporky'

 

Aah... Now I understand why, other than just not wanting their dirty laundry
aired in public, they don't want SPRs talked about. Mr. Cheapskate doesn't
buy support, finds out about an SPR reported fixed on the latest SP and then
turns in his own SPR on it.

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems
"take the garbage out, dear"

 

It is already a legal precedent you cannot sue a software company for
performance issues, look at the user agreement on any software you buy. You
give up that right, plus it has already been decided in the courts.

 

I think you will find that the Uniform Commercial Code contradicts a
lot of what is in a typical EULA. State Law may also override a EULA.
And of course you can write to your local congressman and sentor about
strengthening these laws.

Seems to me MicroSoft got sued and lost. I would be interested to know
of any case law you know of where a user lost against a software
company for gross performance problems.

Finally, I am not quite sure how legal precedents about software
performance have anything to do with users wanting to rip off software
vendors.

 

Its covered under the SHRINKWRAP LICENSE law. Also you are getting a license
to use the software not own which in fact diminishes your rights
http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=1020715
Hope this helps.