12 Replies Latest reply on Nov 27, 2012 3:59 PM by Scott Baugh

Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?

Terry Sargent Nov 26, 2012 1:46 PM

I have been using Solidworks for many years at a company I used to work for,then I retired and purchased my own seat. It was ok for awhile when I was generating enough income to substain the high maintenance fees but as time went by it became more difficult in this tanking economy. I just received a quote to renew my maintenance subscription, holy moly, $2,495, well that is really prohibitive for a small businessman like me.It has become apparent that Solidworks has become very greedy and seems to care little about their pricing issues. I have suggested several times that Solidworks is missing out on a very big market for their software. It is the area for those potential users who can't afford a seat of their own.but, could afford a seat at a reduced price from a current owner. In steps the current license holders who are not really able to use their seat but would sell it if possible. The incentive for Solidworks is to charge a fair transfer fee to the new owner and offer them a maintenance contract in order to become current. I belive there is a huge market out there for these buyers and at the same time it would allow current Solidworks owners a chance to recoup some of their investment. Everyone wins and it would show that Solidworks does care about its users and not just about money.

Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?

Anna Wood Nov 26, 2012 6:43 PM (in response to Terry Sargent)

What version of SolidWorks do you have?

Is that the total cost of maintanance plus an add on cost by your reseller? I expect that there are two or more lines items on the quote. If there are, nothing says you have to purchase all the line items.

SolidWorks has not increased the pricing on maintanance as far as I know. At least here in the States.

Cheers,

Anna
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- Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
  
  Jeff Holliday Nov 27, 2012 8:24 AM (in response to Anna Wood)
  
  I would suspect the higher price includes a "penalty" charge for reinstating the lapsed subscription and the current subscription charge.
  
  Terry - I understand your wish regarding allowing resale of licenses and I'm sure many of us would like it to be possible. I think there are many legal problems to this being allowed. For example - you don't really purchase the software, you purchase a right to use it.
  
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  - Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
    
    Gary Radish Nov 27, 2012 11:05 AM (in response to Jeff Holliday)
    
    Jeff,
    
    You should look up some case vs. AutoDesk I believe the guy was selling on eBay. The courts have ruled that you can resell your use of the license. You have to prove that there are no other copies installed. It now comes down to how bad SolidWorks wants to push the issue.
    
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    - Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
      
      Roland Schwarz Nov 27, 2012 11:47 AM (in response to Gary Radish)
      
      No, that was not the ruling. The ruling was that you have the right to sell your copy (e.g. your DVDs). SolidWorks is under no obligation to activate or support the copy you sell.
      
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      - Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
        
        Gary Radish Nov 27, 2012 12:26 PM (in response to Roland Schwarz)
        
        Thanks for clearing that up Roland I was trying to go off memory!
        
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        Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
        
        Roland Schwarz Nov 27, 2012 12:45 PM (in response to Gary Radish)
        
        There is a way to transfer a license. If a business owns a license, and the business is sold, the license goes with the business.
        
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        Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
        
        Jeff Holliday Nov 27, 2012 1:02 PM (in response to Roland Schwarz)
        
        That's correct - we did it 2 times after acquiring 2 companies. It is not automatic though. You do need to fill out some forms to prove the old company did, in fact, cease to exist, Those forms are then sent to SWorks before their approval is given.
        
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Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?

Elise Moss Nov 27, 2012 1:12 PM (in response to Terry Sargent)

If a seat of software has been activated and you sell the software, the company will not re-activate the license for the new owner, so it is "buyer beware". The only way to ensure that the software you purchase is free and clear is to purchase through a reseller.

One way to think of this is that you can not sell or give your driver's license to someone else. Your driver's license belongs to you and only you. When you purchase and activate software, you are purchasing a license to use the software. You can not transfer that license to someone else.

Software is a cost of doing business - probably the highest cost if you are working as consultant - but it is a deductible business expense.

I have known of at least one situation where a widow was able to sell the software from her dead husband's consultancy business and have SolidWorks reactivate for the buyer, but it took a great deal of red tape and the reseller had to help broker the license transfer. She had to provide proof of the death, etc.

elise
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- Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
  
  Scott Baugh Nov 27, 2012 2:26 PM (in response to Elise Moss)
  
  I don't know how that works in the time of death, but I can understand that being a requirement.
  
  The company I work for has made many acquisitions and I am still finding Solidworks seats in our organization that is not in our current Network and may or may not be under Subscription. I know that those licenses have yet to be transferred into the Berry Name.
  
  Just because Berry purchases a company, any existing SW or AutoDesk licenses are not automatically transferred. You have to contact your reseller and start the process of first getting those licenses into your company name, by filling out an ACR, then you can work at getting them transferred over into a suitable license type and on subs.
  
  For us all SW licenses are transferred to the Network and the same for any major AutoDesk licenses. I have done this at least 3-4 times this year for rogue Solidworks licenses alone.
  
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Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?

John Sutherland Nov 27, 2012 3:47 PM (in response to Terry Sargent)

If you sell your workstation complete with installed software, then SW will keep on working. I think that it will even reactivate if needed.
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- Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
  
  Jeff Holliday Nov 27, 2012 3:49 PM (in response to John Sutherland)
  
  It may continue working but I would certainly not advertise the fact because it is not legal.
  
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- Re: Anybody angry about rollar coaster promtions and high costs?
  
  Scott Baugh Nov 27, 2012 3:59 PM (in response to John Sutherland)
  
  Why don't you ask me about CAD Compliancy? ..... glad you asked. We went through a major AutoDesk compliancy issue over the last 2-3 years. We have spent nearly $500,000 just to become compliant with AutoDesk. Now that we are its caused a whirlwind of other CAD systems to become compliant.
  
  I agree with Jeff... don't advertise it and don't be surprised when you get letter in the mail.
  
  Regards,
  
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