Re: CAM software upgrade policy

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Lee and Amy Wenger" <wenger2k@y...>
wrote:

> Fred,
>
> I'm not sure you've exactly answered the question with your

response.

> Once a customer purchases a version what exactly is their right to

future

> point and version upgrades?

There are no "rights" to software upgrades. Just ask any of about a
dozen defunct companies, who had CAM customers that paid for
maintenance contracts on their software. (ouch)

At the retail level, a version is not for sale. We sell a license to
Vector, to the one included on the current distribution CD, in
English only. The currently shipping version is the only one
licensed, except in possibly an extreme case where a customer needs
to work on an OS older than Win98, we might entertain a sale of an
older version as an accomodation to his problem. Another exception
could be an OEM with an agreement for an older version. I explained
about the retail upgrade overlap policy in the prior posting.

The customer has no "rights" to future maintenance, as we are not
selling that with the Vector license sale. We have been encouraged
to offer this as an additional product, but to date the condition of
Vector has been extraordinary and we have not felt it wise or
necessary to charge extra for a maintenance service that is not
needed by our customers.

We provide support via telepone, fax, e-mail , and have a public
user forum with 3 1/2 years of Q & A (3 years of which is included on
our distribution CD). We don't do the work for our customers, but
take great pains to help them learn to "fish for themselves".

Having said all the "mean" words that I am required to say to protect
IMService from the guy that sues Nike when he stubs his toe, we do
try to accomodate our customers. It is not unheard of for our
customers to receive an interim distribution, not associated with the
upgrade version. But it's a gift, not a right.

I hope that clarifies things enough to answer all your questions.

Best Regards,

Fred Smith
IMService