Thread: Buying CAD CAM Software

Hello Everyone!

Most CAD CAM software companies do not use the same model of selling upgrades as we do. Selling upgrades allows our client to purchase what they need as they need it. We do not penalized them for not keeping current. Other vendors offer a service or maintenance program for the most current technology ( regardless of what's new ) as it comes out. However it's contract based and if you don't keep current it can cost you big! I guess the real debate is, is it a better solution offering a maintenance / subscription program?


Have your voice be heard and cast your vote today. Also if you have any suggestions about how you would like to keep your software current and working with salesman please chime in.

Al DePoalo
BobCAM Team Leader
866-408-3226 X147

I like purchasing my software. I dont like to rent it. I like to recieve the updates to the version I purchased for "FREE", with a discount "upgrade" option, if a new version comes out with features added I want/need. I dont think the upgrade price should change, the longer I take to upgrade (Sometimes, it can be a few versions before something is added that is something I would like to have).

Your poll has no question.

The question is, would you rather buy upgrades or be on a subscription maintenance program with your software vendor.

Originally Posted by aldepoalo

The question is, would you rather buy upgrades or be on a subscription maintenance program with your software vendor.

Whats the difference?

We bought OneCNC,it has FREE updates and unlimited tech support plus it has NO yearly maintenance.One selling point for us was when I called for info on it there was about 2 weeks in between before we bought it..guess what,NOT ONE pushy sells person called during that time.

Originally Posted by behindpropellers

Whats the difference?

One difference is you have no access unless you pay up........

Originally Posted by IronReb

We bought OneCNC,it has FREE updates and unlimited tech support plus it has NO yearly maintenance.One selling point for us was when I called for info on it there was about 2 weeks in between before we bought it..guess what,NOT ONE pushy sells person called during that time.

X2-Exactly. If you need a question answered, you call, they pick up the phone,answer your question,done! No needing to turn off the machine, send your employees home for the day, no screening and being put inline behind a host of other customers who are waiting to get there questions answered,no waiting hours and sometimes until the next day,no paying on a tier system to get tech support(the more you pay the higher the level of support), no hidden fees, free upgrades, no renaming the system ever couple years then reselling it, functional easy to use software that can make your shop money and expand your machines capabilities. No build updates that crash your computer or corrupt a known working file resulting in tool crashes, ruined parts,and laboring setups,etc.And NEVER any unwanted phone calls from irritating salesman concerned more with a commission than the interests of your company. ALL WITH NO EXTRA FEES!

Originally Posted by mtlhe

X2-Exactly. !

I thought we all agreed that pushy salemen were not wanted.

free upgrades

Wow, really? I can buy Xr2 and they will upgrade me to 5 for free?? Those guy's are pretty cool man.

no renaming the system ever couple years then reselling it

XR1, XR2 Xr3 Xr4 Xr5............................................... ......

functional easy to use software that can make your shop money and expand your machines capabilities.

Just went to the onecnc forum to read the 3rd thread down about a guy who hated the CAD so bad he stopped using it, now he has demoed the latest version as is trying to save up to buy it... The save seems to be hurting him a bit!

No build updates that crash your computer or corrupt a known working file resulting in tool crashes, ruined parts,and laboring setups,etc.

No build updates? Installs and works perfectly on all systems at all times? Sounds like the saleman promissing the world that everybody always hears!!!!!

And NEVER any unwanted phone calls from irritating salesman concerned more with a commission than the interests of your company.

Yeah, tried to get a demo from them for about 2 years with no response... I think I tried about 6 times!

ALL WITH NO EXTRA FEES

As long as you pay up front!!! Out the hole!

But thats just me "Picking" on mtlhe because I work for BobCad! Right?

mthl,

I totally understand, sometimes when you need help you need it now. If you don't get the help you need, you end up breaking down the setup up and moving on to another project, only to setup the job back up when you get the answer. This cost money! So about a year ago we started offering a 3 level support program. This way shops that need to be a priority can purchase that service. It's cost effective and was the answer to help shops like yours. To learn more about our support programs costs and options use this link: CNC CAD/CAM Software Support Memberships | BobCAD-CAM

So you're posting an advertisement about your new support program. That's cool. But I'd post it through your user network if you want to find out if your users are into it.

Now one thing some folks here may not be aware of: on the more complex multi-axis systems that are tied to an advanced modeler and assembly functions, that "free support" is just not feasible. The good thing about paying for support is fast turn-around and patches and upgrades. The downside is yes - it costs more money. I do agree that any cadcam system should be completely owned by the original purchaser and not "leased" like some of them.

--
Bill

Bill,

Thank you for your feed back. I agree that a "leased" purchased option really put users in a bad spot. Any case where you can lose your license overnight is rather scary....

Al

Is anybody else getting tired of the thinly veiled BobCad spam?

Originally Posted by bucktruck

Is anybody else getting tired of the thinly veiled BobCad spam?

The poll is a CAD/CAM poll with a simple question. It seems to me that a couple "OTHER" salesman derailed it...

So you're posting an advertisement about your new support program. That's cool. But I'd post it through your user network if you want to find out if your users are into it.

Yeah, not really, but there are a few who are interested in ruining any real dialogue with forum users, simply because they think they have a beef with "BobCad"... The only reason it even came up, is because the poll was posted by a BobCad employee, then a couple came in with the inappropriate stuff... I couldnt blame him for his response... Should he just ignore it?

Answer the poll. Keep your personal beef to yourself.

Originally Posted by Burr

The poll is a CAD/CAM poll with a simple question. It seems to me that a couple "OTHER" salesman derailed it...

Nope, there was no question until post #4. As far as the other salesmen: Would you care to point them out?

Isn't there a Bobcad forum somewhere?

Originally Posted by bucktruck

Nope, there was no question until post #4. As far as the other salesmen: Would you care to point them out?

Isn't there a Bobcad forum somewhere?

The poll itself explains the question. "Buying cad/cam, with 3 choices that would normally clearly depict the question at hand".

There were a couple responses, then, the only "thinly veiled" thing were the responses that brought branding into the answer ( with one thinly veiled poke, and one overt barf of nothing to do with the poll+questions). Apparently you have taken some type of offense at Al's response to this (which I thought was exactly what was asked for) and now are trying to make it something about "BobCad?" Why do you insist on making this about BobCad with a need to diminish Al's original question and intent? It is a legitamate question for a CAD/CAM forum looking for responses from CAD/CAM users. Apparently, you have an agenda?

Moderators hat on here.
This is an open forum and anyone is free to post.
Al is pushing Bobcad, it's his job but as far as I can see he's up front about it.

There is no reason why other makers of CAD/CAM programs can't post on here.
Other than forums where can you get feedback on how programs work and develop?

I seem to remember that Len had the same trouble a while ago over 'pushing' Solid Works.

This is an easy forum to moderate, I have to step in about every 3 months and delete a post, usually because it's offensive.
I NEVER delete a point of view even if it doesn't match mine
Only one member has ever been banned but that was in 4,783,376 user names, we all know who he is and we won't go there.

Maybe Al is tryin to fix stuff , but i also agree its beginning to feel like spam.

I used Bobwire v16.1 for a few years and was very grateful for that fairly simple program at an affordable price.

I have had a few periods of repeat sales calls but ok now.

IMO as far as mill side goes more toolpaths and functions are being added but still doesnt seem a very userfriendly GUI.

Just out of interest tried the demo for latest wire and still after asking for help did not manage to generate a toolpath.....

Bobmill probably has its place at its price point , but for a little more you can have something that is a pleasure to program with .

Cheers Kev

Originally Posted by John Stevenson

Moderators hat on here.
This is an open forum and anyone is free to post.
Al is pushing Bobcad, it's his job but as far as I can see he's up front about it.

There is no reason why other makers of CAD/CAM programs can't post on here.
Other than forums where can you get feedback on how programs work and develop?

I seem to remember that Len had the same trouble a while ago over 'pushing' Solid Works.

This is an easy forum to moderate, I have to step in about every 3 months and delete a post, usually because it's offensive.
I NEVER delete a point of view even if it doesn't match mine
Only one member has ever been banned but that was in 4,783,376 user names, we all know who he is and we won't go there.

Hi John, thanks for chiming in... So, You dont mind if I follow a few users around on here, and rip them in the posts they make? You wont mind if i go into their threads where they are participating, and disrupt the conversasion with stuff that has nothing to do with the topic at hand? You wont threaten to ban me from the forum? (Thats what they do at the zone)

Al made no sales or push of BobCad. It wasnt even a part of the discussion topic. But then a few that like to disrupt anything remotly linked to BobCad (The only link here is he works there) You know, the ones that then refer to their disruption as "proof everyone hates BobCad", in their next post. They enter and disrupt things for anyone that may participate.

Kindof like the post just after yours, how Kev is now not talking about the poll and it's purpose, but just posting an irrelevent opinion in this thread?

So, you wont mind when I follow mtlhe around now and in every thread he posts in I bring links and discussion of all the nasty, stinky stuff that I could find in about 3 minutes about OneCNC, since "HIS OPINION" is it's the answer to all things, and then I post snide, disrespectful inuendo/lies about him??? Really?

That would make this entire forum a pretty crappy read!

Al made a thread where he "WAS" doing BobCad questions.. Plenty had the opportunity to rip him up there. Plenty of really moronic things were stated in the "What about BobCad salesman" post, but i didnt go in there and respond? It was the topic at hand. Throw your opinion out... How is the topic here become "BobCad".. Ask the ones that are the disrupters! I'de be glad to teach mtlhe a lesson in disruption of anythiing valuable he does in this forum.

Originally Posted by Burr

Hi John, thanks for chiming in... So, You dont mind if I follow a few users around on here, and rip them in the posts they make? You wont mind if i go into their threads where they are participating, and disrupt the conversasion with stuff that has nothing to do with the topic at hand? You wont threaten to ban me from the forum? (Thats what they do at the zone)

Al made no sales or push of BobCad. It wasnt even a part of the discussion topic. But then a few that like to disrupt anything remotly linked to BobCad (The only link here is he works there) You know, the ones that then refer to their disruption as "proof everyone hates BobCad", in their next post. They enter and disrupt things for anyone that may participate.

Kindof like the post just after yours, how Kev is now not talking about the poll and it's purpose, but just posting an irrelevent opinion in this thread?

So, you wont mind when I follow mtlhe around now and in every thread he posts in I bring links and discussion of all the nasty, stinky stuff that I could find in about 3 minutes about OneCNC, since "HIS OPINION" is it's the answer to all things, and then I post snide, disrespectful inuendo/lies about him??? Really?

That would make this entire forum a pretty crappy read!

Al made a thread where he "WAS" doing BobCad questions.. Plenty had the opportunity to rip him up there. Plenty of really moronic things were stated in the "What about BobCad salesman" post, but i didnt go in there and respond? It was the topic at hand. Throw your opinion out... How is the topic here become "BobCad".. Ask the ones that are the disrupters! I'de be glad to teach mtlhe a lesson in disruption of anythiing valuable he does in this forum.

Hi John,
Please dont respond to this. The truth is I wouldnt do that. Can you imagine how disrespectful that would be to the hundreds of other users in those threads that were using the forums to get something done for themselves? Let alone to you?

Thanks for chiming in..... Talk later.