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Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

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    Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

    Does anyone remember Alpha Five's promise or committment upgrade cost for version 5.0 for existing customers who purchased the upgrade from version 4.0 to 4.5?

    #2
    RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

    Yes,

    The upgrade cost is 100% applicable to v5. You will need to complete a rebate form. It only takes a couple of weeks for the rebate.

    kenn
    TYVM :) kenn

    Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

      Hello,

      I don't log on too often these days. I began with Alpha in 1992 and progressed to version 4.5. I just called an 800 number to "get" my copy of 5.0 and got the real story...

      I loathed version 4.0 and all it's difficult Alpha Windows predecessors, because the simple DOS power was scattered to the wind. (ie difficult if not impossible to re-create)
      The Alpha marketing postcards suggested that if I bought 4.5 and waited patiently, that I would *automatically* be sent 5.0 when it was finally released. I can do that.

      Now I find that my "reward" for waiting is to send $300 and get back a rebate of the 4.5 purchase? That's not what I recall! If there was any inkling of additional cost or rebate HASSLE, I would not have bothered with buying 4.5.

      Any second now, someone will point out that I have the "facts" all wrong and this was never the implication. Well, excuse me for saying so, but it absolutely WAS the implication. The price increase is a clever CYA maneuver.

      As much as I dislike the thought of moving to Access, I have a bad taste in my mouth about this surprise treatment.

      Marketing 101: Don't sweat the streaming videos too hard and go back to fundamentals like customer loyalty. I just had to let someone know that I feel violated by all this.

      Tim

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

        Glenn,

        The 'committment', as you phrase it was that the price of V4.5 would fully apply to the purchase of V5. The purchase of V5 was not discounted; you pay the full price, fill out a rebate form and eventually (some number of weeks) get a rebate check for the price of V4.5. Convoluted, but it works.

        Dave
        Dave Jampole
        www.customalpha.com

        Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

        Comment


          #5
          RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

          Dave,

          Thanks for the reply.

          This much is true about the Alpha 4.5 pitch:

          1) You are giving us $150, investing your faith that ultimately 5.0 will be MUCH better.

          Here is the key information that was missing from the original Alpha pitch:

          2) When this program is eventually released, it will cost $300 so you will need to shell out $150 more.

          I wouldn't have bought 4.5 if this had been stated. Now I'm being asked to have another leap of faith, which is REAL difficult given the track record of the Windows releases.

          Tim

          Comment


            #6
            RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

            Regardless of the original offer and the rebate issue, I think that $220 is a very high price for just an update. Version 5.0 could be full of new feature but also lots of other companies releases upgrades softaware full of features and they do not charge as much for an aupgrade.

            Even if we accept that price as good, why do we have to go trough that burocratic thing of mailing a cupon just for getting a refund. I do not get it... if our records show that we payed the $75 upgrade to 4.5 we should get that refund automaticaly on purchase of the 5.0 upgrade.

            Hope somebody else shares my view point.

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

              Claudio,

              Why, I don't know. I do know that when I sent in my rebate, I asked that my cc be credited and they did. It took about 2 weeks.

              Is the price too high? Some say "Yes" and some say "No". I also know that Alpha took a verbal beating over the price issue and lowered it to what it is now.

              I have v5 and like it alot. I'm not an expert in Xbasic so the enhancements are a real blessing for me.

              kenn
              TYVM :) kenn

              Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.

              Comment


                #8
                RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

                Claudio,

                Thanks for sharing your similar dissatisfaction, wonder how many other potential customers were caught off guard.

                This "upgrade" hasn't been handled well, which is why I'm very reluctant to spend any more money or time with Alpha.

                To compound this PR problem further, WE have to do a rebate run-around to get our own money back?

                There's some kind of disconnect between Alpha management & marketing as to what some customers are willing to put up with.

                I work for a software company, so I understand the pains, excuses and rationale it requires to get a release out.

                BUT... We've NEVER made any of our customers wait anywhere near this long and then further insult them by:

                1) asking for a signifigant outlay based on a price increase not declared at the onset.

                2) putting them through rebate hoops on top of that.

                It's just amazing that this is viewed as acceptable...

                Tim

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

                  Alpha stated that the cost of upgrading to Version 4.5 would be credited against the price of Version 5. There was never an implication that V5 would be free if you upgraded to V4.5 nor was there an implied price of V5.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

                    Tim,

                    This subject has been discussed with vehement passion. I thought it had been put to rest. If you or any others want to read it, try searching this message board as well as the v4 message board. You'll find enough to keep you reading for hours.

                    kenn
                    TYVM :) kenn

                    Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

                      Ignoring the rebate issue and addressing the price, I can't say that I'm thrilled about the price of the update, but Alpha has to make its own decisions about how to price its products to survive in a business that's seen the demise of many, often larger, competetors.

                      In the end, you have to weigh the benefits you believe you'll receive against the cost you didn't anticipate and do what's right for you. I know the things I haven't liked about previous versions of Alpha Five. They've caused me to look at several alternative products over the past several years. Even at its new price, none of the alternatives offer the price/benefit ratio that Alpha does for my purposes. The nice folks at Alpha also seem to have addressed many of my concerns in version 5.

                      I delayed hardware upgrades and ordered version 5.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

                        I guess that when you get an outstanding database development product, with what I consider the best user-supported message board/help system, AND the ear of the owners of the company, you have to bitch about something.

                        Try posting a message with a question to an Access board hosted by MS (if there is one) and see how many helpful replies you get from BG. How about a suggestion that a user makes that ends up in an update (patch) to the product?

                        I don't like spending money needlessly any more than anyone else, but I would rather spend my money for a product from a company that supports and listens to me than for a product from a company that disappears in the dust. Who remembers dBase and Foxpro? Yeah, I know they still exist. Microsoft owns one, but I forget who owns the other. I've tried using both in their heyday, and Alpha software, in ANY of it's versions, beats the hell out of any of the others.

                        As I said in a previous post, based on Selwyn's participation in this message board, I get the feeling he is working for us! I think in reality he is.

                        Just my thought and opinions.

                        Dave
                        Dave Jampole
                        www.customalpha.com

                        Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

                          Ken,

                          Thanks for your comments. 5.0 must be a breath of fresh air after all the flawed predecessors.

                          I'm sure there's a backlog of messages like mine because the issues are valid.

                          Since I didn't automatically get my copy of 5.0, I only now started investigating the whole story. I called the 800 number this morning and the price and rebate issues still absolutely astound me.

                          Tim

                          Comment


                            #14
                            RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

                            Paul,

                            Thanks for your comments.

                            Putting the marketing betrayal issue aside, what were the signifigant strides created with V5.0 you were waiting for?

                            Sell me! Because Alpha isn't doing the job properly.

                            Tim

                            Comment


                              #15
                              RE: Upgrade from Version 4.5 to 5.0

                              Ohlen,

                              How can we not take that at face value? "Give us your money now for 4.5 to aid the product development and your reward will be to receive 5.0 when it's released.

                              No implied price for 5.0? Not even a projection? How utterly convenient.

                              Would you buy anything else in this blind trusting way?
                              I did. Now they want to "change the deal".

                              Tim

                              Comment

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