Disgusted at VB4.

[ENF]

Someone please explain to me why you think if you bought an owned license, that it entitles you to a free upgrade to a whole new version?

This is not a new thing in the software business.

[smirkley]

....I wanted to write this big thing about how I felt...

Seriosly,.... tell us.

[runuo.com]

I wanted to write this big thing about how I felt.. but honestly...

I'm speechless....

Why would I allow myself to be extorted to upgrade software I bought as an OWNED license? I'm just... wow...

d
o
n
e
.

[ENF]

I'm here to show my dissatisfaction to the vB staff and community, I have been a customer for over 4 years and what do I get? forced to pay more to upgrade, to an ugly more bloated version.

Where does it say you're forced to? You can run VB3.x forever and ever if you want. Your dissatisfaction does not necessarily represent a larger user perspective.

Speaking of running old versions... I ran across a large forum still running VB3.0.6 - I don't think they'll ever upgrade because of how heavily modified their board is. That could be you!

[smirkley]

...to an ugly more bloated version.

Based on some screenshots?


Explain?

[speedway]

vB person since 2001. I tried to do the 'PrePurchase' because from what I make it's chump change. I bought vBSEO a few years ago and ended up not even installing it. Money isn't an issue to me. But - Nothing I could find would lead me to a discount button or screen. To me it's not the money - It's the whole thing.

vB has gone down hill since it was purchased by who ever bought it. I even saw a long time vB person, in one thread, make totally useless responses to questions. S/he was terribly rude and curt. S/he even said s/he has no contact with developers, that s/he is just customer service person and that the bug that was reported was not a bug and the developers planned it that way (it was a link in albums if I remember correctly). S/he was either lying or simply totally disconnected from the vB team (if there IS a team any more). Luckily someone in the thread pointed out the code to change so that the link came back. My members complained of a link disappearing. After looking at the code, I know enough php and html to know the vB customer service person was either stoned or totally uninformed.

I'll probably just stick with 3.8 and let it go at that. My 'regulars' know how to use the software and are happy as things are.

I even linked to the post the vB 'customer service rep' made on my main forum as an example of of terrible customer service responses. My main forum is a Quality Assurance site and vBulletin has become an example of what happens when a big company buys a small company. Purchasers with problems are automatically classified as complainers.

My opinion is the vB folks, the new owners, have effectively alienated themselves from their core supporters. This all smells of Vista to me.

I don't know what is in store for vB in the future. I only have one forum running on it these days and haven't used it on a new site in years.

I will say Good Luck in this new adventure. I hope it works out for the vB people and their new business model.

I am with you, I just downloaded my last update from vBulletin that will take me to 3.8.4 PL1. They have lost me as a customer unless something radical changes. However, I cannot see that happening with the big company mentality that is behind this furor running the show. Alot of this smells of alot of big companie these days, here is Australia our only pay TV service Foxtel is just about to do the same thing - screw the current customer while chasing new ones.....

[smirkley]

Whatever you do, no not upgrade to vB4, go to IPB or MyBB.

Yes, goto the "other" premium competetor,..or go to some lame freeware.

But why were you here in the first place?

[Marc Smith]

Did you notice how many of your lines started with "I".... that gave me a headache.

Yes, please read more carefully before raging. What ever happened to reading & comprehension??

EDIT: Zeloreo is on-target. Good job! One small note: If your license is INACTIVE, meaning you did not renew your support, you'll have to pay the full-price. If you have renewed within the last year and are currently ACTIVE, it's $130 as noted below for getting the full suite.

The above is drivel.

I've logged in and am getting an upgrade price of $250 which is odd because you can buy a new license for $235.

What is going on?

Good question.

Where's the link to download vBulletin 4.0?

I haven't found the discount link.

Can someone tell me why my upgrade is listed at $250 after I've logged in?

Where's the $130 option?

Hello?

Same here - Nada. I see no discount link or button.

I answered your post. Here (Above)

Does your order screen not do the same thing??

NO - It doesn't!

Nope.

See attachment.

Here's my screen: (Notice the little discounts button???)

They do not show on MY screen!

This is the thing that worries me. I'm a customer/registered owner license holder since 2005 and has renewed my license about 3 or 4 times since. I was holding off to renew my license in preparation for Version 4 and now I find this!. I was expecting the $30 upgrade fee.... or even a $50/$60 is OK but $195 to upgrade my forum (only) is a bit much.

vB person since 2001. I tried to do the 'PrePurchase' because from what I make it's chump change. I bought vBSEO a few years ago and ended up not even installing it. Money isn't an issue to me. But - Nothing I could find would lead me to a discount button or screen. To me it's not the money - It's the whole thing.

vB has gone down hill since it was purchased by who ever bought it. I even saw a long time vB person, in one thread, make totally useless responses to questions. S/he was terribly rude and curt. S/he even said s/he has no contact with developers, that s/he is just customer service person and that the bug that was reported was not a bug and the developers planned it that way (it was a link in albums if I remember correctly). S/he was either lying or simply totally disconnected from the vB team (if there IS a team any more), not to mention totally code ignorant. Luckily someone in the thread pointed out the code to change so that the link came back. My members complained of a link disappearing. After looking at the code, I know enough php and html to know the vB customer service person was either stoned or totally uninformed.

I'll probably just stick with 3.8 and let it go at that. My 'regulars' know how to use the software and are happy as things are.

I even linked to the post the vB 'customer service rep' made on my main forum as an example of of terrible customer service responses. My main forum is a Quality Assurance site and vBulletin has become an example of what happens when a big company buys a small company. Purchasers with problems are automatically classified as complainers. I this case it was a total dissociation.

My opinion is the vB folks, the new owners, have effectively alienated themselves from their core supporters. This all smells of Vista to me.

I don't know what is in store for vB in the future. I only have one forum running on it these days and haven't used it on a new site in years.

I will say Good Luck in this new adventure. I hope it works out for the vB people and their new business model.

[speedway]

Not all customers even view this forum.

I didn't even start getting involved until IB started pulling crap. All I ever did was wait fo notices and upgrade through member's area without ever seeing theis board.

Bingo... I only come here when there is a problem or an email - I am not on here every day. Got an email today telling me I qualify for a $130.00 upgrade which reminded me to renew. Turned out I could neither renew OR get the $130.00 offer... go figure.

[fufu]

Not all customers even view this forum.

I didn't even start getting involved until IB started pulling crap. All I ever did was wait fo notices and upgrade through member's area without ever seeing theis board.

[turbe]

Also there are no more annual renewals.

I didn't get any notice about this

[Gun Geek]

Oh yeah, another thing, I would hope that anybody in their right mind would not purchase any software/script with out first testing the functionality. Offering this special "pre order" discount with out a simple demo available is not a good choice, and IMO a bad business practice for the company offering it and the company that buys it being totally blind. Sorry if I cant test it I dont buy it .. plain and simple. Ever heard of "buyer beware" this is one of those cases.

[speedway]

This is almost like saying to your car insurance company, sorry, I forgot to renew my policy that expired a few months ago, I was busy, and gee, now that I had an accident can you cover it anyway?

Rubbish!!! My biggest gripe is that WE WERE NOT TOLD that renewals would be withdrawn, nothing, zip, nada.

[AVC]

I agree Arson221, vB needs to do something for ALL FORUM OWNERS WHO SIMPLY WANT TO RUN A FORUM, A STAND ALONE FORUM !

This means a very affordable deal on the forum module, since forum owners are the customers who built the entire company's cash flow over the years.

IB is on the verge of ruining their entire business, it is the forum customer base they MUST KEEP HAPPY, they are the future customers for any add on modules.

Modular is the way they should have build the software in the first place, not an entire suite of products.

The forum should have been the base, with social networking, blogging, photo gallery add on module licenses to be value added in case we wanted to buy them.

vB is going about this development and sales process with themselves in mind, not the customer centric way they should have been moving in.

[speedway]

Inactive licenses have never been eligible for upgrades to new versions. Not even point releases in the same series. Also there are no more annual renewals.

Did you send out emails to users explaining that as of X date there was not going to be any more annual renewals? No you didn't, you just decided to spring it on everyone. The ONLY way I found this out was to try and renew!!!!!!! Bad call guys, bad call....