Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!portal!fernwood!uunet!apctrc!drd!tdh
From: tdh@DRD.Com (Tom Haynes)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Borland C++ 2.0
Message-ID: <1991Feb20.130922.11605@DRD.Com>
Date: 20 Feb 91 13:09:22 GMT
References: <16740@sdcc6.ucsd.edu> <26972@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU> <1991Feb18.165403.3938@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: DRD Corporation
Lines: 51

scott@blueeyes.kines.uiuc.edu (scott) wrote:
} 
} I don't think they really care what you bought. I purchased Turbo Assembler
} and Debugger 1.0 last year. I got an upgrade coupon for the new version of
} Turbo Assembler, so I called them up to order the upgrade. The lady on the
} other end offered me TC++ 1.0 Pro, even though the last Turbo C I had purchased
} was 1.0, a long time back. I got it at the upgrade price of $125, no hassle,
} no fuss.
} 
} Last week when I ordered BC++ 2.0 I was asked for my upgrade coupon number.
} I explained that I hadn't received it yet, and prepared for a minor hassle
} getting her to take my order. I needn't have worried - the order clerk just 
} added me to the system, took my order for the $99 upgrade from my TC++ 1.0 
} Pro, and that was that. No hassle, no problem, no fuss. I even had my original 
} 
} My guess is that they make enough money selling the packages at the upgrade
} price that they don't have to be ultra-persnickety-careful about who they
} sell to. Clearly they also recognize the value of giving their current
} customers a hassle-free upgrade to a new product. By showing trust and 
} taking the customer's word for it, they do nothing but improve their customer 
} relations (which is no bad thing). I seriously doubt that Borland loses
} any money by selling the upgrades at that price, so it's a big WIN for
} them in every department, with the added benefit of being a WIN for us.
} 
} It's kinda like their no-nonsense license ageement - a no-nonsense upgrade
} policy. You other software manufacturers out there reading this, you'd do
} well to follow Borland's fine example.
} 
} 
} -- 
} Scott Coleman                                                      tmkk@uiuc.edu
} 
} "Unisys has demonstrated the power of two. That's their stock price today."
}        - Scott McNealy on the history of mergers in the computer industry.

The thing that I liked about Borland is that they learn from their
mistakes.   If you recall, the upgrade from TC 2.0 Professional to
TC++ 1.0 Professional did not include the Assembler manual.  They
said that it hadn't changed that much, and you could use the other
one.  By not sending the new manual, they were able to offer the
upgrade at such a low price.

They caught alot of flack on this.  I really didn't like it when
they offered upgrades to people with other compiliers for the
same price I paid.  Did they not get the Assembler manual?

Anyway, when I called for my upgrade, I asked them if I got all
the manuals, and the customer service rep said "Yes, we learned 
our lesson."  See if Microsoft does this for you.

Tom Haynes,  tdh@drd.com