CQC Pricing Thread

[Dean Roddey]

In the case of such a horrible eventuality, for me anyway, the code would be open sourced. We would never leave our customers out in the cold. Mark has the code so it wouldn't require the FBI to crack my encryption to get to it after they find me rotted on the floor near the coffee maker.

As I've said before though, our competitors had better hope I don't die, because if CQC was open sourced, the commercial market for software based automation products would pretty much be wiped out.

Given that I barely leave the apartment these days, and even that's just to go to the video store or the grocery store a few blocks away, it's not likely I'm going to die in a freak bungie accident or anything. But, that's all the more reason to build up the company and get more technical folks on board, so that this isn't an issue.

 

[Mike]

I had a question on how you are viewing maintenance (as I have seen a few interpretations) and I want to make sure I understand this clearly (as some of my earlier misunderstandings may be to blame for the comment of the structure 'changing'):

Say we bought/will buy the full product and after the first year kicks in, the maintenance charges become due annually (understanding the possibility for reasonable price increases,etc). This covers the cost for the updates to the products.

Lets flash forward how ever many months it is until say CQC 3.0. Does the maintenance entitle a user to that upgrade or is that another purchase altogether?

Now say additional optional modules are released, those are paid events, right?

Can you clarify how you are viewing this?

 

[Guy Lavoie]

I had a question on how you are viewing maintenance (as I have seen a few interpretations) and I want to make sure I understand this clearly (as some of my earlier misunderstandings may be to blame for the comment of the structure 'changing'):

Say we bought/will buy the full product and after the first year kicks in, the maintenance charges become due annually (understanding the possibility for reasonable price increases,etc). This covers the cost for the updates to the products.

Lets flash forward how ever many months it is until say CQC 3.0. Does the maintenance entitle a user to that upgrade or is that another purchase altogether?

Now say additional optional modules are released, those are paid events, right?

Can you clarify how you are viewing this?

And what about the users who bought it recently under the understanding that "future upgrades are always free" that was posted so often (and seems to have been edited out of a whole bunch of threads)? Are they grandfathered or is that promise simply erased?

 

[IVB]

Who's been posting and now editing that out?

 

[Guy Lavoie]

I'm referring to Dean's posts in many threads where he was advertising CQC within a discussion.

 

[Mike]

I don't remember Dean saying upgrades were always free (I think PowerHome had something like that, as I remember that specifically) but I may have just missed it (or it was before my time here).

I can understand him needing to make money, and can understand the maintenance concept, my frustration yesterday was the jump once the interim deals are over (now that I understand the progression). Also it was personally frustrating as I have been gearing up for CQC and even with todays sale price, had I bought it a few weeks ago it would have been almost a couple hundred cheaper.

I thought he had something where if you write a 'real' driver and keep it updated for a new version (or something like that) that gave you some benefits or a free version (I don't remember the details). I have not looked for that post, but that is all I remember on CQC. That may no longer be an open offer given where the product is today, as I have not heard that for a very long time now.

I'm trying to come to a decision, myself, as if I do not purchase today, then I will not buy CQC later ($895 is too high for me, I will play with lower cost alternatives then even if CQC has tremendous value).

 

[IVB]

had I bought it a few weeks ago it would have been almost a couple hundred cheaper.

Not sure I understand that. There is no real "sale", the full server is the same as it ever was. the only difference from a few weeks ago is that you cannot buy anything less than the "full" $315 package.

Is that what you were referring to?

Also, i'll have to check out Dean's posts as I don't recall that either. Not saying you're wrong, just that I don't currently recall.

 

[IVB]

In the case of such a horrible eventuality, for me anyway, the code would be open sourced. We would never leave our customers out in the cold. Mark has the code so it wouldn't require the FBI to crack my encryption to get to it after they find me rotted on the floor near the coffee maker.

As I've said before though, our competitors had better hope I don't die, because if CQC was open sourced, the commercial market for software based automation products would pretty much be wiped out.

Given that I barely leave the apartment these days, and even that's just to go to the video store or the grocery store a few blocks away, it's not likely I'm going to die in a freak bungie accident or anything. But, that's all the more reason to build up the company and get more technical folks on board, so that this isn't an issue.

So there you go folks, your backup plan in case of "something happens to Dean" is that everyone gets the source code, and anyone can extend it.

 

[DavidL]

If I were Dean, I would have the source code in my inheritance. Dependent on how history goes, it could be worth a lot o money. So, I am suprised that Dean is making that statement now. I suspect his partner, his future buy out company, his shareholders, or whatever else good fortune comes Dean's way will have LOTS to say on this issue.
So, being that I consider that statement very risky, I wouldn't put much merit into it today. sorry, dean, just wishing you success in our budding market.

 

[Guy Lavoie]

Also, i'll have to check out Dean's posts as I don't recall that either. Not saying you're wrong, just that I don't currently recall.

I did a quick search and the threads in which this was often repeated (mostly threads that were about about the controversy over Homeseer's fee to upgrade to 2.0) Dean would never miss a chance to advertise CQC and that contrary to Homeseer, upgrades were always free. But thos posts have all been edited and the edit date is always about a minute within the original posts's date (how'd you do that?).

Not trying to stir up a huge thing here, but I'd just be a bit miffed if I were suddenly told that now there *is* an upgrade fee *and* a yearly maintenance fee.

 

[DavidL]

Guy, you must have read the post within the minute he first posted it, and then he edited it. And did that consistently

Just kidding. How did he do that (if at all)? I gotta believe the websites uses server time, not client time for posts.

 

[Mike]

Not sure I understand that. There is no real "sale", the full server is the same as it ever was. the only difference from a few weeks ago is that you cannot buy anything less than the "full" $315 package.

Is that what you were referring to?

From what I understand, the complete package that was $315 recently, is now 'on sale' until the end of the day for $495. After today until CQC 2.0 comes out (if I have followed Dean's comments correctly) it is $180 more than $495. Then when CQC 2.0 is out, it is $895 for the full package.

I have been putting the pieces together in preparation for this (Sage, IR, etc) as it was my intention to purchase CQC (in fact to emulate a setup that I would expect to be very much like yours). I hadn't thought about anything like this so hadn't picked it up yet, figuring I'd get it when the pieces were in place (which I was hoping to wrap up over the next few weeks). That is all I was referring to, had I just bought it I would not have to worry about this (I had no problems with the maintenance, I can understand the need for that).

EDIT: If I'm wrong on this and you can buy it at the old price, my purchase is definitely going in today.

 

[upstatemike]

In the case of such a horrible eventuality, for me anyway, the code would be open sourced. We would never leave our customers out in the cold. Mark has the code so it wouldn't require the FBI to crack my encryption to get to it after they find me rotted on the floor near the coffee maker.

As I've said before though, our competitors had better hope I don't die, because if CQC was open sourced, the commercial market for software based automation products would pretty much be wiped out.

Given that I barely leave the apartment these days, and even that's just to go to the video store or the grocery store a few blocks away, it's not likely I'm going to die in a freak bungie accident or anything. But, that's all the more reason to build up the company and get more technical folks on board, so that this isn't an issue.

So there you go folks, your backup plan in case of "something happens to Dean" is that everyone gets the source code, and anyone can extend it.

Are you suggesting Dean might meet up with some unfortunate accident just so the code gets open sourced? This is a rough crowd!

 

[mdonovan]

Well, ain't this a kick in the teeth. I was looking at MainLobby and CQC, now they both announce this. Well, too expensive for me. Back to the drawing board. Just my luck

Matt

 

[MBrew]

EDIT: If I'm wrong on this and you can buy it at the old price, my purchase is definitely going in today.

See the announcements at the CQC site. The last post has the info you need


BSR Edit: FIXED LINK