Customer Service

[ger21]

So I call them to buy the training discs, for 8 YEAR OLD software, and they need $200 to send me ten, wait for it, cd-rom discs.

I'd be surprised if any other software company still would have had training material for 8 year old software. So on one hand, you should be happy.

On the other hand, I've heard that numerous people have purchased the current version of BobCAD for $300, if you're persistent enough.

[craigmx5]

They don't support the software at all. There are no training materials available, and their software, although more difficult to use than I'd thought, isn't terrible. My complaints aren't by any means reasonable. Thing is, if I don't upgrade, neither is the team at Bobcad. I could have spent better money and time on cnc than I did on Bobcad. Next time I will.

I am a hobbiest and have used V22, V23, and V24. Along with V22, I purchased the set of training video CDs and found them to be very helpful in learning to use the software. BobCAD/CAM is a very sophisticated software and the learning curve is long. While V22 was much-maligned in some circles, the final release was quite stable and worked well for me. I also purchased a small on-demand support package - which I never found necessary to use.
When I upgraded to V23, I also purchased the training video CDs. There were enough feature changes in V23 to make that a reasonable purchase in my mind. As new releases were posted, I updated my software and it functioned well.
I purchased V24 to take advantage of new features. The training CDs from V23 were quite adequate to support me with V24. The software works as advertised and I have no complaints. Since I am an occassional user, having the CDs keeps me going when I forget or encounter new uses.
This forum has also been a valuable support group. BurrMan, though not affiliated with BobCAD/CAM, has been a major source of help for many people, including posting his videos to illustrate solutions to problems. Sorin, who is affiliated with BobCAD/CAM, has been very active in providing support here, as well as his own web site and videos posted on YouTube. We should all be grateful for the support available here.
Yes, I do receive phone calls from the sales people - usually quarterly. I do not find them high-pressure nor obnoxious as has been claimed by many. I just tell them I am not interested and that is the end of the conversation. If I am interested, it is the perfect opportunity to do the negotiating that everyone says to do. I am known locally as a penny-pincher and do not part with my money easily. If I can negotiate a price point for the software THAT I WANT, a deal is done. If not, there will be no sale.
In summary, I am a satisfied user of BobCAD/CAM. I got a good value for the money spent. The training materials and help are available, some of it is free. Take advantage of it.

[Joe S.]

I used to think of BobCad as junk software, ver 22 used to crash the computer frequently.
I actually like ver. 23 for all 2.5D and am just beginning to become comfortable with doing some 3d work. I am still learning, but my like for it is still increasing. I agree, 8 YO software is unlikely to get anyone Else's support at any price. I think my ver.22 problems were due to software conflicts, which were resolved by cleaning house in Win XP, threw out my bosses grandsons junk & programs, gutted it's internet access, trashed the AV software and no problems like that anymore.
If my boss had not purchased a 3rd seat and given it to me I would most likely buy Bob Cad myself. I still would like to tweak the post processors to add a G4 between starting the coolant and performing the first cut, because the coolant seems to drain back on both of the machines I program for.
This Forum is a Great Resource !

[mtlhe]

BUUUUUUUUUURMAN to Bobcads rescue!!!!!!!!
If you don't like and/or respect the gentlemans opinion DON"T open the thread!
His frustrations are shared by thousands. You take such a utter contempt for ANYONE who doesn't have Chris Matthews"Thrill up his leg" for Bobcrap. He wasn't asking for free stuff from Babcrap. He was simply illustrating his experience with their customers support(as the title of the thread reads). That what forums are for to share experiences. Don't get so worked up. So you won't get a commission of this one sale! Big deal, you'll get the next one.

[BurrMan]

BUUUUUUUUUURMAN to Bobcads rescue!!!!!!!.

How did I "rescue" BobCad?

Maybe your big mouth will present the 10 year old software that lalonde failed on?

You take such a utter contempt

Funny how people project their own issues on others... I was trying to find the "utter contempt" in my post. However, yours is riddled with it!

[BurrMan]

I think you will have found me in this forum regularly, participating in all types of threads. like this..

Bobcad v23 Acme thread

You???? Well, we all know you now, dont we?

BurrMan to the rescue? Ok, I'll accept that one....

[Bob La Londe]

How did I "rescue" BobCad?

Maybe your big mouth will present the 10 year old software that lalonde failed on?

Funny how people project their own issues on others... I was trying to find the "utter contempt" in my post. However, yours is riddled with it!

And maybe the FanBoy burrman will continue to rush to the defense of Bob Cad. Rescue? I think the OP over stated your value in this discussion. I don't think anything could ever "rescue" BobCad in my view, but my reasons are not germain to this particular conversation. Still you never know. I left an invitation open to BC some time ago to try and fix my problem with them. It doesn't include telephone or email solicitation though.

Fail? Sorry, what are you wiling to pay for my time to document various pieces of software I use today professionally for other purposes that I can still get support from the manufacturer for?

You see I "owe" you nothing. Why would I take any effort to work within a narrow group of constraints you attempted to craft to try and self justify your position, when you yourself went to the opposite extreme and used a good product (while very expensive) to try and shore up BobCad's reputation. The fans like it. That should be good enough for you. If that is not good enough for you then you obviously and by your own demonstrative behavior are not unbiased.

Point proven to my satisfaction. I could theoretically care less whether you are satisfied or not, but in practice that is not likely.

As to the OP. BobCad has shown to me upon multiple interactions that they are all about the money. It would be very unlikely that they would provide any support for an older product for free, but they will gladly try to hard sell you on buying a new product, and then sell you support and training. Are there other companies that will provide support for a ten year old software product for free? Not likely. For a fee? Yes definitely. In the CAD/CAM business? I don't know. I haven't been doing CAD/CAM long enough to be excessively familiar with all the offerings or the current offerings history in the business.

Hmmm.... I guess that could be interpreted two ways. BurrMan is either right, and the CAD/CAM business is universally more mercenary than other professional software fields, or was he trying to mislead us with the cost of training of another product. Trying the old, "yeah but our price is better than a superior product," arguement. LOL.

You know. Now that I think about it I am running some communications software that is substantially more than a decade old for remote programming certain specialized types of equipment. I can still get support and updates for it for free, and I haven't bought any of the matching hardware from those vendors in ages. Am I going to be goaded into detailing that information? Hardly.

Personally I expect BM will get to make one or two last jabs and this thread will be locked, but it will be interesting to see.

[BurrMan]

You see I "owe" you nothing. Why would I take any effort

Thats because your selfish....

[Bob La Londe]

Thats because your selfish....

LOL. No. Its because of your attitude.

You don't expect BC to do anything for free or even for a fee in some cases, yet you want me to work for you for free. LOL.

[BurrMan]

Nah... Pure selfish.

[Bob La Londe]

Nah... Pure selfish.

If I was purely selfish, I would have pointed out the logical inconsistency of your statement in the context it was used rather than responding to the spirit of the jibe instead.

Oooh... there was another one. LOL. Of course that does go along with your demonstrated double standard, your previous logical inconsistency, and your delusion that you are unbiased.

For the record, Anybody who believes they are unbiased in a discussion like this is fooling themselves. I am honest enough with myself to recognize that I am very biased bordering on prejudiced on this general area of discussion. BM is similarly, but refuses to recognize it.

P.S. For those that missed it, BMs logic implied I would make the effort because I am selfish. His second logical inconsistency if you ignore the first and take it as it was meant rather than as it was written is that it implies I am correct, but that I am to selfish to share that information. There are more blatant logical inconsistencies with the whole conversation, but I expect only the slowest amoung us would miss those. Like the one I already stated. If noboody else can be expected to work for free (per BM) then why should I work for BM for free. ROFL.

The real world lesson we can all take from this is it may not be a good idea to make an investment in software for future use. It would be better to wait until you are nearly ready to make use of it as support may be unavailable or expensive if an overly large time interval is experienced between purchase and use. One could make the same arguement about many different assets. Certainly a car will require service if it stored (even properly) for 8 years with out use. On the other hand a car manufacturer (atleast in the US) is required by law to keep parts and service materials available for their makes for 10 years. Ok, Government Motors (GM) may be an exception, but they went bankrupt. LOL.

[Machineit]

What the hell good does it do to post this stuff here? If you have a question, POST IT!

I may not agree with all of BobCad business plan, but it does not do anyone any good to just rant and rave and *****.

There is not one CAD software company out there that provides free service and training--------None!

By any CAD system anywhere for <$1,000.00 and tell them you want full training and on call service. Just turn up your volume so you can hear them laugh!

Take your bile somewhere else please.