Clearer Communication

IN1ACCORD Productions wrote on 9/30/2016, 10:24 AM

I had high hopes for VEGAS when MAGIX purchased it and they were so quick to communicate their intentions including improvements to SONY Vegas Pro 13 (Pro13) and a new VEGAS Pro 14 (Pro14). But what started promising has turned into a communication nightmare.

When I received MAGIX initial email for "Pro13 now and Pro14 for free later" for $199 the impression was given that for previous Sony Pro13 owners there would be a Pro14 upgrade offer that would be as good or better. So like many previous owners, I waited. On the launch date I didn't receive any information (from email or within Pro13). After several wondering days Pro13 finally showed the upgrade link which I opened and was disappointed to see the pricing (Pro14-$249). If I had known it would cost $50 more for just Pro14 I probably would have taken the initial $199 offer even though I didn't need a second copy of Pro13. So, now I feel irritated, leaving me hesitant to upgrade. There are many other SONY Pro13 owners that feel the same way.

There needs to be clearer communication. For example, the initial email could have said, "Special One-Time 2-for-1 Pricing! Don't wait to pay regular VEGAS Pro14 Upgrade prices!". I have recently seen many posts (in the Forum and on Facebook) from you about "regular upgrade pricing". That information would have been more helpful if you had communicated it several months ago. Saying it now seems more like a "got-cha" response and not a good way to start a relationship.

Another area that was badly communicated is the specification of which version of DVD Architect Pro (DVDA) comes with Pro14. I found no mention of which version on the product website or emails. I happened to see a computer with Pro14 and the DVDA is version 7. Why wouldn't you want to specify that? And does it improve on DVDA6? It might add another reason to buy or upgrade.

Please seriously consider that clearly communicating new products, upgrade information and buyer expectation of pricing is important. Over the years I have seen many ideas and products fail because of bad or weak communication. I don't want VEGAS to be one of them.

Comments

OldSmoke wrote on 9/30/2016, 10:54 AM

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/a-few-clarifications--103723/

IN1ACCORD Productions wrote on 9/30/2016, 11:33 AM

OldSmoke, thanks anyway, but I already saw this and other responses. What Gary said is part of what I wrote about - giving us the upgrade price now instead of months ago which could have effected my choice to take the $199 offer. When you have a new owner (MAGIX) without clarification how do you know for sure what "regular" is? They could have decided to charge $399 for Pro14 with a $100 upgrade or $999 for Pro14 with a $500 upgrade. It was initially hard to tell with a $199 price for 2 upgrades (both Pro13 and Pro14) which is like $100 each.

OldSmoke wrote on 9/30/2016, 11:36 AM

OldSmoke, thanks anyway, but I already saw this and other responses. What Gary said is part of what I wrote about - giving us the upgrade price now instead of months ago which could have effected my choice to take the $199 offer. When you have a new owner (MAGIX) without clarification how do you know for sure what "regular" is? They could have decided to charge $399 for Pro14 with a $100 upgrade or $999 for Pro14 with a $500 upgrade. It was initially hard to tell with a $199 price for 2 upgrades (both Pro13 and Pro14) which is like $100 each.

Yes, I fully agree with you. "Customer is King" is a lost concept on Magix.

Wolfgang S. wrote on 9/30/2016, 12:04 PM

"Customer is King" alone has always been a wrong concept, because according to that VP should come for free. Obviously with that approach is would not possible for any company to stay in business. Due to that "customer is king" is an illusion.

The (economic) truth is that there must be a blance of interest between both a company and its customers, in the overall bundel of features (price is only one aspect here). But that are the basics of microeconomics but also marketing, and the complains are because you do not feel that this relationship is balanced from your side.

I close this thread, because one discussion about "a few clearification" what is a mixture of price and communication discussion is enough.