CF Software subscriptions - a waste of time?

[mee]

I bought CFMX6 in August 2003 together with a 2 year subscription, online from
the Macromedia web site. Foolishly I assumed that this would mean I would be
provided with my upgrade as soon as it became available. Wrong! I've just come
off the phone having had a very frustrating conversation with someone in
customer support telling me it could be another 30 days before my order is
fulfilled! Are there any other users here that had subscriptions that now have
CFMX7 or are we all getting the same poor service? Can anyone think of any
good reason for shelling out on a subscription if it actually puts you at the
bottom of the queue for getting an upgrade? Is it because Macromedia already
have my cash that they are in no hurry to supply the goods I effectively paid
for 18 months ago? I guess I've learn my lesson and that's don't take up
Macromedia subscription deals, just buy the upgrades as they come along. Would
love to hear other people's experiences with their subscritions.:|:moon;:music;

[pflynn02]

We never saw a point in the subscription service, we just placed an order for
the upgrade after it came out and received it a few days later. I do think that
it is crappy what Macromedia is doing to its subscribers. :-/

[mee]

Well, customer services have today confirmed that CFMX7 has not yet started
shipping to those that took out subscriptions. Furthermore, they don't expect
to start shipping for a further 2-3 weeks. Truly appalling service! Software
subscriptions are clearly a waste of money. I shall not be taking out further
subs with Macromedia :|

[Tom Jordahl]

I am sorry that it is taking so long to get your subscription CDs.

You can always download the software from the web site and use Enterprise
trial mode (for 30 days) till you get your new license key.....

--
Tom Jordahl
Macromedia Server Development

[mee]

Which is what I've done, except I've managed to get CS to provide a trial
license of 60 days giving me 90 days before everything reverts to developer
mode. Let's hope I don't get anywhere near the end of this period! From what
I've been told, everyone with a sub is still waiting for fulfillment. This
experience is enough to put me off ever buying a Macromedia subscription again
:-(

[Tom Jordahl]

By the way I pinged someone about this and they are looking in to it.

From what I understand, it has something to do with buying a subscription
"through the channel" instead of from us so things take more time. I don't
know what that means since I am a developer, so take that as you will.

--
Tom Jordahl
Macromedia Server Development

[mee]

Thanks Tom,

I bought direct from Macromedia - from the website, so I dread to think how long it will take for those who bought through a channel to get there upgrade!

[m4rkdelaney]

Are you talking about a devnet subscription? We purchased the Devnet
subscription and we don't even get an upgrade at all. All we get is a special
version of the MX 7 that is a devnet version only and it appends a very
irritating meta tag into every page that states it is a devnet version that is
not for production use. I agree MM has pulled a bit of a scam with all this
subscription junk and now everyone is beginning to painfully understand the
fine print in the agreements. We have to pay the same price to upgrade as the
people who only purchased the product without and type of subscriptions (there
is no discount). We are actually paying more for the product than if we had
just purchased CF server without any devnet subscription.

[Tom Jordahl]

Devnet subscription is a subscription to *DevNet*, not to ColdFusion
releases. You got access to other content, code and the like for that money
that others didn't get.

I would not confuse that with a *release* subscription, which entitles you
to any and all releases within a period of time.

--
Tom Jordahl
Macromedia Server Development

[mee]

unbelievable, another month has passed and Macromedia have still not dispatched
my subscription upgrade :|. Am I the only person still waiting or is everyone
seeing the same appalling levels of service?

[Tom Jordahl]

Most if not all of our subscription customers have gotten CFMX 7. If you
haven't you need to find out why. The forums are NOT the place to do it -
the right people are not here.

--
Tom Jordahl
Macromedia Server Development

[mee]

Tom, I have been trying since February to get European support to sort this
out. In February they told me: 'Customers with a valid subscription should
receive automatically within the next month further instructions for the free
of charge upgrade to Coldfusion 7.' On the 10th March I was told: 'We have
confirmation from our Team in the United States that they have recorded this
registration and therefore you will receive your upgrade shortly.' and then
'Further to our phone conversation of yesterday regarding your free entitlement
to Coldfusion 7 as part of your subscription with Coldfusion MX, please note
that our Head Office in the USA has advised that the fulfillements to
Codlfusion 7 had not started to ship yet and that it might be 2-3 weeks before
they do.' now a month later, I've had this from European support: 'In reply
to your email of 11/04/2005, please rest assured that I understand your
frustration and dissatisfaction. I have re-escalated your case and forward
your email to our Head Office in the USA in order to obtain an estimated date
of when you should receive your free entitlement to Coldfusion 7 and will keep
you updated as soon as I receive an update. Please accept our sincere
apologies for the inconvenience caused by this delay.' So, as you can see,
using the correct channels is getting me nowhere fast. It's because of this
I've resorted to posting here. If you can direct me to someone who can
actually sort this complete mess out, I will happily deal with them and go away
from here. Until then, I will do whatever I need to do to get the product that
I purchased nearly two years ago.