Subscription Woes

[srien]

There seems to be no place else to place this, so here it sits. When first approached to jump on the Autodesk subscription bandwagon, we were told that we would have a stable, controlled growth of our budget. We were also told that there would be new "Extensions" available for each member every 3 months, excepting for new releases. During 3 years of subscription, there's been no "steady", gentle rise in costs. Instead, we went from $48k per year to $90k this year and up to $108k next year. As for "Extensions", they never came close to hitting the mark and dropped the idea completely after only about a year.

Does anyone else have similar angst? What are you doing about it? We've decided to send a message to Autodesk by dropping the subscription. After a few years, we'll upgrade the software, but we'll probably never go back to subscription.

Hey, I love the software, but I hate the out-of-control pricing. What, is software an oil based product???

Angry in Seattle

[mjfarrell]

As I see it the Subscription Program, is a marketing scheme designed
to create a FORCED path to upgrade.
The sad news is that there is a small paragraph in the contract for the
Subscription program that limits AutoDesks requirements to actually delivering
ANY extentions while one is on subscription, up to and including NOT delivering
any extentions to your product during the subscription period.

The idea is that through this shell game unwitting users become agents to force other users
to upgrade, as they encounter compatability issues while working with drawings
from other not currently using the latest version, and backward compatability issues with
those same users, finally forcing them to upgrade to be compatable with the version
the reviewing agency is now using. As the targeted market for the subscription program
is or was government and municiple agencies.

I could find no reason to encourage anyone to give any company their money upfront
on the promise of some future delivery of a product. It removes the consumers power
of the purse strings. As with more peoples on the subscription program, AutoDesk has
fewer people to please, and or prove the viability of the program too.
The end result a program with fewer real enhancements, and more bugs, for more money
each year. Read that carefully as currently there is a plan afloat to sell you a new version
of AutoDesk's product each year, new features or not. And those on the subscription
program are the unwitting agents that will make this a reality.

[BrenBren]

Can I ask what software you are using (Vanilla AutoCAD or one of the vertical apps?)

[srien]

We're using a wide variety of apps, but no "Vanilla". ADT, ABS, Civil 3D, Civil Design, Electrical, LDT, Map, Raster Design and Survey. Roughly 200 licenses. 100 of them are ADT, 40 Map and 25 LDT.

[acad]

Subscription has been a growing trend and rumors are that it will become the trend in most software markets. At present, it's estimated that about 80% of clients are on subscription.

Because of the exact comments that you've expressed, Adesk has taken a closer look at subscription. As of this year, they are now offering more to subscription customers to make it worth you $$.

The 2005 products are the first that will be new annual releases. This is to make your subscription be more worthwhile. It is most definitely cheaper to be on subscription and receive your updates than it is to pay to update every year or even every two years.

There were some extensions in 2004, but they weren't always known about. Michael is right that in no other industry would we pay for something without having anything in our hands. The subscription program certainly did get off to a bad start as well.

In addition to the annual releases, Adesk is now offering training and support via the web to subscription customers only. I think you definitely have Adesk's attention and are not alone. They have the message and are finding more ways to make your subscription $$ a better investment.

[mjfarrell]

In addition to the annual releases, Adesk is now offering training and support via the web to subscription customers only. I think you definitely have Adesk's attention and are not alone. They have the message and are finding more ways to make your subscription $$ a better investment.


My thought on this; IF the training materials from AutoDesk are no better than they have
been in the past (Think Authorized Trainin materials) then there will be no added value
by receiving this FREE training to go with the subscription. In most cases these materials are too generic, and they are structured around perfect data, and preliminary steps have
been taken with that data such that it works perfectly for that lesson.
In short, the course materials are not enought to instill mastery in the average user.

So, even with subscription service in place one pays for steak and gets balogna.

[dhallett]

My firm is currently considering whether to go to a subscription basis for ADT. I had posted a separate comment in the CADD Management General forum, but it has also not elicited a lot of response. This thread seems to be running negative while the other had some positive comments, but there is no real consensus. Is there anyone that is on subscription that has had a positive experience? What is the price history for the subscription? I believe that the cost of a new seat of AutoCad has remained fairly stable, so why should the subscription cost have more than doubled as reported by “Angry in Seattle”?

[srien]

I was told that Autodesk had raaised the prices to match the cost of the license updates without subscription. They decided that they would provide some services to make the service "worthwhile". Unfortunately, they get to decide what is worthwhile. For many of us, the "benefits" are without enough value to merit the increased pricing.
“Angry in Seattle”

[Glenndp]

We have a subscription for Map and Raster Design. Looking over what we have paid, the price as actually went down the last couple of years 8) Haven't gotten a new quote yet for this year. Hopefully it didn't go up too much.

[Hippigypsy]

We have a subscription for Map and Raster Design. Looking over what we have paid, the price as actually went down the last couple of years 8) Haven't gotten a new quote yet for this year. Hopefully it didn't go up too much.

My subscription to yearly "vanilla" Autocad really didn't go up much at all. (at the most maybe 50$).