[darren clarke]

i think they are saying it is to expensive to develop the program more,

[Dave Anderson]

I think that whilst I appreciate Ian and Brad will support WCP users to the best of their ability....

I will find another way to organise my business and not reply on support that might or might not be available...ok so 10 months trusted use for 180 quid :...I have enjoyed using WCP but I just cannot leave my data to 'possible support'.

Dave.

[chopsie]

does wcp not offer to save your info to disc like george does after inputting your days work and any relevant alterations made? that would prevent problems in case of a system crash?

[Dave Anderson]

Chopsie...

Yes you can save your date to disk but the trouble is:

Say you have a pc crash, rebuild your machine, obtain a copy of WCP...load your data...you'll be able to use it until the trial period is over...but to make it work after those 45 days..you need to supply the serial code of the program install to WCP so they can do some magic their end to make the program 'FULL Version' unless this is done...I 'guess' you will not be able to continue using it.

This is my concern...I am hoping Ian or Brad will shed some light on this matter.

Dave.

[BradMonks]

Hi All

Ian and i have been watching the posts going up, we spent all afternoon from 2.30pm replying to emails and posts, we both have other commitments hence we cannot spend all of our time answering individual replies.

We have read, listened to and digested your comments and we will be meeting tomorrow morning to make decisions as to how we proceed.

We have never promised updates continually, never committed to timescales and contrary to posts on we have released over 20 updates in the last 2 years, many of which were system based so many users were unaware of them and we will also discuss the PDA debt list which i agree is a valid point made by some of you.

It appears many may not have read the document we put up as we are not saying we are 'killing' WCP, everyone wants it developed in different ways and there is simply not enough revenue to pay for development costs. We asked some WCP users a while ago about funded development, the response was that they wanted the software developed but didnt want to pay any extra!

In hindsight we should have launched WCP as a subscription style program, we didnt and that is why we are here today. I apologise for that, we have only ever done what we felt was right for our users and after some of the comments we have received today i wonder if our commitment has been mis-placed.

We have always tried to offer an outstanding service...emails replied to swiftly, often at weekend and late at night/early hours of morning, help with non WCP related IT issues.

We are trying to give our customers what they want BUT it cannot be done for nothing. We developed Compass180 to help and assist expanding businesses, it would be unattainable to put into WCP what we want to include in Compass180.

Ian and i will always champion WCP as it was the chrysalis of our joint venture and it holds a very important emotional attachment for us both, that is why we are fighting tooth-and-nail to keep it alive but it isnt seen like that by many of you.

I also would like to publicly thank Kate (and others) for fighting our corner. Software development is a costly business (i recently discussed with a client a regarding a bespoke system not dis-similar to WCP that had a costing of over £4,500), we have to fund that somehow and also pay our bills, mortgages etc.

Yes, Ian and i do get angry and upset when WCP is berated. That is because it has been our lives for so long (Ians for 12 years and mine for 3 1/2 years) at the expense of holidays, families etc.

It has been a long day, we appreciate many of you are upset but we are NOT dumping WCP, we have fought too hard to let it go. All we are trying to do is develop the next logical step in software development in the WCP genre, we do care about all of you (many of our customers are personal friends) and we would not abandon you.

Please try to see that we are trying to create something not take something away.

Ian and i will post the next chapter(!) tomorrow.

Best regards
Brad

[Clive McDonald]

I migrated like many others from george to wcpro on the basis of on going support.At the very least we should be given the means to operate wcpro as a stand alone programme on our pc's.

I hope your lawyers are at this meeting you are having.

I don't care about future updates, given what you have told us.I do care about my business being left high and dry.

[dave0123]

I still think something should be done so we could move our customers from wcp as there Arnt going to be any updates so don't think should be stuck using one program.

[Sean Dyer]

slump mate you can do that it just wont be getting further development but they will help you keep using it. As said earlier its a let down but i understand it but still im not sure its the right decision for you guys its to expensive for 99% of cleaners to pay 30 quid a month.and window cleaner pro fills that gap in between George and more advanced software so i hope you change your minds and do some updates to keep it selling and supported. Sean

[Sean Dyer]

slump mate you can do that it just wont be getting further development but they will help you keep using it. As said earlier its a let down but i understand it but still im not sure its the right decision for you guys its to expensive for 99% of cleaners to pay 30 quid a month.and window cleaner pro fills that gap in between George and more advanced software so i hope you change your minds and do some updates to keep it selling and supported. Sean

[Dave Anderson]

I think Slump is bang on the money...standalone version which can be installed without any need to be registered on a WCP server/database. So in the event of a system crash...rebuild pc, install wcp, load data...all done, no messing.

This is the absolute minimum that should be available in my very humble opinion, without this I am personally worried that 'when' my system throws a wobbly ...my business is lost...

I look forward to hearing what Ian and Brad post for us tommorow.

I love using WCP it's great and I do not want to lose it but if I cannot trust my ability to recover from a 'disaster' then I have to plan accordingly. This is not down to personal connections, this is pure business nothing more.

Cheers
Dave.

[wightsurf]

I think Slump is bang on the money...standalone version which can be installed without any need to be registered on a WCP server/database. So in the event of a system crash...rebuild pc, install wcp, load data...all done, no messing.

This is the absolute minimum that should be available in my very humble opinion, without this I am personally worried that 'when' my system throws a wobbly ...my business is lost...

I look forward to hearing what Ian and Brad post for us tommorow.

Cheers
Dave.

100% agree with that

[Nathanael Jones]

I think Slump is bang on the money...standalone version which can be installed without any need to be registered on a WCP server/database. So in the event of a system crash...rebuild pc, install wcp, load data...all done, no messing.

I think that's a great idea, its now an obsolete product so any pirating issues are history, so why not?

What do you say Brad,.. one final update that allows existing users to uninstall/re-install/move to another pc etc and get WCP up and running again by simply entering their product code instead of having to ask you? It would remove many fears of being left high & dry,...

[lee09]

I think Slump is bang on the money...standalone version which can be installed without any need to be registered on a WCP server/database. So in the event of a system crash...rebuild pc, install wcp, load data...all done, no messing.

I think that's a great idea, its now an obsolete product so any pirating issues are history, so why not?

What do you say Brad,.. one final update that allows existing users to uninstall/re-install/move to another pc etc and get WCP up and running again by simply entering their product code instead of having to ask you? It would remove many fears of being left high & dry,...

People may even pay for that one!

[dave0123]

What about something to get customers out? Maybe to George or even excel as at the moment there all stuck in wcp unless you want to type every customers details down.

Let's not forget that when wcp came out they where very fast at making software to inport George data.

[Smudger]

We have used WC pro for just over a year and it is a key tool for our company and operations, initially i thought the
same as many of you regarding updates etc, BUT remembering the bad old days when computer companies sold a machine one week then launched a 'newer, improved model' leaving your shiney new purchase instantly out of date. this is not that bad
a situation - after all WC Pro is a fully working and first class program which will run forever - if you as a customer outgrow it - then an alternative will need to be found ( possibly compass 180 ? ) I'm sure that as long as WCP exists then any lost programs can easily be reloaded and activated by WCP. - we back up on the PC AND other media.

My partner uses the program far more than I and as said before it's a KEY tool - there are things she would like it to do, which compass180 appears to address - multiple users - email direct - text message ( would like some clarification on whether it's just bulk email or can make it round specific ) and to be honest we would pay £30 PM for that.  thats how much we rate WCP.

I understand the frustration from Kate1 - it's a bit like a custy asking you to just wipe over a facia or clean the garage door for free ( well whats another couple of minutes! - and your here anyway! ) - and boy don't some of you get upset with that!

Many years ago my brother wanted a bespoke program to run his engineering company - it set him back £6k and over 2 years of constant niggles, crashes and updates.

At the end of the day WC Pro is a STANDARD program that works well! ( and in my opinion beats George into a cocked hat )
if you want all the bells a whistles then, like all good things you have to pay.

basically pays your money - make your choice.

I am interested to know when Compass180 will be ready ?

Darran

[No Ladders]

Well i for one have used WCP since the 1st version and have been very pleased. If the new version has all the features not on this version i'm more than happy to pay £25 per month to run my buisness.

At the end of the day it's less than 1hr  to run my buisness so it is worth it to me. I guess it comes down to the avarage window cleaner wanting to run their buisness on the cheap.

I can see Ian & Brad's point of view. It's not like they are saying that's the end of it. I have emailed Ian & he has replyed saying there will be no shut down & WCP will still work.

[Moderator David@stives]

Maybe give existing pro users 12 months free cloud computing ?

[erithwc]

What im worried about is if i started paying by instalments and the company had to close down due to funding issues i would be left with a program that i would not be able to use or would i be issued with a fully working program  

[kate1]

Nope

You all want what Paul, Ian, Brad, John cant provide and youll will ever continue moaning

3 programmers and it aint going to work

I get so annoyed about this

[Nathanael Jones]

Maybe give existing pro users 12 months free cloud computing ?

I was just about to suggest this!

I do have concerns about cloud computing though,.. mobile internet is patchy at best round by me. If I was relying on internet access to run my business I'd be bankrupt! If there was a version of the software that could run independently of internet access & sync up when possible, then I'd consider it.

Being a tightwad though, £25 a month would kill the deal for me. £10 per month maybe,.. nothing more.