[Smart Carpet]

I haven't received any email saying support for WCP will be dropped,

No email at all!!  

When it says 'Debt List Coming Soon' on the WCP lite program, I assumed it was on it's way.


I must say that I really like WCP and it has really helped to streamline things for my business..  I appreciate the support I have received when I needed it. Ian has been really helpful and on the ball.

- However, that is what I invested my money in, a program that would live up to its promises, and would have all the faults ironed out as promised.  




I think the biggest worry now is not knowing what will happen if Ian/Brad do go Bust, and I can't access my program because there is no server to allow the program to open on my PC.


Therefore, I too would like to see the program made 'Stand-Alone' so to speak, so that it will continue to run and access my data backups.  (I believe that this would be fair to those who have paid a substantial amount of money for a piece of software)


If I could keep a master copy of the program on a CD so that I can load it up on any machine as and when I need to, I would feel a lot more secure.


The Idea of entrusting all of my data to an online 'clouds' program to a company that has nearly gone bust already already is unthinkable!


WCP team, please hear our plea to make the program as stable as possible for us before you abandon it, I think you will get a lot more respect for your future ventures if you do not leave your current customers high and dry!



For kate1 to carry on saying how difficult/time consuming/expensive it is to program etc etc is very unprofessional IMO, and the attitude she has displayed has not done anyone any favours in trying to promote future cloud software

- The point is we were sold a program from a professional looking business with a price tag that reflected the many promises it made.

[gavin pedley]

Totaly agreed please hear us a lot of us would feel more secure and happy knowing it was stand alone and we could keep a copy or two for worst case our pc dies or similar

I haven't received any email saying support for WCP will be dropped,

No email at all!!  

I too feel a bit daft for buying what I thought was a  program from a larger, more stable company, and when it says 'Debt List Coming Soon' on the WCP lite program, I assumed it was on it's way.


I must say that I really like WCP and it has really helped to streamline things for my business..  I appreciate the support I have received when I needed it. Ian has been really helpful and on the ball.

- However, that is what I invested my money in, a program that would live up to its promises, and would have all the faults ironed out as promised.  




I think the biggest worry now is not knowing what will happen if Ian/Brad do go Bust, and I can't access my program because there is no server to allow the program to open on my PC.


Therefore, I too would like to see the program made 'Stand-Alone' so to speak, so that it will continue to run and access my data backups.  (I believe that this would be fair to those who have paid a substantial amount of money for a piece of software)


If I could keep a master copy of the program on a CD so that I can load it up on any machine as and when I need to, I would feel a lot more secure.


The Idea of entrusting all of my data to an online 'clouds' program to a company that has nearly gone bust already already is unthinkable!


WCP team, please hear our plea to make the program as stable as possible for us before you abandon it, I think you will get a lot more respect for your future ventures if you do not leave your current customers high and dry!



For kate1 to carry on saying how difficult/time consuming/expensive it is to program etc etc is very unprofessional IMO, and the attitude she has displayed has not done anyone any favours in trying to promote future cloud software

- The point is we were sold a program from a professional looking business with a price tag that reflected the many promises it made.

[ianhannaford]

We are monitoring all the posts and we can assure all of you that your data and investment in wcp is secure. We have at no point said we are ceasing and our main priority is maintaining the integrity of us and our software.

We will of course reply to each concern tomorrow but just wanted everyone to know that we will never leave customers "high and dry" and as any of you know that have dealt with us we always listen and try to cater your requests.

Until tomorrow

Ian

[Smart Carpet]

We are monitoring all the posts and we can assure all of you that your data and investment in wcp is secure. We have at no point said we are ceasing and our main priority is maintaining the integrity of us and our software.

We will of course reply to each concern tomorrow but just wanted everyone to know that we will never leave customers "high and dry" and as any of you know that have dealt with us we always listen and try to cater your requests.

Until tomorrow

Ian

Thanks for the reply..

and Thanks for keeping a businesslike approach like despite our apparent desperation!

Your professional approach is appreciated so keep up the good work and I keenly anticipate the results of your meeting tomorrow.

[BradMonks]

To echo what Ian has said... the program is not obsolete, you will not be left 'high and dry' and we are not abandoning the program or our customers.

We have always traded, in this industry and others, with integrity and morals and that will never change. I think anyone that knows us personally will testify to that and i would also like to point out that we are not going to go bust.

BR's
Brad

[Paul Coleman]

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.

This is why I suggested an export as (save as?) .csv.  Not ideal but would help with the migration process if anyone decided they wanted to go that way.  I believe that formulas (formulae?) calculations are usually exported as raw data but at least most of it would be intact to save retyping it all.
Having read Brad's follow up post though, it looks like there will be ongoing support for the current incarnation of WCPro so an export facility may not be strictly necessary.

Using online versions of software has been the way things are headed for some time now.  It allows developers to prevent piracy more easily and it also allows them more control over the charging model for software.  I suppose most of us would do the same.  I do agree though that it is very important to honour promises.  Supplying a CD copy of the software or a downloadable site for post crash situations would seem to go a long way to easing some people's fears.

As an end user I'm not a great lover of the "cloud" scenario generally.  I much prefer to have a hard copy of software or at least the ability to download an executable copy that may be kept on a CD.  However, I do understand some of the reasons that a developer would prefer to use the cloud.

[concept]

Brad/Ian,

Is there anyway current users of WCP could switch the program to a new machine?

I know from personal experiance how difficult this is, as I have had 2 laptops go on me in under a year, and as I rely on WCP to keep my business afloat, I simply can't afford to be without it.

This isn't strictly anything to do with your new system, but I know how frustrating it is, and if this could be implemented prior to slowing down on WCP, I for one would be happy to pay for what is needed (at a reasonable cost!), and I am sure others would.

Also, is there way the data can be exported to ann Excel file or similar, so if in the worst case scenario, at least we have OUR data?

Not only do PC's fail, people like to buy newer shinier ones...

Back to topic, the grievance, if you can call it that, is we were promised the style of updates the new system has as standard, for WCP, and its just not going to happen anymore, after shelling out for a system that was supposed to do this, it grates that a new one will, but for a premium each month.

Now there is also the fear of WCP hasn't been financially viable, this new system could be the same, and you wipe your hands of it all, which, would leave us all in a lot of bother. If you do charge £25-35 a month, it looks like it will fail, going on comments posted here, so we then end up with 2 failed systems, and lots of businesses in trouble as they cannot rectify any issues.

Users of WCP RELY on your program to keep their business operating. WIthout it, they have no business.

Please remember this guys, this is why it is such an emotional subject for many of us.

Cheers

[Smart Carpet]

The option to export to excel/spreadsheet was one of the promises made about the program.

Hopefully it will be implemented.

For now, I will be printing hard copies of all of my data just in case.

[p1w1]

Brad/Ian,

Is there anyway current users of WCP could switch the program to a new machine?

I know from personal experiance how difficult this is, as I have had 2 laptops go on me in under a year, and as I rely on WCP to keep my business afloat, I simply can't afford to be without it.

This isn't strictly anything to do with your new system, but I know how frustrating it is, and if this could be implemented prior to slowing down on WCP, I for one would be happy to pay for what is needed (at a reasonable cost!), and I am sure others would.

Also, is there way the data can be exported to ann Excel file or similar, so if in the worst case scenario, at least we have OUR data?

Not only do PC's fail, people like to buy newer shinier ones...

Back to topic, the grievance, if you can call it that, is we were promised the style of updates the new system has as standard, for WCP, and its just not going to happen anymore, after shelling out for a system that was supposed to do this, it grates that a new one will, but for a premium each month.

Now there is also the fear of WCP hasn't been financially viable, this new system could be the same, and you wipe your hands of it all, which, would leave us all in a lot of bother. If you do charge £25-35 a month, it looks like it will fail, going on comments posted here, so we then end up with 2 failed systems, and lots of businesses in trouble as they cannot rectify any issues.

Users of WCP RELY on your program to keep their business operating. WIthout it, they have no business.

Please remember this guys, this is why it is such an emotional subject for many of us.

Cheers

I think that sums it up nicely well put, I too would be more then happy to pay for anymore updates.

[BradMonks]

It has become apparent that the information we released yesterday has been misinterpreted by some of our customers. We intend this statement to make clear our reasons, intentions, and future plans and we have bullet-pointed it to make it as clear as possible.

•   Window Cleaner Pro is not closing down and trading will continue as usual
•   The program is not obsolete.
•   We will continue to sell WCP licenses as it is still a product in its own right
•   Copies of WCP will continue to be fully functional and we foresee no issues regarding data or license validation
•   The software will still be supported – We will be available to assist with matters such as license issues, bug fixes etc. as we have done in the past, however this will now be restricted to working hours.
•   We no longer have time to assist with set-up, training, bespoke invoice creation, client visits or other matters unrelated to WCP software
•   We have never promised additional elements within the development plans of WCP. We have stated that we would like to add certain features but have never given a definitive time-frame for any of these.
•   We have a ‘WCP To-Do list’ of requested features that covers over 200 items, at no stage have we ever committed that these will definitely be added
•   The unfunded development of WCP will not continue at this present stage
•   Development may be considered if financially viable
•   As identified the Debt List for PDA and CSV Data Export Tool will be completed but no time-frame can be dictated at present
•   Removing license authentication is not an option at present, however this is something we may consider in the future
•   At some stage we will look at a tool to enable transition of licenses by the user

•   Compass180 is not an upgrade to WCP and is a brand new product
•   No customers are being ‘forced’ to migrate from WCP to Compass180
•   Compass180 will be a natural successor to WCP for businesses that feel they have ‘out-grown’ WCP
•   Compass180 will run on-line in a secure environment and all reasonable measures will be taken to ensure users data is protected from fraudulent use
•   Compass180 will be offered to current WCP users at a preferential rate when released

•   Genuine and viable offers for the purchase of WCP as a company can be submitted
•   Threats of legal action will be taken as intention and may be acted upon accordingly. We have ensured that all legal obligations in respect to WCP have been upheld.


WCP has grown in the last few years and has now evolved into a business where commercial decisions have to be made and sometimes we will not please all our customers.

To summarise, WCP will continue to trade as it has done for the last 12 year’s, the difference is that no major ongoing development will occur. Compass180 is a new product that we intend to launch alongside WCP

We hope that this answers the questions that many of you have raised and, as always, please feel free to contact us directly should you have any further concerns.

Best regards
Ian and Brad

[Smudger]

Thanks Brad,

That is pretty much as it should be - i think some on here have over reacted a tad.

just 2 questions for you.....

1.   When are we likely to see compass 180 released ?

2.   How easy will data transfer  from WCP to C180 be ?

Darran

[ianhannaford]

Thanks Brad,

That is pretty much as it should be - i think some on here have over reacted a tad.

just 2 questions for you.....

1.   When are we likely to see compass 180 released ?

2.   How easy will data transfer  from WCP to C180 be ?

Darran

Hi Darren,

In hindsight we could have made the first statement a little clearer and we apologise for that.
Hopefully the bullet point approach above should make things much clearer.

1. We are working pretty much round the clock but do not have a specific date at the moment as the task ahead is rather large. This is why we set the Twitter feed up that we will post 2-3 times a day so that you follow the progress yourselves.

2. There will be a data migration tool to convert data from WCP to C180.

Thanks

- Ian

[Steve CM]

•   We have never promised additional elements within the development plans of WCP. We have stated that we would like to add certain features but have never given a definitive time-frame for any of these.

come on Ian you know that ain't true. You were pretty good at not giving time frames but you defintely told me on a few occassions certain things WILL be added but they never were.

I'm gonna bail out of the debate now. Like i say my biggest gripe was that the programme was never finished as to what it was gonna be so feel i have been short changed!

Many have stressed they would of paid for it so to say no-one was willing to pay doesn't sound correct neither.

To have an app that was the best thing since sliced bread come out around 24 months ago to then be shelved for what is now the best thing since sliced bread is totally bad judgement by the WCP creators.

[ianhannaford]

•   We have never promised additional elements within the development plans of WCP. We have stated that we would like to add certain features but have never given a definitive time-frame for any of these.

come on Ian you know that ain't true. You were pretty good at not giving time frames but you defintely told me on a few occassions certain things WILL be added but they never were.

I'm gonna bail out of the debate now. Like i say my biggest gripe was that the programme was never finished as to what it was gonna be so feel i have been short changed!

Many have stressed they would of paid for it so to say no-one was willing to pay doesn't sound correct neither.

To have an app that was the best thing since sliced bread come out around 24 months ago to then be shelved for what is now the best thing since sliced bread is totally bad judgement by the WCP creators.

I have never said that anything would definitely be added as I didn't even know myself. This was even the case with the WallPlanner which I never intended on releasing. It was only as I found some time that I was able to code it. There are a few features that are in development or waiting to test but my efforts are concentrated elsewhere at present and so cannot dedicate any time to finish them.

We still believe that WCP is a great piece of software as it stands and as our bullet points mention we may, at some stage, update with features that will drive revenue.

- Ian

[Steve CM]

•   We have never promised additional elements within the development plans of WCP. We have stated that we would like to add certain features but have never given a definitive time-frame for any of these.

come on Ian you know that ain't true. You were pretty good at not giving time frames but you defintely told me on a few occassions certain things WILL be added but they never were.

I'm gonna bail out of the debate now. Like i say my biggest gripe was that the programme was never finished as to what it was gonna be so feel i have been short changed!

Many have stressed they would of paid for it so to say no-one was willing to pay doesn't sound correct neither.

To have an app that was the best thing since sliced bread come out around 24 months ago to then be shelved for what is now the best thing since sliced bread is totally bad judgement by the WCP creators.

I have never said that anything would definitely be added as I didn't even know myself. This was even the case with the WallPlanner which I never intended on releasing. It was only as I found some time that I was able to code it. There are a few features that are in development or waiting to test but my efforts are concentrated elsewhere at present and so cannot dedicate any time to finish them.

We still believe that WCP is a great piece of software as it stands and as our bullet points mention we may, at some stage, update with features that will drive revenue.

- Ian

why don't you become a politican? You may do well in parliment!

I have nothing written down so i have no proof but i think its safe to say these things were promised as i don't think a large chunk of members on here can all be wrong

[dave0123]

I think alot of people will be wanting to move back to George now to be honest! So where they have said they may impliment a export tool but no time frame... In other words no then.

[dave0123]

I think alot of people will be wanting to move back to George now to be honest! So where they have said they may impliment a export tool but no time frame... In other words no then.

[Paul Coleman]

It has become apparent that the information we released yesterday has been misinterpreted by some of our customers. We intend this statement to make clear our reasons, intentions, and future plans and we have bullet-pointed it to make it as clear as possible.

•   Window Cleaner Pro is not closing down and trading will continue as usual
•   The program is not obsolete.
•   We will continue to sell WCP licenses as it is still a product in its own right
•   Copies of WCP will continue to be fully functional and we foresee no issues regarding data or license validation
•   The software will still be supported – We will be available to assist with matters such as license issues, bug fixes etc. as we have done in the past, however this will now be restricted to working hours.
•   We no longer have time to assist with set-up, training, bespoke invoice creation, client visits or other matters unrelated to WCP software
•   We have never promised additional elements within the development plans of WCP. We have stated that we would like to add certain features but have never given a definitive time-frame for any of these.
•   We have a ‘WCP To-Do list’ of requested features that covers over 200 items, at no stage have we ever committed that these will definitely be added
•   The unfunded development of WCP will not continue at this present stage
•   Development may be considered if financially viable
•   As identified the Debt List for PDA and CSV Data Export Tool will be completed but no time-frame can be dictated at present
•   Removing license authentication is not an option at present, however this is something we may consider in the future
•   At some stage we will look at a tool to enable transition of licenses by the user

•   Compass180 is not an upgrade to WCP and is a brand new product
•   No customers are being ‘forced’ to migrate from WCP to Compass180
•   Compass180 will be a natural successor to WCP for businesses that feel they have ‘out-grown’ WCP
•   Compass180 will run on-line in a secure environment and all reasonable measures will be taken to ensure users data is protected from fraudulent use
•   Compass180 will be offered to current WCP users at a preferential rate when released

•   Genuine and viable offers for the purchase of WCP as a company can be submitted
•   Threats of legal action will be taken as intention and may be acted upon accordingly. We have ensured that all legal obligations in respect to WCP have been upheld.


WCP has grown in the last few years and has now evolved into a business where commercial decisions have to be made and sometimes we will not please all our customers.

To summarise, WCP will continue to trade as it has done for the last 12 year’s, the difference is that no major ongoing development will occur. Compass180 is a new product that we intend to launch alongside WCP

We hope that this answers the questions that many of you have raised and, as always, please feel free to contact us directly should you have any further concerns.

Best regards
Ian and Brad

After reading that, I'm left wondering what the problem is.  WCP sounds like it's a fully functioning program and its users will continue to receive support if needed.  This will only happen in office hours but that is pretty normal anyway.  Although CSV data export is desirable, it sounds like it won't be critical as there actually isn't a need to migrate.  Ironically the data export issue was the main thing that held me back from WCpro as I didn't want to end up typing loads out if I didn't get along with the program.
This has reinforced for me what I used to say before - inasmuch that I prefer to use a more generic program that is more widely used because there is usually some support from the nerdy parts of the internet.  It does men that I must do more to use that program but I feel that this is a reasonable trade off for me personally.  I can see that some may not feel that way though because of an unwillingness or inability to mess around manipulating software that is more generic than WCPro.
Those bullet points were a good idea.

[Smart Carpet]

Does anyone use Sage ACT! as their CRM software?

[dave.e]

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

ba ba ba


glad i stayed with george the best £50 i spent. wcp was a rip off from the start and  Compass180 will be the same