Why the hell are you doing with licences?
I did renew my perpetual licence last fall. And now I have figured out that I cannot update to latest CaptureOne without paying again the same price that is literally highest price on the market? Do you really think that AI cropping is worth of ~ € 200? This is unbelievably greedy. It is lunatic!
You are dealing with your perpetual licence clients like with 2nd grade citizens. But this only shows how much insecure the company really is. Perhaps there is reason for such feelings. For last three years you struggled to deliver something meaningful while still charging the highest price on the market. From now I will not renew my licence. I don't want to support this circus anymore until I will feel that this product has future. You shall start doing something. I am off.
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A couple of thoughts on your post.
- The terms of perpetual licences are that what you get at the time you buy the perpetual licence is all that you will get (apart from minor updates from for instance 14.4 to 14.4.1) but it's yours forever and you don't have to pay ever again unless you want to. So nobody is suggesting you renew your license - perpetual means that you don't have to. It's not the same as a subscription.
- If AI cropping (not actually the only new thing) doesn't seem worth the price to you, you don't have to go for it. You can wait until there comes some new feature you do think worth paying more for, if that time ever comes. There is no obligation for you to pay for the newest version if it doesn't interest you.
Ian
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Hello Ian,
I am sorry I got a bit emotional when I learned about this. I would say I have exploded. I think it was partially because you don't notify users about fact that there is a new version that is out of licence. And probably there are many photographers who don't know either. So at some point, probably by end of summer or start of fall you'll get a lot of angry feedback.
I don't say it is illegal. I am just deeply disappointed. For me it is really just about AI cropping. I am not studio driven photographer so all the new stuff around tethering is not really important to me. Studio photographers would gladly pay € 200 for update that will make their work easier. But I guess it is not a majority of users.
But what is important for me is support for new cameras and stability improvements as the Capture One tends to be a bit buggy lately. So what will happen if a new camera will come out. Will we get service version with the new cameras support or stability fixes for 16.3 or do we have to pay for 16.4 ?
If not, can you tell me one another software with similar business model?
There was two reasons why I started using Capture One. First is color science and it is from my point of view the biggest value in Capture One. And second is that I can buy perpetual licences because I hate subscriptions. I would have to send reports to local tax office about this subscription every month because it is EU law. I hate bureaucracy. If I will have to do this burden I would probably go back to Adobe as it offers better value for €12. It can do at least proper panorama and HDR stitching.
-- Vlad1 -
When you say "you" you should realise that I don't work for or represent Capture One - I'm just a Moderator in the forum and a customer like the other forum participants are.
And for the rest of the points you make, I can't really comment on the different business models. Except, perhaps, to say that if I were spending a lot on a new camera (my most recent purchase was a Nikon Z8, at a cost of about £4,000 - probably similar in euros) the cost of an upgrade to a version of Capture One that supports it would be a small percentage extra.
In the end, I think, the choice should come down to what software you like best. Obviously Lightroom is cheaper, but I have to say I don't like it as much.
Ian
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I have access to test new cameras and if I like the camera then I buy it. I know personally several photographers who are doing exactly the same thing. Many camera manufacturers offer this as service. Also some photographers are borrowing gear for jobs.
You know, sometimes it feels that photographers must be rich when they operate gear for so much money but usually they are paying loan or borrow the gear. Depends on what kind genre and how much successful you are.
SFA: You're right. If I get subscription from Adobe I would have to report it every month. Because I am not buying a product. It is then classified as a service.
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I'm very disappointed, you just lost a lot of credit.
At least, I would have expected an email about the change and a chance to update to the latest version with a coupon code.
That' wouldn't be so hard, money seems to matter more to you than your customers.0 -
Daniel Gerber - this is exactly the policy that they publicised over a year ago.
Ian
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I don't like the new policy, it is not customer friendly. Also the subscription has great flaws.
People tend not to read policies about ever product, they use.... do you?
At least: send an E-Mail to every customer with a perpetual licence
- two weeks before the 12-month period ends
- and a second one before the 24-month period ends.
- for those who didn't read the policy and missed it (like me): give them a personal voucher
Should not be that hard... if you really care about customers.
Ian Wilson Would be great if you could comment that proposal.0 -
Daniel - when you say "you" do you realise that I don't work for Capture One? I'm just a volunteer moderator on the forum and a user of the software, like you?
Ian
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No, I didn't realize that. I assumed you were because you are tagged as "Moderator".
Sorry about that, I hope some employees will read my comment then.0 -
I'm wondering why there is just a "volunteer moderator" here. Would expect someone working for Capture One to read and reply to forum posts... it is quite useless to express opinions and give proposals here if the company is not responding in any way.
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Hi Seppo Helle
This is primarily a user-to-user forum. Capture One staff do participate occasionally, but mostly it is users helping each other, and most of the moderators are volunteers. If you want to get an answer specifically from Capture One staff, you are best to use the Request Support link at the top of every page in the forum.
Ian
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