Blog Post
Ok I don't really belong here - I'm a small business owner, not an accountant or book keeper or any sort of whiz at MYOB. I'm going to chime in on this one as I just found out my old version of MYOB is going to be discontinued.
I understand this day and age every provider wants an ongoing piece of their customer - it seems like par for the course . To be honest I like the idea of upgrading to use the new easier interface HOWEVER - I paid for a product and I am currently using it to a reasonable amount of satisfaction and don't see the value in paying for a subscription service. I don't even claim any tech support - so I don't see why I should have to pay.
I could wax lyrical about my theories on how this is not moral/ethical, likely illegal etc etc (to be cut off from a product that was legally purchased), however I'm not a lawyer and I'm not a philosopher.
I'd like to propose a solution, then I'll propose what I'm going to do if I get cut off from my product.
1. MYOB - here's an idea - Don't cut people off from their products that they paid for. Unlike NETFLIX, you aren't giving anyone anything on an ongoing basis to justify it.
2. Instead, switch your brains into customer service mode and try to think how you can service your customers, make money and also keep your subscription service...
3. Allow people to update to the most current standalone version prior to MYOB going to a subscription service - then those customers pay for it as a once off licence fee. This will allow income for next to no work at all, and I'm sure most people would upgrade.
4. Develop small upgrades or package upgrades that contain SOME of the modern features of the subscription service that people can opt into with a one time payment fee and choose the features they want. Obviously, you never make it quite as nice as the subscription service, but close (remembering the people who are disenfrancsied like me are small business owners and don't need all the flashy stuff that big business does).
5. Offer tech support for a limited time only after purchase.
6. Here's the good bit - You'll be the ONLY one doing it and you will be the ONLY one listening to what customers want.
Now the unpleasant bit
If you don't at the very least decist from damaging my property that I purchased:
- I'll use an Excel spreadsheet if I have to, just on principle (I've been offered an auto- calculating and multi page integrated one from a business friend that took him years to develop so that will do just fine)
- I'll go to the ends of the earth to find a standalone product and tell ALL my contacts and do it with extra energy because I'll be motivated to do so.
- I'm going to tell everyone I know in small business not to bother with any of the business subscription services and then share the excel spreadsheet with them, or the product I find.
- And most importantly - if you do cut me off, then wake up some time in the next decade after you either were forced to by some person taking you to court, or have a sudden wake up to business ethics - I'll NEVER come back to you because you don't deserve it - I'm sure many others will feel the same.
What I find most interesting about this whole thing is that all your comments on this post are negative (unless I missed a positive one) and you don't understand one of the most basic rules of marketing:
News of bad service travels ten times faster than good service.
Happy new year.
PS - Don't even bother to respond to this unless you intend to action anything I suggested. If you do, and try to placate me - I'll double down harder.