ExpertGPS Group Purchase Discount

[vividere]

If you have wanted the very popular ExpertGPS software but have hesitated due to the price then this is for you! I am putting together a group purchase so that we can get some volume discounts. The amount of discount varies a lot based on the quantity purchased. Please write me directly if you wish to obtain more information on this purchase.

 

Thanks!

lew@goldenpondfarm.com

 

Lew

Vividere

[+Renegade Knight]

2 questions.

 

1) Is Topografix ok with this version of the volume disount.

 

2) Are you willing to route all the money through me?

 

Wherever you go there you are.

[+Renegade Knight]

>1) Is Topografix ok with this version of the volume disount.

 

This version? I wrote them about doing a volume deal and they said they were fine with it. We didn't talk about what "version" of a volume discount was being done? I am not sure how one "version" varies from another.

 

>2) Are you willing to route all the money through me?

 

Why would I turn the reins over to you? I don't know who you are and am curious why you would even ask that? You can certainly put your own group purchase together like I have. I can't understand why someone hasn't done this before.

 

Lew

 

1) Version meaning a discount not based on quantity for your company or even family but based on different people all over the country.

 

2) You got my point loud and clear on this one. Why would I turn my hard earned money over to YOU. I don't know you from Adam.

 

Wherever you go there you are.

[vividere]

1. I replied to you in email, not through the forum. It is a violation of internet etiquette to post a personal email in a public forum.

 

2. I provided my domain name, goldenpondfarm.com. If you go to that site you will see my full personal information including my name. If you were to go to the library and look me up in the Who's Who you would find I am a responsible businessman. You are the person "hiding" behind an alias and acting in an unscrupulous manner.

 

Lew

goldenpondfarm.com

 

Lew

Vividere

[+RB_Nielsen]

I purchased a family license of ExpertGPS, and the restriction is that only family members may use ExpertGPS under this particular license.

[+Mopar]

I would kind of like to see where Dan Foster stands in this too. I would suspect if he meant for this type of group purchase ExpertGPS would already be co-branded and offered for sale thru the groudspeak store.

 

Tae-Kwon-Leap is not a path to a door, but a road leading forever towards the horizon.

[+Dersu]

I raised a red flag when I got a email about this from vividere.

 

Did any one else notice his email domain?

 

EDITED OUT MY OPINIONS.

EDITED OUT MY OPINIONS.

After Dan posted to this thread.

 

 

I have flouted the wild, I have followed its lure, fearless. familar, alone; yet the wild must win, and a day will come when I shall be overthrown. By: Robert Service

 

[This message was edited by Dersu on March 29, 2003 at 07:59 AM.]

 

[This message was edited by Dersu on March 29, 2003 at 08:31 AM.]

[vividere]

Hello one and all!

 

Before putting this opportunity together I wrote Dan to make sure he was OK with this. I told him that I would like to put together a group of people and make a group purchase. He wrote back telling me how it would work and the details to administer it. I already stated above that I had discussed this with Dan.

 

There are many people who won't buy products at "retail" but can be encouraged to buy if given an opportunity to get a deal. This is a "win-win" situation as Dan still makes a chunk of change and people who otherwise wouldn't have bought the product will now own a legal copy and will add to the praise for the product which would in turn help spread the word about the product encouraging further sales.

 

This is a very normal method of doing business and something I have done before with other products. Do you think if I was doing something deceptive I would have the audacity to make such an offer knowing Dan would see what I am doing?

 

Sincerely,

 

Lew

 

Lew

Vividere

[topografix]

Since a number of people asked for my policy on group discounts, here it is.

 

TopoGrafix offers discounts for group purchases of ExpertGPS. Many groups have taken advantage of this pricing to get ExpertGPS at a reduced price for their members. Some groups are government agencies. Some are local geocaching, hunting, or 4x4 clubs. In some cases, an individual has rounded up a few friends with similar interests to form a group for the singular purpose of buying ExpertGPS. All of this is fine with me.

 

There are some restrictions on group license purchases. One person is the contact person for the group. The license contact is responsible for collecting the money, submitting the payment, and distributing the group license. In addition, the license contact is the person in charge of coordinating technical support for the group. If you have a question about the software or need assistance, you need to go to your license contact for support.

 

In this case, Lew contacted me by email and asked if he could put together a group purchase. I said yes. I wasn't aware that he was planning to organize a group over the Geocaching forums, but I'll stick by my initial statement to him and honor any group discount he can arrange.

 

The bottom line: I don't want anyone to feel that they can't have access to the tools in ExpertGPS because of the price. If you're willing to accept some limits on the technical support you receive, a group purchase is a great way to get the software. There are some very active local Geocaching clubs out there, and I'd be thrilled to arrange group discounts for their members. (And if your Geocaching club wants to raffle off a copy of ExpertGPS at their next picnic, just ask!)

 

Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions about group purchases of ExpertGPS.

 

--

Dan Foster

TopoGrafix: GPS Software, Waypoints, and Maps

http://www.topografix.com/

[+Mopar]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TopoGrafix:

Since a number of people asked for my policy on group discounts, here it is.

 

TopoGrafix offers discounts for group purchases of ExpertGPS. Many groups have taken advantage of this pricing to get ExpertGPS at a reduced price for their members. Some groups are government agencies. Some are local geocaching, hunting, or 4x4 clubs. In some cases, an individual has rounded up a few friends with similar interests to form a group for the singular purpose of buying ExpertGPS. All of this is fine with me.

 

There are some restrictions on group license purchases. One person is the contact person for the group. The license contact is responsible for collecting the money, submitting the payment, and distributing the group license. In addition, the license contact is the person in charge of coordinating technical support for the group. If you have a question about the software or need assistance, you need to go to your license contact for support.

---

You might want to update your licensing page to reflect this, Dan. The red flag went up for me after checking out http://www.expertgps.com/purchase.asp

and only seeing licensing info for Personal, Family, Small Business, Corporate, Government, and School purchases. Nowhere did it state that group purchases such as Vividere suggested were allowed, nor mention of limited support for such purchases.

No offense meant to Vividere, but the fact that such a group purchase was allowed, coupled with the fact your profile shows 0/0 hides/finds, and your business website, it's gonna raise a few eyebrows, as well it should. if you read here often enough, you know that some sort of con or scam gets posted here every few weeks. The admins do a great job about killing the posts asap, but some have slipped by them for a few days. We are all just looking out for each other here.

 

Tae-Kwon-Leap is not a path to a door, but a road leading forever towards the horizon.

 

[This message was edited by Mopar on March 29, 2003 at 09:27 AM.]

[+Mopar]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dersu:

I raised a red flag when I got a email about this from vividere.

 

Did any one else notice his email domain?

---

That too. 'Nuff said.

 

Tae-Kwon-Leap is not a path to a door, but a road leading forever towards the horizon.

[dave and jaime]

quote:

---

statement by dan foster concerning liscening policy

---

 

thats great to hear. i dont easygps/expertgps regularly but its good to hear that someone is more concerned with getting their product out there than nitpicking over pennies. great customer service/consumer relations!

[vividere]

Mopar,

 

I too was surprised to see the volume pricing. If you had continued in to the form where you make your purchase you can clearly see the volume purchasing options:

 

https://www.regsoft.net/regsoft/vieworderpage.php3?productid=37199&rc=

 

Regarding Geocaching, I am hoping that at some point I can participate in that aspect of GPSing. I assumed this forum was not just for those who were actively geocaching but those who used and appreciated their GPS units and the software that goes with it. In my case I bought my GPS to survey my property and plan my wildlife habitat restoration efforts. Each of us buys our GPS units for different purposes. In fact I just met yesterday with the Soil and Water Conservation District and the NRCS arm of the USDA. They were quite impressed with the site maps I had created using data obtained with my GPS and manipulated with ExpertGPS.

 

As an aside, I used to race Mopar products and my brother works on the race circuit.

 

Lew

GoldenPondFarm.Com

 

Lew

Vividere

[+Mopar]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Vividere:

Mopar,

 

I too was surprised to see the volume pricing. If you had continued in to the form where you make your purchase you can clearly see the volume purchasing options:

 

https://www.regsoft.net/regsoft/vieworderpage.php3?productid=37199&rc=

 

Regarding Geocaching, I am hoping that at some point I can participate in that aspect of GPSing. I assumed this forum was not just for those who were actively geocaching but those who used and appreciated their GPS units and the software that goes with it. In my case I bought my GPS to survey my property and plan my wildlife habitat restoration efforts. Each of us buys our GPS units for different purposes. In fact I just met yesterday with the Soil and Water Conservation District and the NRCS arm of the USDA. They were quite impressed with the site maps I had created using data obtained with my GPS and manipulated with ExpertGPS.

 

As an aside, I used to race Mopar products and my brother works on the race circuit.

 

Lew

GoldenPondFarm.Com

 

Lew

Vividere

---

Lew, I saw the actual prices too, and it is a nice deal if you can get some people to go in together.

You are right that deals like that and group purchases are common practice, but since the licensing agreement doesn't specifically allow such a thing, I was concerned about tech support and legal issues.

You are correct that we try to welcome anyone with an interest in geocaching and GPS, but at the same time, being new to the sport, people are a bit leary about just sending you money. If you see someone has been around awhile, has lots of finds/hides etc, you expect that they are in it for the long haul, they are going to continue to be around enjoying the sport, and aren't going to risk losing everything they put into this to run off with a few bucks. Someone with no history here has nothing to lose. I'm not saying that someone new isnt trustworthy, and someone old cant be dishonest, but its all we have to go on. Just like dealing with a business. If you have a choice between an established company anda startup, and all other factors are equal, you go with the experience.

BTW. I no longer race Mopars, but I'm putting a '59 together as 50's style kustom.

 

Tae-Kwon-Leap is not a path to a door, but a road leading forever towards the horizon.

[+Team GPSaxophone]

The way everyone has always talked about the cost of these mapping programs, I always thought they were several hundred dollars (like PhotoShop or something).

At $59.95, ExpertGPS sounds like a good deal. The volume discount offered by topografix makes it MUCH better. I was surprised that you could get it for half price if you buy at least 6 copies. However, nowhere on the site does it say that your 6 copies can go to individuals.

 

quote:

---

From expertGPS.com:

Personal Use License

The personal use license allows you, and any family members living in your home, to run ExpertGPS. You may install the software on multiple computers. Your home computer, a laptop in the car, and the computer you use at work are all covered, as long as you're the one running the software.

 

Family License

The family license allows you to share your ExpertGPS license with family members living outside your home. This license is intended for families with grown-up children or grandparents who also use GPS. The family license is not a small business license.

 

Small Business Licenses

Small businesses can order ExpertGPS licenses based on the number of employees using the software, or on the number of computers where the software will be installed. For example, a business with 10 employees using 4 computers would only need to order 4 licenses. Small businesses receive a discount for ordering multiple copies of ExpertGPS - the discount table is listed on the order form.

 

Corporate, Government, and School Licenses

You can order ExpertGPS licenses based on the number of employees using the software, or on the number of computers where the software will be installed. For example, a business with 10 employees using 4 computers would only need to order 4 licenses. You receive a discount for ordering multiple copies of ExpertGPS - the discount table is listed on the credit card order form.

---

 

Since we, as Geocachers, are not family members, or employees of the same business, it would seem that the fine print prohibits us pooling our money to buy several copies at a discount.

 

[vividere]

Hello again,

 

It seems as if I ran into a hornet's nest. I think there is something that at least some of you don't seem to understand. I don't mean to speak for Dan so I will state that this is my interpretation of the situation.

 

There was an inference that there was a problem with the licensing agreement, specifically the Personal license. The point that seems to be missed here is that the quantity discount is a volume purchase of multiple Personal Licenses.

 

That means each person who gets a copy of ExpertGPS through the volume purchase is obligated to individually honor the terms of the Personal License. That is what distinguishes a multiple Personal license purchase from the other categories of licensing.

 

If I purchase a block of six Personal licenses, I can only provide them to six people and the names of the six people are reported to Dan so he can monitor who has the Personal licenses.

 

If three or more people in one family buy a Family license, they get the best deal of all. I wish there were two more people in my family with GPS units as I would have bought that license instead and would have gotten an even better deal.

 

If it would help some of you understand the concept consider the example of a club purchase. A club member would query the other members to determine the level of interest and would purchase X copies of ExpertGPS and then sell them to the other club members. Each person has individually purchased a Personal license is obligated to the terms of the Personal license. Since the club example isn't a family, a government unit, a small business, a school, or corporation, Dan has made it possible to buy a group of Personal licenses at a discount.

 

Had I realized in the beginning that so many people would get so excited about this I wouldn't even have attempted this. I was trying to help myself and others by putting together a deal so that we could all save money and I was pricing the licenses at cost with no motive to make a profit. Each of the people who would have gone in on the volume purchase would have gotten the same discount as I was yet I was doing all of the work. Their thanks for helping them get a good deal would have been my only reward for the work I was getting myself involved with.

 

One last comment and that is in regards to "trust". More than one of you brought up the issue that I was an unknown and that sending me $30 was a major concern. To put this in perspective I have made a fair number of tranactions on eBay. I have 114 favorable feedback reviews and no negatives and no neutrals in my whole history there.

 

Just a few weeks ago I purchased a film scanner through an individual on eBay living 1500 miles away. He only had a rating of 3 yet I sent him a Cashier's Check for $400. I trusted him to send me what I had purchased knowing full well that he could cash my check and I would have no chance to get my money back.

 

It is disturbing to me that the trust in others has deteriorated to the point that they can't trust their fellow man with $30.

 

Lew

Vividere

[+alexm]

quote:

---

At $59.95, ExpertGPS sounds like a good deal. The volume discount offered by topografix makes it MUCH better.

---

 

Exactly. I paid the full $59.95 about a year and a half ago. I have DEFINITELY gotten my money's worth. Any price less than that simply sweetens the deal.

 

The only thing that may sour my opinion would be pricing when ExpertGPS/PocketPC hits the shelves. As an existing flag-waving ExpertGPS user, I'd better see a discount of some sort.

 

...

alex

 

(Yes, I understand that some folks can't throw $60 at a program for a hobby, this is just my opinion of the cost vs. benefits of ExpertGPS).

[geoStrider]

Lew, I for one would like to thank you for taking the lead on the volume discount effort. That is the kind of thinking that benefits us all. If this goes anywhere, count me in.

 

Veni, Vidi, Cachi ...

[+TJ-Tigger]

Depending on the price, you can count me in too.

[+Mopar]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Vividere:

Hello again,

 

It seems as if I ran into a hornet's nest. I think there is something that at least some of you don't seem to understand. I don't mean to speak for Dan so I will state that this is my interpretation of the situation.

 

There was an inference that there was a problem with the licensing agreement, specifically the Personal license. The point that seems to be missed here is that the quantity discount is a volume purchase of multiple Personal Licenses.

 

That means each person who gets a copy of ExpertGPS through the volume purchase is obligated to individually honor the terms of the Personal License. That is what distinguishes a multiple Personal license purchase from the other categories of licensing.

---

The problem Lew is that the above statement is NOT correct. You seem to have missed Dan's post above where he said:

quote:

---

Originally posted by TopoGrafix:

There are some restrictions on group license purchases. One person is the contact person for the group. The license contact is responsible for collecting the money, submitting the payment, and distributing the group license. In addition, the license contact is the person in charge of coordinating technical support for the group. If you have a question about the software or need assistance, you need to go to your license contact for support.

---

So apparently, this is NOT the same as a personal license. According to Dan, anyone in on your group purchase needs to go to you for techical support, not TopoGrafix. You would forever be responsible for being the go-between for any questions, problems, or issues. Forever is a long time, and if you decided you didn't want to carry this burden any more, all the other group purchasers would be S* Outta Luck.

Now, from seeing Dan's posts here, and how he runs TopoGrafix, I don't really think he would deny any legit purchaser of his products technical support, but he would be within his rights to do so if he wished. Just something to consider.

 

Tae-Kwon-Leap is not a path to a door, but a road leading forever towards the horizon.