Disappointment with Corel

[Eldor]

I realize this is a user to user board and that Corel doesn't have any real official presence here, but please allow me to vent...

I purchased VisualStudio Ultimate X7 on January 27th through their online store. Three weeks later they come out with version X8. Based on all my years of buying software and of dealing with software companies, I would have expected with such a short time period, to qualify for a free upgrade to Ultimate X8.

I just got off the phone with their customer support people and am very disappointed to find there is NO FREE UPGRADE possible. I must pay for it.

This leaves me feeling very frustrated with Corel and disappointed.

Not only will I not pay for an upgrade, but since I am within my 30 days of ownership, I understand I qualify for being able to return the product and get a refund. I have just filled out the online form to do exactly that. (It seems that Corel really isn't on the ball here... even their online RMA form asks for a NINE digit order number when indeed the order number from their own store was EIGHT digits. Seems to have been accepted though.)

In the short time I've used the product, I've also found it's somewhat weak in terms of multi-camera editing. It can be done, yes, but it's a lot more difficult than with some completing products. I will invest my money and time with another company.

But this forum is terrific and in the short while I've been here I've learned a lot and appreciate the help I've gotten.

Cheers!

[Terfyn]

It may be a case of "caveat emptor". Corel do supply a comparison list for X7 compared to X6 and there is now one for X8. Multicam synchronisation editing was never on the list for either X7 or X8 but it is mentioned in the "wish list" for X9 - we can only hope!!

If you look through recent posts, there are others who have recently bought X7 and feel cheated. I believe one has agreed with Corel for an upgrade. Please look through recent posts.

It is worth remembering that Corel seem to issue a new version around February or March.

[lata]

Hi Eldor

Sorry you are having problems with purchasing the latest version.

Not all users have bad news, please read this post, a similar complaint with better results.

http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php ... 15#p302823

As you are within your 30 day period I see you have no choice but to return the program.
In your situation I think I would do the same.

Good luck

[tanguero]

Given that you are within the 30-day period and you bought from Corel (and hence can avail of that benefit), I don't see what the problem is. Return the X7 and buy X8. Maybe there is a few $ difference in price (minimal if any) but really, is that such a big deal? So effectively you get the free upgrade, no? (Or $5 upgrade if not free, which hardly seems worth complaining about.)

[Eldor]

There is no problem.

I'm waiting for confirmation that my refund request has been processed.

There are two reasons I will not purchase another Corel product... First, after 20+ years of buying software and of dealing with all kinds of companies, I don't recall another instance where a free upgrade was not offered for someone who had purchased the product only 3 weeks earlier. The fact that Corel does not offer this, sours my opinion of them and makes me very reluctant to support them. Second, since X8 doesn't appear to offer any improvements in areas of importance to me, I see no reason to purchase that version. Even if, as you suggest, getting a refund for X7 and then purchasing X8 is effectively a free (or rather low cost because the price seems to be different) upgrade.

I am considering subscribing to Adobe Creative Cloud (which as a CS5 owner I can get for $29.95/mth for the first year) although the CS5 Creative Suite serves my needs rather well (but I don't have Premiere in my package). Premiere Pro certainly offers the features I want, plus a lot that I don't need. I'm also looking at PowerDirector which seems to have very good strengths for multi-camera editing and doesn't require such an investment.

It's a shame to leave this fine user-to-user support board though. SIGH

Given that you are within the 30-day period and you bought from Corel (and hence can avail of that benefit), I don't see what the problem is. Return the X7 and buy X8. Maybe there is a few $ difference in price (minimal if any) but really, is that such a big deal? So effectively you get the free upgrade, no? (Or $5 upgrade if not free, which hardly seems worth complaining about.)