open source software vendors are universally poor at customer conversion

[woodsmoke]

open source software vendors are universally poor at customer conversion.

I can attest to this in no uncertain manner, from my experience in no less than four different situations in which I was more than willing to lay down cold hard cash....."they" don't even seem to WANT customers....


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05...oad_to_riches/

woodsmoke

[ardvark71]

Re: open source software vendors are universally poor at customer conversion

Hi Woodsmoke...

As a side note to what you have said, I don't feel that requiring users to get help strictly through a forum is helping the "cause." Many people prefer being able to speak to a person and getting solutions to their problem(s) in a more immediate manner. Sometimes, things can't wait when deadlines need to be met and a business's bottom line is "on the line."

Regards...

[woodsmoke]

Re: open source software vendors are universally poor at customer conversion

LOL
out in "the real world" almost everybody does NOT instant message or talk on forums.

They actually talk by moving their lips and listening with a strange body appendage called ears!

woodpreferscoffeeacrossatablesmoke

[GreyGeek]

Re: open source software vendors are universally poor at customer conversion

Hey, I'll be more than happy to take cash from people for support. It would be the same support I'd give them for free, but apparently paying money for it makes it better .... somehow.

[ardvark71]

Re: open source software vendors are universally poor at customer conversion

but apparently paying money for it makes it better .... somehow.

Hi GreyGeek...

As opposed to an unanswered thread or post? Definitely!

Regards...

[blobfish]

Re: open source software vendors are universally poor at customer conversion

"they" don't even seem to WANT customers....

why is this so hard to believe? maybe they write software because they enjoy the challenge and not servicing customers

[GreyGeek]

Re: open source software vendors are universally poor at customer conversion

Good point, Tanderson.

That a coder writes software for their own enjoyment and releases it to the public for free under the GPL is no requirement that they have to support anyone who downloads and installs that software. They are getting exactly what the payed for. IF it turns out to be useful then that is gravy. If it turns out to be world class, they've discovered a diamond. That doesn't mean that the developer has to supply Gold or Platinum to make it into a ring.