Go pro hell !!!... Why wont Daz let me upgrade from standard to Pro?

Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
edited December 1969 in Carrara Discussion

I cant for the life of me get Daz staff to support my efforts to go pro!

The replys I get (support ticket system and emails) keep pointing me to the BETA version of Carrara 8.5 (which is due to end in a few days and there is NO guarentee that they will give out another Beta serial!)...All I want to do is give Daz my money and upgrade from standard to pro, is that too much to ask???

Here is a copy of my last request.. Did I not make myself CLEAR?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request #*******
Upgrading Carrara 8 standard to pro
Orion_uk
May 29 13:29

Hi,

I see that Carrara 8 pro is $549.95, and my current paid version of Carrara 8 (8.1.1.12 -32bit) is $149.95.

Having paid for Carrara 8 standard (8.1.1.12 32bit), How much would it cost to upgrade to C8.1.1.12 64bit PRO? (Surely not $549.95!, thats a full version price not an upgrade price right?) lol.

Is there a release date for Carrara 8.5 Pro 64bit (as i know this is still in Beta stage) or would it be better to upgrade from standard to pro AFTER the Beta becomes a stable release (to save having to pay out for another upgrade to get 8.5 pro advantages)?

I do not see an option to upgrade from standard to pro in the store! You can only buy standard OR buy pro, not upgrade to pro from standard!

Thank you, warmest regards.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Britney
DAZ 3D

The 8.5 is currently available to Carrara 8 owners. You simply need to reset your downloads for Carrara 8. You can do so by clicking the 'reset' link next to your order number.
You will need the current serial number for 8.5 listed here for you,

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/67/

June 05, 2012 14:03

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sorry Britney, This is not the information I require!

Your reply is for the 8.5 BETA...This Beta version is changing constantly (a side effect of Beta testing stages) I am looking for a (STABLE) upgrade from Carrara 8 (8.1.1.12 -32bit) to Carrara 8 PRO 1.1.12 -64bit.

I am desperately trying to GIVE Daz3D my money here But can not for the life of me get a straight reply that contains the correct information either here or in the forum!

It really IS quite simple!

UNTIL the release date of a stable 8.5, There should be a version of Carrara 8 PRO 1.1.12 -64bit available in the store, there is NOT!

The only store options are as follows:

Carrara 8 upgrade (to upgrade from C6-7 to 8) at $89.95

Carrara 8 pro (full product, NOT upgrade from standard to pro) at $549.95

Where is the UPGRADE from Carrara 8 (standard) to PRO (64bit) option?

The 8.5 version is advertised online but clicking on the advertisement takes you to the store where it is currently NOT available (due to still being in a beta phase)...

I am using the 8.5 Beta BUT this beta testing session is due to end in a few days and there is NO guarantee that another Beta testers serial code will be released! Should Daz decide not to release another Beta serial then I am stuck using my standard version with out PRO features, This is why I wish to buy the PRO version that should be a current stable version as there is no definite release date for the current 8.5.

Besides, I don’t want to pay the price of a full version pro program when I should simply be able to pay the upgrade difference between standard and pro! Right?

Thank you!

June 16, 2012 10:37
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So, ANYONE know how I can go pro until the 8.5 beta becomes a stable release?
(with out having to worry that my beta serial will run out and if I will or wont get another one issued!)
As I would love to go 64bit and keep pro features perminantly (wether I upgrade to 8.5 or not, I still want to use / have perminant access to a pro version )?

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Comments

  • 3DAGE3DAGE Posts: 3,311
    edited December 1969

    HI Orion UK :)

    I feel for you. ..but the store is a mess right now and they're tying to fix it and have been swamped with support tickets for orders not working and just about anything else that can go wrong in a store.

    Carrara 8.5 shouldn't really be in the store right now, (in my opinion) since it's not finished.
    rest assured that there will either be another beta release, or another serial number, to extent the beta, when the current serial times-out.

    Anyone buying that right now would (I presume) get C8.1, with a coupon to get C8,5 when it's ready.
    It's badly thought out, since there are no upgrade options available for Pro.

    When the Beta testing is done,. and it's good to go,.. then "normally" there's an offer in the store, which announces the new version and offers upgrades for existing users.
    Hold on to your money until that offer, and the 8,5 version is actually released for sale.

    Hope it helps :)

  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited June 2012

    Many thanks for your reply 3Dage :)

    While I do sympathise with the Daz team and think that they ARE GREAT, these issues have gone on for FAR too long now! I know that they are working HARD to resolve things as quickly as possible. I also know from personal experience that they DO in general try their best to resolve issues :) My last issue with the store was resolved pretty darn fast and with a great level of professionalism and care to a highly satisfactory conclusion. Sadly some of my tickets and emails regarding this upgrade problem either get closed when I have not got a fitting reply or the reply points me to a completely incorrect solution!

    I got so fed up with waiting for a reply from my first attempt to get this issue resolved that I ended up spending what I had saved (at that time) on the Iclone5pro and 3Dexchange pro bundle deal instead, money Daz could have had if they had responded correctly!

    I love this community, the products and hope that Daz get things sorted real soon!


    rest assured that there will either be another beta release, or another serial number, to extent the beta, when the current serial times-out.

    I do hope so as I am most grateful to Daz for the chance to use the Beta version, most grateful indeed ;)

    Hold on to your money until that offer, and the 8,5 version is actually released for sale.

    This time, I will ;)

    Thanks again 3Dage, a pleasure as always :)

    Post edited by Orion_Uk on
  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 37,711
    edited December 1969

    well the beta version works with 3dx5pipeline beta FBX export whereas the "stable" version does not.
    so it is better in that regard!
    (hint, save those exported iClone FBX's to use after the beta test, they could come in handy if you do not qualify for rigging stuff with the facial bones etc)
    as well it working with Genesis.
    I only use 8.1.1.12 for stuff like the Dazcollada exported dynamic cloth from DS3 today I did.
    (but I saved and reopened the .car file in 8.5 to add hair etc.)
    I usually only use it when rendering in 8.5 at the same time actually as I have it in the 32bit version and 8.5beta as 64bit so it uses less of my RAM.
    The last 8.5 beta pretty stable for me.
    you can put in the new serial and NOT install the next one until you see what bugs others find, that is what I did!

  • 3DAGE3DAGE Posts: 3,311
    edited December 1969

    No Problem Orion UK, glad to help a bit... :)

    Britney's reply is a great example of what's wrong here,. "She does a really great job" and is telling you the right information.

    The problem is that the "BETA" is the ONLY version of Carrara 8.5 that's currently available, ..and as you know, it's only currently available for carrara users, through the Beta program,.. It's NOT available for sale as a finished product, (because it's still being developed in the Beta testing) and it really shouldn't be available in the store in the form that it is.
    They can't sell you it, or upgrade you to it, because it doesn't exist as a product yet.

    That's the fault of over eager marketeers, ...trying to sell you something in advance of it's release.

    If they want to do that,.. they should make it "clear" that it's not ready yet, but if you want to,. then you can pay NOW, and Wait to get it when it's ready for release, and they should also have the appropriate Upgrade options for existing C6 / C7 / C8 users to upgrade to either Standard or Pro versions.

    Hopefully the store situations will be resolved quickly, but I'd stress again that there won't be an Upgrade for 8.5 available, until it's out of beta development.

    Many users here would like to know (officially, from Daz3D) exactly what the fee will be, for 8.1 users to upgrade to 8.5.

    :)

  • de3ande3an Posts: 915
    edited December 1969

    Regarding Orion_uk's difficulty in getting the requested information:

    I've seen this problem occur over and over since the invention of email. It seems to be an issue of reading comprehension and attention span. I've found that if I ask more than one question via an email, only one of the questions will be answered.

    In your original email to DAZ customer service, you asked two questions, one concerning the upgrade from Carrara 8.1 to 8.1 Pro, and another concerning the 8.5 beta. If you had not mentioned the 8.5 beta, you might have received the info that you really needed.

    Since there is no way to increase the email recipient's attention to detail, you need to be clever when crafting your email by not allowing the recipient to veer off point.

    This seems to be a universal problem, I encounter it everywhere and always find it frustrating. But limiting an email to a single direct question usually produces a better result.

  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited June 2012

    and they should also have the appropriate Upgrade options for existing C6 / C7 / C8 users to upgrade to either Standard or Pro versions.

    I agree 3Dage and thats all I am looking for, an upgrade from 8.1.12 standard to pro.. Can't be that hard! I am sure other people are using 8.1.12 pro (64bit) versions until 8.5 is released officially ! There must be a spare copy under someone's desk over at Daz ;)

    Both you and Wendy bring up some great points, I guess I will just have to be patient and hope the beta serials keep comming until the release date of 8.5!

    It's just strange that there has been no direct reply from Daz saying "sorry, there is NO pro option for people who wish to upgrade from 8.1.12 standard until 8.5 is officially released", that would have been more acceptable/understandable than pointing me to a beta where the serial could run out with no guarantee of a new one!

    Wendy makes a v-good point regarding the 3dx5pro pipeline and FBX/Genesis (thank you Wendy) and that I would still need to upgrade to 8.5 to gain these benefits even if Daz did sell me a copy of 8.1.12 pro (64 bit) so I guess one upgrade path is better than two ;)
    As you say Wendy, 8.5 has provided to be v-stable for me also (apart from renderings stopping half way through some times!) and I would prefer 8.5 to the previous pro version anyway :)

    I closed my ticket and thanked Britney for her time and for giving me the best reply that she could :)

    Post edited by Orion_Uk on
  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    de3an said:
    Regarding Orion_uk's difficulty in getting the requested information:

    I've seen this problem occur over and over since the invention of email. It seems to be an issue of reading comprehension and attention span. I've found that if I ask more than one question via an email, only one of the questions will be answered.

    In your original email to DAZ customer service, you asked two questions, one concerning the upgrade from Carrara 8.1 to 8.1 Pro, and another concerning the 8.5 beta. If you had not mentioned the 8.5 beta, you might have received the info that you really needed.

    Since there is no way to increase the email recipient's attention to detail, you need to be clever when crafting your email by not allowing the recipient to veer off point.

    This seems to be a universal problem, I encounter it everywhere and always find it frustrating. But limiting an email to a single direct question usually produces a better result.

    Thanks de3an, that's real good advice and insight in to something I did not put too much brain power towards! :p

    I will try to remember those points when posting/mailing in future :)

  • HDD3DHDD3D Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Britney answered me that I should either phone in the order for the upgrade or just respond again and let her do the order for me, if I dared. The upgrade.price was 150ish.
    She said that there will be no upgrade option in the store (there was in the old).

    Britney is probably working 16 hour shifts to cope with the 10x increase in support tickets. Do a new ticket, ask as short as possible.

  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    The upgrade.price was 150ish.

    Thanks for the info HDD3D ;)

    Was that in USD or GBP?

  • 3DAGE3DAGE Posts: 3,311
    edited December 1969

    HI HDD3D :)

    She said that there will be no upgrade option in the store


    then I guess that none of the Carrara users will be upgrading to C8.5 :)

    There are obviously some issues with the new store and the way products can be priced and offered for sale which need to be addressed.
    I think this is one of them.

    If you're going to sell software, then logically you need a way for existing customers to upgrade to newer versions, as well as a "Side-grade" option for users of other software.

    I'd hold off until there's something official from Daz3D.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 37,711
    edited December 1969

    I think in the past they kinda did it on trust.
    I upgraded from C7pro to C8pro without proof as far as I know, I had C7pro on a disc from a magazine and they never asked fir proof although there is certainly plenty out there in videos of me using it, forum screenshots etc plus plugins I bought.
    I do not have C7 on my desktop, just installed the upgrade (it is still on my laptop)
    however if it is in your account history as is the case for you, one would think an upgrade offer would be availabe through it.
    other software companies do that, I get regular messages to upgrade my existing stuff and they know which build I have!
    Smithmicro and Reallusion come to mind.

  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    one would think an upgrade offer would be availabe through it.

    I live in hope Wendy ;) x.

  • HDD3DHDD3D Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Orion_Uk said:
    The upgrade.price was 150ish.

    Thanks for the info HDD3D ;)

    Was that in USD or GBP?

    About 150 us dollars.

  • HDD3DHDD3D Posts: 0
    edited June 2012

    3DAGE said:
    HI HDD3D :)

    She said that there will be no upgrade option in the store


    then I guess that none of the Carrara users will be upgrading to C8.5 :)

    There are obviously some issues with the new store and the way products can be priced and offered for sale which need to be addressed.
    I think this is one of them.

    If you're going to sell software, then logically you need a way for existing customers to upgrade to newer versions, as well as a "Side-grade" option for users of other software.

    I'd hold off until there's something official from Daz3D.

    Maybe it is a combo of 8.5 coming out soon and the new store issues, that they temporarily stopped the upgrade path.
    The old store had 8.0 pro for 550$, but also a upgrade price of 300$ from bryce 7 pro, with the 30% off for new customers, it was very cheap considering b7pro was free for 4 months...

    During march madness everything was half off the last few days, could have got c8pro for about 100ish, kicking myself for not pulling the trigger.

    Post edited by HDD3D on
  • elephantboy90elephantboy90 Posts: 10
    edited December 1969

    I upgraded from Carrara 8 to Carrara 8 Pro for $149. Britney was extremely helpful. I think the beta issue a bit of a distraction. Once 8.5 is released you will presumably need a Pro licence key. I would strike whilst the iron is hot. If they let you upgrade for this price you have made a substantial saving on the notional list price.

  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    I upgraded from Carrara 8 to Carrara 8 Pro for $149. Britney was extremely helpful. I think the beta issue a bit of a distraction. Once 8.5 is released you will presumably need a Pro licence key. I would strike whilst the iron is hot. If they let you upgrade for this price you have made a substantial saving on the notional list price.

    Thanks ;)

    I just opened a new ticket with a short and sweet requst (with alot less babble from me!) HOPE THAT WORKS :)

  • namretteknamrettek Posts: 168
    edited December 1969

    Well Carrara 8.5 is listing at $199

    So that is less than half the price of what Carrara 8 Pro sold for.

    It looks to me like they are dropping the price of Carrara.

    I'm not against that. The more people who see how cool Carrara is the more there will be available for it.

  • elephantboy90elephantboy90 Posts: 10
    edited December 1969

    Hope they can sort you Out Orion_Uk. It took about 5 days for them to reply, but then I had a purchase order within a day after that. I don't know what's going on with the pricing now but from only a fairly brief exposure to Carrara so far (and despite all the tales of woe in the forums) I still think Carrara is gives the best value for the feature set. I tried various trials such as Cinema 4D, Modo and GMax but have found Carrara to be the only one where I have actually managed to create something worthwhile with very liitle effort. Despite it's rather dated UI, it is pretty intuitive and the standard of tutorials and community support I have found to date has been excellent.

    Hope they continue with the development!

  • edited December 1969

    where can i upgrade from carrara 8 to carrara 8 pro. ???

  • HDD3DHDD3D Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    namrettek said:
    Well Carrara 8.5 is listing at $199

    So that is less than half the price of what Carrara 8 Pro sold for.

    It looks to me like they are dropping the price of Carrara.

    I'm not against that. The more people who see how cool Carrara is the more there will be available for it.

    Price seems to be increasing, C8 is 150$, while C8.5 lists as 200$.
    C8Pro is 550$, no data on C8.5 Pro yet.

  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,565
    edited December 1969

    3d-Media said:
    where can i upgrade from carrara 8 to carrara 8 pro. ???


    Contact Sales Support for upgrade pricing.

  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    3d-Media said:
    where can i upgrade from carrara 8 to carrara 8 pro. ???
    Contact Sales Support for upgrade pricing.

    Lol, I have been doing that since 29th May at least! (http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/862/), emailed support a number of times AND have asked Zendesk THREE times (been given the wrong info or not gotten replies!) My latest request is 3-4 days with no reply, funny how Daz wont take your money but most company's bite your right arm off for it!

    I must have really upset some one over there!!!

  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,565
    edited December 1969

    Orion_Uk said:
    3d-Media said:
    where can i upgrade from carrara 8 to carrara 8 pro. ???
    Contact Sales Support for upgrade pricing.

    Lol, I have been doing that since 29th May at least! (http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/862/), emailed support a number of times AND have asked Zendesk THREE times (been given the wrong info or not gotten replies!) My latest request is 3-4 days with no reply, funny how Daz wont take your money but most company's bite your right arm off for it!

    I must have really upset some one over there!!!

    Ah, sorry about that. Maybe they're giving priority to problem tickets and haven't gotten around to you yet?

  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Orion_Uk said:
    3d-Media said:
    where can i upgrade from carrara 8 to carrara 8 pro. ???
    Contact Sales Support for upgrade pricing.

    Lol, I have been doing that since 29th May at least! (http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/862/), emailed support a number of times AND have asked Zendesk THREE times (been given the wrong info or not gotten replies!) My latest request is 3-4 days with no reply, funny how Daz wont take your money but most company's bite your right arm off for it!

    I must have really upset some one over there!!!

    Ah, sorry about that. Maybe they're giving priority to problem tickets and haven't gotten around to you yet?

    Maybe!

    Thanks Mike :)

  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Still no reply???

    WTH!!!!!

    I am now definitely writing a very strong letter to CEO James Thornton for sure this time!!

    DAZ have constantly either ignored my requests, given me the wrong information and point blank refused to help a willingly paying customer!!!

    I feel that I have been more than patient with the store and website problems over the last few months. Sadly, there have been far too many posts from other users in the same situation as me (some whom have been helped quite quickly and even been given C8.1 PRO at a seriously reduced rate) I COULD have purchased 8.1 PRO for $149 and now you have raised the price back up to over $500 and STILL wont help me! How can you call this customer service???

    I have PDF copies of requests (which keep either disappearing or getting closed with out resolve) going back MONTHS on this issue, copies of emails etc, ALL of which will be going in a physical package to CEO James Thornton in relation to my complaint. This level of incompetence is totally unacceptable by ANY degree.

    All I asked for was a reasonable price and help to upgrade from 8.1 standard to 8.1 PRO, I have been quoted so many different prices (yet no option to do this in the store) and find out that while some users are only paying $149 to upgrade from standard to pro, I am now expected to pay over $549 and buy the full verison of pro rather than an upgrade from standard to pro ??? All this focus on store and website problems, promotions and countless new products (some still with defects/issues) has lead to a serious lack in basic customer support and damage to sales.

    With regret that I have to take my complaint so far (after so long!).

    While its nice of DAZ to offer a Beta to use, I would like a CURRENT/up to date version to keep while DAZ work on the Beta is completed?

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 37,711
    edited December 1969

    Still no reply???
    WTH!!!!!
    I am now definitely writing a very strong letter to CEO James Thornton for sure this time!!
    DAZ have constantly either ignored my requests, given me the wrong information and point blank refused to help a willingly paying customer!!!

    :red: oh, strongly worded ;-P
    I thought you meant in bold font!
    feel bad for you as my Carrara 8 pro was very cheap having upgraded from a C7pro magazine disc version during a big Daz sale month where I got lots of things cheap.
    I myself have become very reliant on the 8.5beta and hope the price not too scary as I WILL have to pay it.
    hopefully they will sort out the store upgrade pricing . . . .
  • Orion_UkOrion_Uk Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Lol, GOOD NEWS Wendy :)

    After a few messages to Zendesk and a phone call I got it sorted ;)

    I had some help from Britney and Jonie. Britney tried hard to help me but she had problems processing my card online. Strangely Joanie managed to do it by phone after a 10 minute call (dunno how much that cost me from UK to USA!) and now I finally have a copy of 8.1.1 Pro build 12...yay :)

    Quote: "myself have become very reliant on the 8.5beta and hope the price not too scary as I WILL have to pay it.
    hopefully they will sort out the store upgrade pricing . . . ."

    Well, I could have settled for using the 8.5 Beta (and still will use it while available) but I wanted a full pro copy that I could permanently use even after the Beta testing period is over just in case I cant afford the 8.5 upgrade from standard!

    I mainly wanted it as the pro version allows import of Syntheyes camera tracking out put files and standard does not. While I (like you) have become dependent on the 8.5 Beta, there is no certainty that I will be able to afford the 8.5 upgrade price on release.

    I did get my pro version (upgrade from standard) for a extremely good price of £69.95 :)
    While it has been quite a battle to get success, I am grateful that Daz sold the upgrade to me at such a low price. I am sure you can tell from my previous post that my patience was running thin, but now I am finally happy.

    A bit scared on how smooth the upgrade process will run when I can afford (and its released) to upgrade to 8.5 pro :P

  • ScoopeyScoopey Posts: 190
    edited December 1969

    Though I'm a bit late into this discussion I am currently having problems.
    I have the standard 8 upgrade and wanted to switch to pro.

    I was told to simply purchase the pro upgrade and then I would get a slight refund for already having the standard.

    However the bloody website refuses to sell me the pro upgrade.

    It will sell me the standard upgrade again or a complete pro!

    In all my experience online I have never had so much difficulty in buying something...I have no intention of phoning from the UK to sort out the problem..perhaps they can phone me on my mobile!!!
    With numerous Zendesk tickets flying around...I started to loose patience with the whole thing!

    They need to get these issues sorted ...giving customers a difficult time is not the way to sell stuff and only the true loyalists remain!

    Steve C

  • ChoholeChohole Posts: 33,604
    edited December 1969

    Daz is aware of the problems with the Carrara ( pro upgrade store page, and hopefully it will be sorted out sometime....err ummm in the near future

  • ScoopeyScoopey Posts: 190
    edited December 1969

    These irritations do not help Daz in the long term.
    I finally got a friend to try Daz studio after showing him how you can create 3d renders.
    Since my "problems" with the store started he's considering it's not such a good idea.

    Now I know its not good to compare rivals but can anyone tell me if Poser users have anywhere near the same aggravation with the official Poser addon store (Content Paradise?)

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