Why is it so hard to buy ARCHICAD / get sales to call ??
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‎2018-05-20 06:48 PM
What's the big secret Graphisoft? And get some better sales reps. Your sales force is too hard to reach.
I've received follow calls and emails 4 times already DIRECTLY from Vectorworks. Graphisoft has thrown me to a local sales rep that seems to be too busy and he doesn't even have a sales website. That's not a good sign to someone looking to invest $18,000 in software.
Am I allowed to buy from a sales rep outside my local area? Archvista looks good, Cadeshack too, and 3DCADCO in Miami.

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‎2018-05-20 08:43 PM
CARMELHILL wrote:Your experience should be an embarrassing and huge wake-up call to Graphisoft (and parent Nemetschek)... since Graphisoft North America headquarters in Boston is itself the New York sales contact according to the Graphisoft web site. If even headquarters cannot respond, there is a huge problem.
What's the big secret Graphisoft? And get some better sales reps. Your sales force is too hard to reach.
And, I agree, pricing transparency is sorely needed if GS wants new customers.

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‎2018-05-20 09:37 PM
While I don't think things are going to change in this area any time soon as independent reps simply don't have the resources of a central sales force. Archicad is just too fragmented.
However, IMNOHO, sales and marketing should be only a minor consideration. Program features, TS, productivity, and ease of use should be the main consideration. I will admit that Archicad does have the nasty habit of dropping support for seldom used features and is definitely out-of-date with respect to data access. But TS in all other areas is excellent here. Personally i think Archicad is easier and more logical to understand than Vectorworks which is kind-of stuck with some old baggage. Vectorworks has the advantage in Data access which is much more accessible in their program. Archicad is just archaic in this area and that includes Archicad 22. Archicad is much more productive in publishing the final product and may be the best bet there.
Definitely, before you leap, take advantage of the demo periods for each and rather make the comparisons there. I would first invest in some simple training for each either by way of Youtube or courses by Bobrow or Learnvirtural for Archicad or Archoncad for Vectorworks.
Windows 11 - Visual Studio 2022; ArchiCAD 27
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‎2018-05-21 12:50 AM
If you watch some of the latest Eric Bobrow videos, these firms all have to use the Cadimage Tools to get the job done. Isn't that a sad indictment of Graphisoft and path into the future? Relying on paid add-ons to do the basics. You have to add these costs to your initial purchase price and factor them into ongoing upgrade costs to get any productivity out of Archicad. Even Cadimage Stair tool is far easier to use than the new Archicad stairs.
As a US user, you have the opportunity to purchase the Solo version at a lesser outlay if you don't need Teamwork. Here in Australia and New Zealand, they refuse to supply it here. So I as a sole user have to pay through the nose for upgrades for a version where I don't use its major feature. Who cares about the customer?
I have been going on and on about Graphisoft's interaction with users on this site for years. Almost non-existent. You go to Revits and Vectorworks forums and they both have employees answering new and existing users questions. Aren't the makers of the software the best people to answers new users questions over and over again. It shouldn't be up to people like Barry to do Graphisoft's job for them. Thank you Barry and others for your service. Isn't it a sign of the mentality of Head office how they and most (not all) of their resellers interact with their users?
Re Poco's comment about usability and ease of use should be the main consideration, I agree, certainly Archicad is coming third in that respect as well and from the Archicad 22 video's new features nothing has changed but getting more complicated to do something simple.
Just look at the wishes forum, many many usability improvements suggested for years (fill in beams to state just one) and never implemented. To me, as a work tool, you have to be happy with it number one, and because Graphisoft continue to satisfy its major seat holders over the rest of us, and not adding all the user improvement requests, there is no future for Archicad as both Revit and Vectorworks have at least the basics right first and now have both better usability and functionality as well from my observations.

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‎2018-05-21 04:17 AM
I recently purchased a copy of Vectorworks Designer primarily for its Data Access capabilities and was not disappointed. Archicad is grossly out-of-date in many areas including data access and its update in 22 in this area is so limited that I am appalled that it ever got out of Beta.
That said, I think you'll find as many deficiencies in Vectorworks. As said many times – no single program has all bases covered. Most emphasize different areas as specialties. Vectorworks does a little of most but nothing noteworthy (ex. Data/schedules and its specialties as in lighting, landscaping – etc.) - IMHO.
I really think both programs have something to offer and hope as sister companies they will eventually get together and not compete or try to re-invent the wheel. Nemetschek needs to exercise more control between the two.
But back to the topic, I think Vectorworks has as many deficiencies, abet in different areas. They do have some outstanding specialties but overall, at least for myself, Archicad is more productive. which is why I emphasize that one should match the program to the way you want to work – not the way a programmer or marketing thinks you should work??
Windows 11 - Visual Studio 2022; ArchiCAD 27
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‎2018-05-21 05:02 AM
I thought about Revit for a little while. But I crossed it off my list when I found out it switched to a subscription only basis without any yearly ownership of the program (perpetuity license I think?). So if you ever change programs in the future you'll lose access to all your plans. They just stole all your intellectual property and turned to exhortation to keep you as a client. I could be wrong.
But what if I semi retire in a few years? I can't just hold onto Revit 2017 and access my client data?
I had Vectorworks back in 2011. It was a bit clunky and crashed a lot. I don't know if it's better now but I know the company reps are better than Archicad. Chief Architect is bullet proof. It never crashes. Unfortunately, it has zero commercial tools.
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‎2018-05-21 05:32 AM
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‎2018-05-21 06:44 PM
CARMELHILL wrote:I think you meant "extortion," but you are essentially correct. Autodesk used to have a "perpetual license" option with a "maintenance plan." This license would work forever at the current version whenever you stopped the maintenance, but if you didn't renew your maintenance for 3 years (I believe it was), you would have to buy the full license all over again if you wanted the latest version. Now, they only offer subscriptions where you need to "pay to play." I have been turned off to Autodesk's business practices ever since they unilaterally cancelled license transfers during R14, wiping out my initial investment when I moved to ArchiCAD.
... They just stole all your intellectual property and turned to exhortation to keep you as a client. <snip>
Chief Architect is bullet proof. It never crashes. Unfortunately, it has zero commercial tools.
BTW, if Chief has never crashed for you, you are not pushing it very hard.

--------------------------
Richard Morrison, Architect-Interior Designer
AC26 (since AC6.0), Win10
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‎2018-05-25 12:54 AM
As I research my 3 license switch from Chief Architect, I am looking at Archicad and Vectorworks. One thing strikes me as odd, sales reps from Vectorworks were very easy to contact, email, etc..while GRAPHISOFT is like a big secret. The local sales rep responds days later, their pricing structure is no where to be found unless you email them for a quote, etc...
What's the big secret Graphisoft? And get some better sales reps. Your sales force is too hard to reach.
I've received follow up calls and emails 4 times already DIRECTLY from Vectorworks. Graphisoft has thrown me to a local sales rep that seems to be too busy and he doesn't even have a sales website. That's not a good sign to someone looking to invest $18,000 in software.
Am I allowed to buy from a sales rep outside my local area? Archvista looks good, Cadeshack too, and 3DCADCO in Miami.
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‎2018-05-25 04:36 AM
CARMELHILL wrote:I don't know the GS policy, but if you aren't getting good service from your local rep, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to contact someone else. My own rep is Archvista, and they always have been very responsive. I know nothing about the other two reps.
Am I allowed to buy from a sales rep outside my local area? Archvista looks good, Cadeshack too, and 3DCADCO in Miami.
--------------------------
Richard Morrison, Architect-Interior Designer
AC26 (since AC6.0), Win10