Can I ask if there is anyone out there who is satisfied with Sage? Who is satisfied with rip-off support costs, the additional work required, the cost of additional software such as Crystal or invoicing software?
Am I alone in thinking Sage is nothing but a rip-off?
David McCarlie
Replies (21)
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To Tony Reeve
I'm well aware of the sort of mess that an inexperienced person can get into using Sage and have had to sort out the end results on many occasions and for other software also.
That's just the point, inexperienced people who don't want to learn double entry book-keeping shouldn't have to in order to produce reasonable results and QuickBooks has been designed from the ground up for such users.
I'd far rather have client's who can get things right because they can understand it as it has a relatively short learning curve. Of course its not perfect and many accountants don't like it because it doesn't fit the bill as perfectly debit and credit based. It does a pretty good job in operating in the way that is understandable by those without any previous computerised accounting system experience because it works in logical procedures. How many times have you had to explain to a client that their bank statement is the "wrong way around" for debit and credit purposes - QuickBooks just shows a layout that is similar to the bank statement instead and deals with the conversion in the background.
As for Quicken, would you rather have a pile of grubby paper together with a bundle of bank statements and cheque stubbs or a balanced bank account with analysed income and expenditure as a starting basis. It doesn't prepare accounts but it does provide an invoicing system and can deal with VAT matters. No purpose as an accounting tool? If that's all the client needs and wants why should accountants try and foist a "better" system on them - better for whom when its not properly kept!
Sage Dominant But Not Necessarily Best
Nigel below, you are spot on with the Ford car analogy. Only driving Sage is a problem if you can't afford the training investment.
For me Sage is over complicated and expensive over Quickbooks, But Quickbooks upgrades require improving especially to the phased out V.6 and payroll,and Quicken is a domestic housekeeping finance tool with its uses but not in the commercial world of accountancy.
See last Wednesday's Workshop here through Community above for an insight into Sage's corporate bods at work.
Also many small businesses refuse to upgrade their computer equipment to reach any softwares recommended specifications. Another source of operating problems.
Heidi
I've met a number of well satisfied QuickBooks operators who were previously Sage users. They are "convertees" because they like the fact that they did not need to know anything about double entry book-keeping to be able to learn and use QuickBooks. The double entry bit is done in the background whilst the operator just gets on with the job of loading the information. A lot of well thought out and developed software is provided for the budget price.
The integration with Excel in the Pro version is a very neat feature. Click on the "Excel" button in any of the reports, select either new workbook or identify an existing workbook and Excel is both started and data transferred across automatically. Great basis for David Carter to start work with pivot tables.
If you've not tried it for yourself Heidi, get a demo and have a look at it. Software support is now in Canada on 0800 numbers and waiting times appear to have been reduced as a result.
Alternatives to Sage
I have experienced the same issues with Sage as everyone else but are the alternatives really any better? - Is Intuit a better solution?
Comfort zone
Most users are 'happy' because it does most of what they want and their Accountant probably sold it to them or can 'support' it. It meets their comfort zone requirements
Users who require 'extra' functions can move elsewhere - multi currency, sql networking, real time despatch notes, 32bit, internal reporting, etc
The challenge for most implementors is that many clients would rather spend £300 a month on a lease car, but would not spend sufficient on their prime business system ensuring it was on decent machines and the software was set-up correctly and was available for their business.
Obviously it is horses for courses and noone can deny Sage have not done a good job gaining market share...and you don't do that with a crap product.....you do it with a product and a service that 'meets that comfort zone'
As for £150 for unlimited support. That sounds a pretty good deal
Anybody wishing to look at alternatives, please contact us. All are at least multi currency, multi company, networkable products...all strong on stock, SOP, POP
Pastel, Encore, Office2
Regards
Daniel Clark
Ryba Macaulay Ltd
[email protected]
Sage is over-rated
I use Sage fairly extensively as a number (far too many!) of my clients use it.
I have to agree with previous comments that it is both overpriced and under-functionalised (is that a word?). I think Line 50 Windows in particular is very poor: if that's the best Sage can do, then they should go back to the DOS version!
Unfortunately, Sage market on the fact that they are the one household name in the SME software market. What is disappointing, however, are the number of accountants who recommend Sage, presumably because it is the "safe" option and presumably because they are unaware of the far superior Quickbooks and TAS Books (my own favourite: will SAge allow this to survive in the long term?)
try Quickbooks
I used Sage Line 50 and other Sage packages for many years. I was then introduced to Quickbooks and found that it is far easier to amend errors and to export reports to Excel than Sage. I have introduced Quickbooks to 10 different businesses and have had no complaint particularly as price wise it is far better than Sage.
My present employer uses SAGE 50 but we are starting the new financial year on 1st July with Quickbooks.
Like a Ford Escort
For years the Ford Escort was the best selling car in the UK, but it was a lousy vehicle. But everyone could get in one and drive it, and every mechanic knew how to fix it. I think Sage is like that.
I can recall buying Sage Accounts to run under CP/M (remember that?)in 1984 when Sage was two men and a boy. Since then I've dealt with all the various permutations up to and including Line 100. Some of the irritations I had in 1984 are still there!
How much do you think you should pay for your accounting software? I think the problem is that all accounts programs (perhaps with a few exceptions!) are too cheap and have too little spent on testing and development, for the importance they play in their users business. I've known people spend 2-3k on a duff telephone system, and then blanche at 450 for an accounts sytem.
ANTI SAGE LEAGUE
I think we should conspire to form an ANTI SAGE LEAGUE.
Personally I use excel for the majority of my work and Moneysoft provide an excellent payroll software package.
My issue with SAGE is that it is far too expensive, although most of my clients use it. I have no problem with the applications.
P.S. Does anyone fancy joining the Anti Quicken League also? If you have any clients using this software, then let me express my condolences .. .