Aggressive sales tactics from Sage

I have had many complaints from clients regarding Sage

Didn't find your answer?

Has anyone else come across this?  Sage have a sales campaign whereby they are calling clients to say they HAVE to upgrade to the latest verion of the software as they will not be compliant.  A client forwarded me an email from them and this is an extract:

"As of the 1st April 2018 the HMRC gateway was decommissioned, If you use Sage 50 Accounts to submit VAT Returns, EC sales lists or CIS submissions you will need to consider the options. To continue to submit VAT Returns through Sage 50 Accounts, you must ensure that you are on version 24.1 or above. The current gateway service was decommissioned on 1st April 2018 and was replaced by a new system developed by HMRC"

One client has has 3 'phone calls, each getting more aggressive.  One client said that their upgrades are always handled through me as their accountant - the client was told it would be cheaper to buy through Sage directly!! I have complained to Sage on numerous occasions but to no avail. Has any one else had the same problem or I they just targeting my clients?!

Replies (10)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By bernard michael
22nd Mar 2018 14:55

Glad to hear nothing changes with Sage

Thanks (1)
avatar
By andy.partridge
22nd Mar 2018 14:58

They have been operating like that for at least 10 years, probably more. They are so outrageous in their nasty marketing of upgrades. Of course they are all sweetness before you sign up. They must be exceedingly clever for their grim tactics not to be better known after operating like this for so long.

The surprise for me is that it comes as a surprise to you.

Thanks (0)
By gerrysims
22nd Mar 2018 15:08

That sounds like the perfect opportunity to sell an alternative product to your clients. Switch them en masse then tell Sage why.

Thanks (0)
Replying to gerrysims:
avatar
By teresaweezer
23rd Mar 2018 09:48

I've tried that and they didn't really care!!

Thanks (0)
Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
22nd Mar 2018 15:36

There is an option that is not mentioned like, you can also look at other vendors like Xero,QBO etc who have better solutions that work with you.

They are forcing payroll clients to go onto there portal thing for payroll at a cost per client per month to meet GDPR requirements. Brightpay and Moneysoft must [***] their pants at how easy it is to get clients with competition.

For accounts you have to go onto subscription pricing and cannot buy an off the shelf one off licence any more which will also help Xero boosts its user numbers.

I suspect the guy at movemybooks is currently rubbing his hands in anticipation.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By BigBadWolf
22nd Mar 2018 15:44

Reason no. 261 NOT to use Sage!

Thanks (0)
avatar
By paulwakefield1
23rd Mar 2018 08:41

"For accounts you have to go onto subscription pricing and cannot buy an off the shelf one off licence any more which will also help Xero boosts its user numbers."

Errr - isn't Xero (& QBO) a subscription only model as well?

Thanks (0)
Replying to paulwakefield1:
Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
23rd Mar 2018 09:18

And your point is?

Xero and QBO have always been on subscription. Many people use line 50 as a one off purchase I came across someone on V12 the other day who bought it 12 years ago and then not paid anything since.

You cannot just buy V24 as a standalone to make you compliant so many users who had no software costs for years will now to have to sign up or move on.

The cost of a LIne50 subscription will be a lot higher than Xero and QBO and what is the need for that as the product has not changed at all in the last 15 years.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Glennzy:
avatar
By paulwakefield1
23rd Mar 2018 10:46

I equally regret the demise of the one off purchase option. But I don't see that because Sage only offer a subscription model, that is in itself an argument to choose another product which is also subscription only.

There are of course other reasons to switch to Xero or QBO.

Actually Sage is not always more expensive than Xero. Having been going through an exercise with a client, they will almost certainly be choosing Xero but Sage was cheaper.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By bernard michael
23rd Mar 2018 09:32

Wrong ...........it's got worse

Thanks (0)