Part of HuffPost Impact.Angry users have called it plenty of other things that are unprintable here.
But a few years ago, I began to question whether each new versions bells and whistles, many of which I didnt need, were worth the price. Then there were the changes Intuit had made to the programs user interface over the years that forced me to change my habits every 12 months. I hate changing my habits.) Not to mention the possibility -- often a reality -- of bugs cropping up in each new version. Last year, after checking out the new features and the user reviews for Quicken 2014 on Amazon (users gave it roughly three stars out of five), I decided to hold out for a third and final year. When Quicken 2015 was introduced last fall, there were the usual improvements to the Windows version, while the user reviews on Amazon seemed, on the whole, similar to the previous years. Had it not been for the Discontinuation Policy, I would have passed on this version and waited for Quicken 2016. You may find one you like, though: For detailed reviews of some major alternatives to Quicken, see TopTenReviews. Even if I didnt upgrade, I would still be able to continue using Quicken 2012 indefinitely to balance my checkbook, budget, etc. However, my version would be cut off from all online services and support). I didnt bite. As in earlier years, I had found lower prices for Quicken at retailers -- even allowing for the 10 discount -- than if I bought directly from Intuit. For example, as I write this, Amazon is offering Quicken 2015 Deluxe for 42.41 and Staples for 44.99, while the Quicken site lists its discounted price at 64.99. But I had decided to hold out until late March, so that I could first finish preparing my taxes using Quicken 2012. Quicken Bill Software Just BeforeIts never a good idea to upgrade a piece of software just before using it for an important job. Intuits new offer made perfect sense: The company so dreaded losing my business as a Bill Pay customer -- which would happen if it cut off my online services -- that it was willing to offer the upgrade free. If youd like to avoid losing your online services without having to pony up for a Quicken upgrade after three years, you should try playing it, too. The trick is to put Intuit at enough risk that it will fold before you do. First, you need to be, or become, a Quicken Bill Pay customer. Then hold off on buying a third-year upgrade for as long as you can, certainly long enough to have prepared your taxes for the new year. Apparently the company had figured that by late February, the risk of losing Bill Pay income finally outweighed any benefit from further pressuring the remaining holdouts to pay. Once this report is published and the word is out, Intuit may change its strategy. But I still think that the longer you hold out -- even until early April if you can -- the better your chances of being offered a free upgrade. If youve been offered the same free upgrade that I was, or even if you havent, let other users know by posting a comment below. The more that consumers know about the tech industrys practices, the better.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2020
Categories |