Comparing consignment software programs and their values is a daunting task. Too often the total cost of owning a program isn't known until a missing feature or service is needed and confusing websites and pricing schedules often purposely hide the facts. Like Consign Pro, most providers also attempt to garner ongoing annual 'service fees' and assess 'add-on fees' which were purposely glossed over prior to purchase.
How does ConsignPro (and Liberty) compare to Best Consignment Shop Software in price and features? This comparison chart reveals the incredible comparative value!
| Fees1 |
BCSS
10 Years |
Liberty
5 Years |
Liberty
10 Years |
Consignpro
5 Years |
Consignpro
10 Years |
| Initial Outlay |
$ 595 |
$ 995 |
$ 995 |
$ 995 |
$ 995 |
| Home Copy |
free |
295 |
295 |
free |
free |
| Network 5 PCs |
350 |
897 |
897 |
1,180 |
1,180 |
| Support |
free |
1,800 |
3,600 |
1,250 |
2,500 |
| QuickBooks |
included |
199 |
199 |
included |
included |
| Data Conversion |
free |
200 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
| X-Charge |
n/a |
245 |
245 |
included |
included |
| Data Repair |
free |
free |
free |
345 |
690 |
| Printer Support |
free |
450 |
900 |
200 |
400 |
| Scanner Support |
110 |
210 |
free |
? |
? |
| Upgrades (not Updates) |
free |
200 |
400 |
200 |
400 |
| Online Backups |
free |
n/a |
n/a |
357 |
714 |
| Online Account Access |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
597 |
1,195 |
| Tag Customization |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
75 |
75 |
| Transfer Fee2 |
free |
500 |
500 |
50 |
50 |
| Second Transfer Fee3 |
free |
500 |
500 |
995 |
995 |
| Replacement Manual |
free |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
| Replacement CD |
free |
35 |
35 |
25 |
25 |
| Hardware Mark Ups |
n/a |
$297 |
$297 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
| On-Site Training4 |
n/a |
|
|
$2,500 |
$2,500 |
| Hardware Shipping Fees |
free |
~+5% |
~+5% |
~+5% |
~+5% |
| FedX Overcharges |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
25 |
25 |
| Totals |
$ 945 |
$ 6,581 |
$ 9,139 |
$ 9,162 |
$ 13,161 |
| Resale Value5 |
$ 400 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Net Cost |
$ 545 |
$ 6,581 |
$ 9,139 |
$ 9,162 |
$ 13,161 |
1 As of /1/2008 as best can be determined. Not all fees are listed in one place or prominently. Amounts are based upon 5 users with printer support and database repairs once per year.
2The Liberty fee is $99 IF the software is being purchased with a business. Otherwise, the fee is "one-half the value of the software", so if Liberty determines the 'value' to be $1,000 and you sell it for $500, you get nothing.
3The Consignpro license can not be transferred a second time. A new purchase ($995) is required.
4 In Canada. $2,000 in the U.S. Restrictions apply.
5 BCSS can be resold. Consignpro cannot be resold except for rare circumstances.
|
Software comparisons alone don't measure honesty, reputation and dependability. You are considering a long-term relationship with a software company. It should be with one that demonstrates an honest reputation from beginning to end and assures quality support now and into the future. This particular vendor only posts positive comments about themselves and their product. Read the whole truth here.
The foremost objections to Consign Pro are high costs, the underhanded ploy to force their users into paying for upgrades, and falsely advertising on the Internet:
- Program updates are heralded as 'free'. They are not 'free'. Hefty annual support fees ($125/$250) are demanded, otherwise, upgrades are held hostage. Meanwhile from the other corner of the mouth, Consign Pro boasts of the number of updates to their program.
- Consign Pro hopes to derive a permanent stream of income from their users by charging annual service fees.
- Consign Pro nickels and dimes users for common services - replacement CDs ($25) and manuals ($25), tag customizations ($75 per hour), license transfer fees ($50), database conversions ($200).
- Disclosure of shipping charges is withheld until the end of the ordering process where they are 'incidentally tacked on'.
- Hardware prices were recently INCREASED.
These are Consign Pro advertisements in Overture and Google promoting Consign Pro to be 'free'. The program is obviously not free. (Overture and Google, search term 'consignment software', 12/1/2005)
On this page the vendor claims to be doing visitors a favor, "To save you some time and energy we've spent some time last Spring comparing ourselves to other popular software..." and asks, "Why do we give you all this information about our competitors?", suggesting that his comparison is a thorough representation of all competition. Representation of our software is conspicuously missing along with Liberty and several others. Here he make a false statement about having the 'lowest price'. (http://www.vhsoftware.com/compare.htm, http://www.vhsoftware.com/message.htm, 4/13/2005)
Here again unsubstantiated claims are made about being the best and having been thorough in representing the truth about competition, "We've taken a lot of time to compare our program to our competitors to make sure that you, our customer, receive the best value for your money."
(http://www.vhsoftware.com/faq.htm, 4/13/2005)
It is implied here that an affiliate membership in NARTS (National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops) has meritorious value. Anyone can become an affiliate member by paying a fee. It is highly unlikely that any reputable organization would condone advertising falsifications and price trapping.
(http://www.vhsoftware.com/message.htm, 4/13/2005)
In this caption: "In the spirit of total disclosure, we present all our fees and charges below." In this caption: "Software and Packages (prices do not include UPS shipping); POS and related hardware options (prices do not include UPS shipping)" Shipping charges are not revealed until the ordering process is started. (http://www.vhsoftware.com/pricelist.htm, https://nt27.securedata.net/vhsoftware/order.htm, 4/13/2005)
Here's a pricing game" "Version Updates - Free w/[Support] Plan" If you don't cave in to paying annually for support then updates are not only not free, they are not available. This fact is not disclosed anywhere on the site.
This outlandish claim "Consign Pro - The Industrys [sic] Favorite consignment software!!" is unsubstantiated and highly suspect. (http://www.vhsoftware.com, 4/13/2005)
This caption on the main page attempts to suggest that Consign Pro has multiple locations in large cities. This is taken from the 'Contact Us' page. (http://www.vhsoftware.com/contact.htm, 4/13/2005)
Assessment of Consign Pro
Consign Pro is a one-programmer operation attempting to influence with self proclamation and hyperbole, appealing as the good neighbor while operating under the cloak of deception. He hopes a few will buy the charade and of course, his software. He misrepresents his product as 'free' and 'lowest price' when it is not. Upgrades are held hostage if annual support fees are not paid. There are more fees for incidental services. He suggests that his representation of his competition is thorough while he patronizes and insults website visitors, suggesting that he does them a favor by presenting an incomplete self-serving point of view. He attempts to portray a corporate image in multiple locations in large cities, borrowing prestige from the name 'New York' when he is in fact located in New Jersey.
Lastly he lies about us in hopes of steering attention away from our lower pricing. The 'little story' he tells is nothing less than an outright lie. We have provided him with 'the truth' but of course in keeping with his deceptive tactics, he refuses to remove the defamation in hopes of undermining confidence in us.
Financial Considerations
Consign Pro and others have more competition than just a couple of years ago. Their advertising costs are higher. Search Google, Yahoo and MSN for terms related to 'consignment' and 'consignment software' and observe which companies are paying for 'Sponsored Listings' (paid advertisements). The companies at the top pay the highest price per visitor. It's no wonder Consign Pro's prices are among the highest. Seems they also want their customers to pay their advertising costs. How long will this last?
We are often asked why our prices are so much lower. A major reason is that we have very little advertising expense. Search any major search engine for 'consignment software'. Our website, bestconsignmentshopsoftware.com, is ranked #1 in the free listings just below the paid advertisers. (Please don't confuse our website with competitors who mimic our domain and product names. We are 'Best Consignment Shop Software'.)
Questions:
- Is honesty a requirement?
- Will you be manipulated in other ways in the future?
- How will you feel about writing out a check every year for $125/$150?
- What does $13,161 in software expense over 10 years buy?
- What happens to 'support' when this individual is gone?
