Why do we only own this product for 1 year even when we purchase it outright?

SUGGESTED

My business purchased 2018 Sage 50 Canadian Edition. I used it happily into 2019. I needed to revisit the files but found the program had been lost through time. I just spoke to "technical support" and was told they "don't have the 2018 version anymore, it has been updated to 2021, if you want to download that you need to pay" !!!

This doesn't seem right

  • 0
    SUGGESTED

    Hi 5of7:

    Unfortunately Sage only keeps it's current year and prior year versions available. Your 2018 version is now 4 years old. If you need the download files we can provide them to you for a modest fee. Contact us by email  [email protected] or telephone 1-866-467-2883 or web https://agateconsulting.ca.

  • 0 in reply to Agate

    That is entirely unacceptable but I guess expected, given Sage's reputation...Why wouldn't sage simply allow older versions to be downloaded? I purchased the program outright, I know sage hates this, they want your money to keep coming in. A little support with that product? No, your on your own. I suggest finding a different software provider.

  • 0 in reply to 5of7
    SUGGESTED

    5of7:

    Actually you are the lucky one because you have a perpetual license. It doesn't expire! Others like myself have to renew every year because we need updated software and for myself personally I need to continue my Sage certified status as consultant and trainer.

    The main issue is you either neglected to keep a copy of the install files or you didn't know where to find them. Hopefully you didn't know where to find them. If you have your software running another machine or your current computer you should have the install files. You can check in 2 different places. Look on your root C:\ drive for the Sage folder, inside should be your install files in a another folder called Sage 50 Accounting Installer Files - CDN Release 2018.0. The other place to check is C:\Users\Public\Documents\Sage Software\Simply Accounting\Download.

    If you are still unable to locate the install files please contact us! 

  • 0 in reply to Agate

    Yes, very lucky, a perpetual license. Unfortunately the computer crashed so I lost the install files. Most companies support dated product. Sage support tells me they don't have that file, that it was updated! Lol. I just want to download the install file that I purchased a license to, is that too much to ask?

  • 0 in reply to 5of7

    Yes, it is too much to ask!

    For a software program to be always available would be totally overwhelming for any one. Plus the person who downloads an old version would start to request support which again is very costly. The Sage 50 program has at least three updates every year and in some years there are even more updates to be able to maintain compliance with requirements of an excellent accounting program.

    Those of us who use the program everyday for many clients, like Agate and myself, we must maintain a few of the older versions and we have the download files in case a new client has an older version of the software. These downloads can be made available for a small fee. Yes, a fee because it takes our time to send the files and in many cases the files are too large to send via email so we also must maintain a service to transfer the files with security being important. 

    You indicated that you were using Sage 50 2018. Do you remember if you had any updates installed in the first year? In other words are you using 2018.0, 2018.1, 2018.2 or 2018.3? If you received and installed 2018.0 your dataset would not open if it had been updated to one of the other 2018.x versions. We do try to provide a service which will get you up and running again. 

  • 0 in reply to Alwyn
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    Clyde:

    I appreciate the comment! To offer this service, it is time consuming and has little pay back if any. Those who really need the software will pay the going rate which is less than our hourly rate! It normally takes about 2 hours of time to correspond, bill, receive the payment, send the install file(s) and follow up.

  • 0 in reply to Alwyn

    I wasn't asking you. I was asking Sage.Lurking here to take advantage of businesses that have been abused by sage? Nice work...

  • 0 in reply to 5of7

    The purpose of this forum is for other users to assist in responding to questions and comments presented. you will find that the majority by far of the responder are users of Sage 50 just like you. We all try to help each other, the purpose of a great forum.

    If a Sage employee responds it is because they also are offering to assist others. If they do not respond on a particular thread it is because there is nothing further to be added.

    We are not lurking to take advantage of anyone. We are offering a service which is available to you when the situation is beyond that which Sage offers. If we were lurking we would not be in the top 1% of people on this forum who respond to users queries.

    I hope you have a great week.

  • 0 in reply to Alwyn

    I have the same version sage 2017 and use it for 3 extremely very small companies. I have changed the session date from 31/12/20 to 01/01/21 and 01/31/21. I could use it, but when I try to load Balance Sheet and Income Statement , I cannot load because them with the dates in 2021. It is reported as date error, but the dates are correct. This is a monumental problem for me at this time bcs the year end is next month and cannot complete my accounting. HELP

  • 0 in reply to Dom Frasca

    Hi Dom: Yours is probably a different problem and it would have been better in a thread of its own. In fact,  if you had searched this forum you would have found the answer. Go into the Setup/Settings/Company/Date Format and change both date formats to a four digit year. This is a common problem for users that are using Sage 50 2018 and earlier.

    Hope this helps

  • 0 in reply to Alwyn

    Hi Alwin You want to help me for money, that is business, not kindness.

  • 0 in reply to Dom Frasca

    Hi Dom

    I wish I could help you, not for money, but in kindness. It seems that these are the ways Sage is choosing to make the software we purchased outright obsolete.

  • 0 in reply to Alwyn

    Alwyn: Apologies, it is my first time on this forum and still attempting to find my way. However, I must thank you sincerely for your assistance. You were extremely helpful and it did work. Honestly, I did not sleep for several days due to this dilemma. If you are in Toronto, I  make the best cappuccino and the best Barolo wine. Anytime, my guest.

  • 0 in reply to 5of7

    Again, thanks for your kindness and for your excellent approach; really appreciate.

  • 0 in reply to Agate

    Agate, this has prompted me to ensure I can recover from a loss of access to a Sage 2017 version that was an upgrade from a 2011 version through a 2015 file conversion.  What might the install files look like?

    I've gone to the paths you've suggested and can't find anything obvious (in fact, the 2nd path you suggest has nothing but config and dat files).  There is no "...Installer..." folder in the 1st path.

    Am I hooped?

  • 0 in reply to D Masters
    SUGGESTED

    Hi DMasters:

    You may be hooped but try to look on your root C:\ drive for the Sage folder, inside should be your install files in a another folder called Sage 50 Accounting Installer Files - CDN Release 2017.0. The other place to check is C:\Users\Public\Documents\Sage Software\Simply Accounting\Download. If you are still having issues contact me directly!