Thinking of NOT joining the Sage User Network?

A while ago the subscription to the Sage User Network was due for renewal.

At the time the manager in charge of the budget asked if we needed it as we are in a recession and any costs that can be cut should, indeed, be cut.

Quote: - "Is this subscription a worthwhile investment?"

Although we have double membership my, then, colleague didn't really use the User Network and certainly didn't use the forum so I had quite a battle on my hands to convince the manager of the 'worthiness' of the subscription. (£££ peanuts to some companies but nonetheless justification was required.)

As Nicole will probably confirm, our accounts department dragged their feet with payment but eventually did renew the subscription and we also nominated a different colleague as a user.

I have been 'enjoying' subscription to the forum for some time and find all manner of help and information within it. It seems somebody has nearly always done what you may want to do next with Sage.

The icing on the cake.

Some months on and our Sage Business Partner fell into trouble as many businesses do in a recession.

What do we do, who do we turn to?

My first port of call was the Sage User Network forum.

WOW!

A simple post in the forum was followed by no end of assistance in our endeavors to gain support of a Business partner.

I found that the downfall of the Business Partner was already known to Sage and gears were turning to have support in place for all the customers who had been left in the same predicament.

(I haven't seen many other posts on the matter - they must not be members?)

Nicole sent me information about Business Partners who are available and the Partner of the year history and we invited several of them in for talks.

We have still yet to decide but the ball began rolling from a single post in the forum.

Thanks for that - to all members who contributed (and still are contributing/supporting each other via the forum)

Talking to business partners is a bit like buying a car without seeing it.

A Support contract isn't tangible - they all want to support you and they can all offer that support.

Guess where we’ll be asking for 'user experience' of our chosen business partners?

Yes - their customers via the forum!

Gordon Cooper

Costing Engineer

Futaba Tenneco UK Ltd.