Check out this thread of communications from Xara.
To Whom it May Concern: (this is from me, a customer of many years to Xara)
I have been a user of Xara software for a number of years. I have also suggested your products to many folks I know (personal and business) and have probably generated quite a bit of sales for Xara over the years.
I presently have Web Designer Premium and Photo and Graphic Designer 2013. I have a need to also now have your newest product: Page & Layout Designer. I actually made a suggestion about a year ago in where I asked that the very functionality of Page & Layout Designer be developed. As I knew that with a few tweaks and additions, Xara could make a powerful Word Processing package.
In any case, If I now purchase Page and Layout Designer, I will have 3 separate software packages that essentially do the same thing as 1 (Designer Pro 9). I also will have paid for all three separately. Is there an upgrade path where I can get Designer 9 for the same price as Page & Layout Designer.
I see there is an upgrade path for each: Web Designer and Graphics Designer but not for those of us whom have more than one software pack. Considering my patronage, length of time using your products and the fact that I already have most of what's included in Designer Pro 9, can I be provided A serial number for Designer Pro 9. This can give me the functionality of Page & Layout Designer in an integrated package.
Thanks,
LG - Support
Posted On: 21 Jul 2013 12:09 PM
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Hi,
Unfortunately we do not currently offer an upgrade path from multiple products. (this is the answer from Xara Customer Service)
Lewis
vman@sympatico.ca
Posted On: 22 Jul 2013 02:59 PM
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Lewis / Xara, (this is my rebuttal)
Absolutely terrible answer. I have generated many customers over the years for Xara and this one line slap is all I get as a response for my "years" of patronage.
Well you just lost one of your Champions. I will still use Xara products as I have invested a lot of time learning the software and money purchasing product and upgrades over the years. However, I will no longer suggest Xara to friends / associates. I've noticed your customer service slipping over the years and this answer is the latest example.
I already own almost "all" the functionality of Designer 9 due the fact that I have Web Designer (MX Pre) & Photo & Graphics (2013). You wouldn't be loosing a ton of money to keep one customer happy, as I would be purchasing the only functions of Designer Pro that I don't have which is the Page and Layout portion.
You would have me shell out another $149 (cheapest Upgrade path for me) for a program that I already own 80% of the functions. The cost of Page & Layout is $70. Therefore doing the math, 149-69=80, I'd be paying another $80 for functions I already have. Why would I want to pay $80 for the convenience of having one program do the work of 3. I'd have to either be stupid or a fool with my money, and I am neither.
It is very unfortunate when good companies turn bad. I hope your flippant answer and closed mindedness is not indicative of the direction Xara is taking as a company. You make good products and it would be unfortunate if company fortunes started to take a turn for the worse because you forgot why you are making product in the first place (to sell to customers).
I will grudgingly still buy your products, for now. I used to be a happy customer, happy to purchase, happy to recommend. The joy is now gone and I feel like I'm paying because I have too. Well I'm sure you can read the tea leaves when too many of your customers feel the same. In any case, I wish you the best of luck in the company direction you have chosen to take.
I hope the company rethinks its priorities. I really liked Xara, I want to like it again.
V,
An unhappy customer....
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