Softline Pastel packaging claims under fire

Couldn't have happened to a nicer company. :)
 
I wish ICASA could have ruled as swiftly and have made a faster impact on broadband access in the country.
 
So some things do work in SA ... like the ASA :)
 
The Pastel Accounting Partner 2009 product displays, on the rear of its packaging, the words “1 up to 20 users**” with a footnote on the bottom of the package saying “**Users can be purchased in increments according to your needs. Additional users can be purchased from Softline Pastel. One user equates to the loading of software onto one PC.”
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It's clear enough. You can install the software on up to 20 PC's.
 
The company also cited the fact that with over 50,000 units sold, this is the first complaint of this nature.
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Because people are too lazy to find an alternative, or too stupid to realise the accounting world doesnt begin and end with Softline. The packaging should leave no room for interpretation when it comes to lisencing. IMO, they could have done better.
 
With there claim that "9 out of 10 accountants recommend Pastel" it is only because the accountants know no better, there are far better alternatives to Pastel, and I agree with ASA, Pastel needs to go back to school and learn grammar.

Now the need for the competition board to act on them as well. Pastel has a recomended selling price list that if a dealer does not oblige, they will remove their dealer status.
 
Potholed said:
With there claim that "9 out of 10 accountants recommend Pastel" it is only because the accountants know no better, there are far better alternatives to Pastel, and I agree with ASA, Pastel needs to go back to school and learn grammar.

Now the need for the competition board to act on them as well. Pastel has a recomended selling price list that if a dealer does not oblige, they will remove their dealer status.
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Can be wrong but only if you sell at a higher price. Key word here "Recommended" selling price

They are a bit overpriced though but you do get value for money with regards to quality and support.

Don't know of any other product that can come close to them.
 
Only a complete idiot would think he was getting 20 user licenses included in the purchase price. The wording is perfectly clear. I think Mr Bowker is just being difficult.

He probably also thinks he is getting free implementation, technical support and training for these 20 users as well?
 
@ David Bowker

Thank you, for reporting this to the ASA, and well done for acutally winning.

South African companies have for too long taken advantage of South African consumers' failure to complain about bad service, misleading advertising, poor support, etc.

It's time we all take a stand, and give it to these companies, so that we can all benefit at the end of the day.

If the ASA ruled in his favour, then it's quite clear that Pastel were on the wrong side of the law. Why are you guys still defending them? Not everyone is as technically clued up as the rest of the myBB and geek community, and understand licensing issues. There should be no ambiguity on the packaging. It should be clear cut, with no room for interpretation.

Thanks again, and well done to David Bowker.
 
How pointless does your life have to be....

There are children in this world with out education, medical care or food and monkeys like this need to waste time and money on gross stupidity...

How about some perspective, if you've got that much free time use it for the benefit of mankind not grammatical masturbation
 
Zoney said:
There are children in this world with out education, medical care or food and monkeys like this need to waste time and money on gross stupidity...

How about some perspective, if you've got that much free time use it for the benefit of mankind not grammatical masturbation
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And yet you've got time to post useless crap in this same thread. Hypocrite. Now that is gross stupidity. And this ASA ruling will benefit mankind. Maybe not all of it, but at least those who were planning to purchase Pastel because they thought it came with 20 licenses.

If you've got nothing positive to add, or no constructive criticism, rather shut up.
 
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The Pastel Accounting Partner 2009 product displays, on the rear of its packaging, the words “1 up to 20 users**” with a footnote on the bottom of the package saying “**Users can be purchased in increments according to your needs. Additional users can be purchased from Softline Pastel. One user equates to the loading of software onto one PC.”
Click to expand...

OK, so Pastel is saying that they will only sell licenses for "up to 20 users" per software purchase? I doubt that.

The large print giveth and the small print taketh away. Good reason to always be suspicious of "*" in advertising claims.
 
That statement means that particular software product supports up to 20 users. Look at any server based OS / App and you will find a parallel recomendation.

I think the statment can be confusing IF you view it as "purchasing the product" as opposed to "purchasing a licence to a product".
 
Potholed said:
With there claim that "9 out of 10 accountants recommend Pastel" it is only because the accountants know no better
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Pastel is favoured since it reflects ZA tax rules.

Potholed said:
Now the need for the competition board to act on them as well. Pastel has a recomended selling price list that if a dealer does not oblige, they will remove their dealer status.
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Competition board only acts when there are anti-competitive practices or when a monopoly is being abused. Neither of those charges will stick with pastel.
 
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