Sage 100

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  • 1.  Is Sage selling directly now?

    Posted 05-01-2020 18:34
    Today was the second time in two days where prospects have called us for help with implementation of their Sage software.  The first was a Sage 100 user who said they have been fumbling around the software, and think it would just be so much easier if we could help them set it up.  When I asked who their reseller was, they said "Sage."  I said, I don't think Sage sells directly - they typically go through resellers like ourselves."  The person I was talking to said, "No, it was Sage.  They've directed us to go through the courses in Sage U, but that's just taking more time than we have."  So, the bottom line is that we will indeed be helping that client.  Today, I spoke to a person who just purchased Sage 500.  And the conversation was almost identical.  Except when I asked who their reseller was, she said "It wasn't just Sage...it was Sage NA."  Has anyone else had this happen to them - clients who need help implementing Sage Software sold directly to them?

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    Sue Bennett
    Jack of All Trades, Master of 1
    Bennett/Porter & Associates, Inc.
    Tigard OR
    503.620.3484
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  • 2.  RE: Is Sage selling directly now?

    Posted 05-01-2020 18:51
    I've not seen this, but nothing surprises me anymore. And if you can nail down who, what, and why, then we need to tar and feather some Sage people.

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    Karen O'Lane
    Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)
    Fresno CA
    803.252.6154 x242
    559.577.4142
    90 Minds Treasurer
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  • 3.  RE: Is Sage selling directly now?

    Posted 05-02-2020 07:14
    I’m not quite ready to advise pitchfork mode. While it’s probably ( likely ) true Sage has sold some deals direct I’m sure there are more details to each deal.

    Some are winbacks who don’t have a partner ( the bulk of orphans I run across have no idea who their partner is).

    More than ever today customers ( or someone on staff ) do their own research. I’m sure they reach out to Sage. I’m sure during those calls they express confidence they can do it themselves.

    How many people at Sage have ever implemented the product or even supported a customer? How many have accounting background? How many have been at Sage 18+ months?

    In some cases it’s probably like the blind leading the blind.

    If we collectively hear from x % percent of those types of deals then there are many that do go on and implement themselves.

    This is just part of a new reality where those who deem themselves really basic users are going to try to self implement. Sage churns sales people so quickly that there’s nobody to guide this process.

    The reality for me - GLAPARs who self implement aren’t my market. I’m not interested in selling an hour of my time ( which become 3 hrs - 2 unpaid- once I’m on an initial support call).

    And guess what - many of those companies never call back. Or worse - they keep calling back for free quick questions.

    I’ve learned that the prime market for Sage 100 ( for me ) is 10+ user sites in the distribution business, 3+ enhancements, investing in the business, are trying to grow and who need advice on the best tools to use ( and avoid ). These companies have budgets, are usually stable and I don’t wake up ( as frequently ) to find they’ve been sold to another entity.









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    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
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  • 4.  RE: Is Sage selling directly now?

    Posted 05-02-2020 13:32
    I have not encountered an instance where Sage sold directly to the end user (that I know of), but we have encountered situations where Sage has taken on orphan customers and attempted to service and support them directly without aligning them with a reseller. This tactic seems to persists until the customer needs third party products or services beyond Sage's capability, and then Sage makes the intro to the reseller.  A rather large Sage HRMS customer comes to mind where this occurred.

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    Jeff Mack
    President and CEO
    ICS Support
    Redmond WA
    425-820-6120
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  • 5.  RE: Is Sage selling directly now?

    Posted 05-04-2020 08:41
    I have absolutely implemented a customer to whom Sage sold directly.

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    Rhonda McNamara
    Customer Success Manager
    Stewart Technologies, Inc.
    rsm@stewarttechnologies.com
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