Reported to Trading Standards by Sage!

DuaneJackson · #1 9th January 2009, 16:39

Watch our BBC Rogue Traders, here I come!

The lovely chaps at Sage have reported KashFlow to trading standards saying our pricing comparison page "is likely to cause a detriment to Sage (UK) Limited by inducing potential customers to purchase alternative software solutions on the basis of erroneous and misleading information"

What's the "erroneous and misleading information"? I hear you ask

Apparently they think TAS Books 3 isn't a product we should compare KashFlow to, despite a number of our customers saying that was one of the products they considered before buying KashFlow.

They'd been in touch and politely asked for a numebr of other changes, which I thought were reasonable enough - so we made them. But I decided to stand my ground when it came to comparing to TAS Books 3 as it's obviously comparable if our customers have said it was one of the options they'd considered.

Simon-M · #2 9th January 2009, 16:52

So legally are you right or wrong? That is what is going to matter here. No?

DuaneJackson · #3 9th January 2009, 16:56

Their complaint is that:

Comparing KashFLow to TAS Books 3 is not fair because the products are too different from each other.

Trading Standards have written to me asking for a response to the accusation.

I think it is a fair comparision for a number of reasons.

Look at their site. It's all about being "quick to learn" and "easy to use", which are the same key benefits we sell on.

But by far the most compelling reason in my eyes is that some of our customers ahve said that Tas Books 3 was one of the other products they'd looked at when deciding whether to buy KashFlow or not. That alone justifes the comparison as far as I am concerned.

I've replied to TA and said the above, but also said if they saw fit to uphold the complaint then I'd remove the comparison to it straight away.

ken_uk · #4 9th January 2009, 16:58

Sage dont play fair, or work fair for that matter in my experience.

Good for you for standing your ground, and I would not advise ever doing them any favours, as they wont be doing any for you, unless they gain something from it.

I would describe them futher, but would probably get a infraction for using too many swear words.

cjd · #5 9th January 2009, 17:01

My, my, you have got under their skin haven't you? Well done :-)

DuaneJackson · #6 9th January 2009, 17:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjd

My, my, you have got under their skin haven't you? Well done :-)

Looks like it, doesn't it!

It also explains why some of the Sage staff at the Business Startup show, where I spotted Sage Live, said they'd been told by their higher-ups that they weren't allowed to talk to me as there was an "issue".

Simon-M · #7 9th January 2009, 17:12

I thought trading standards were to protect shoppers (b2C) not businesses. I thought it was the office of fair trading that would deal with this as a B2B kind of issue.

Silky · #8 9th January 2009, 17:14

I suspect Trading Standards probably tire of calls from sulking competitors, if your consumers are happy and you can prove the comparison is fair then good for you, I do love a David and Goliath victory. Best of luck !

We also had Trading Standards on our back not so long ago, courtesy of one of our competitors. I can't thank him enough - we ended up with a really good relationship with them and they've advised us on a number of other ideas we're working on. They also decided we were actually well ahead of some of our more established competitors, and went off after them instead....

I hope it all works out in your favour, just think of the PR you can get from this....Sage wouldn't have even thought about targetting you if they didn't perceive you as a threat.

Silky

fred1222 · #9 9th January 2009, 17:15

It's a nice bit of publicity for you though isn't it.

The market leader picking on the people's champions kashflow.

DuaneJackson · #10 9th January 2009, 17:16

Thanks Silky. We had a similar situation last year where the most senior person in MYOB UK personally emailed our support desk and threatened to sue us! Great PR opportunity you would have thought - but must publications didn't want to touch it. I guess they were worried about losing adveristing revenue. Same will be the case with this, but more so.

MYOB pulled out of the UK market shortly after that. Reckon Sage might do the same?