This report does not accuse the company of any wrongdoing nor is it a review of whether the software performs as promised. It is a review of how the company's website information provides what appears to be a compelling case to try their software, but when you read the contract fine print, you find that what is defines as "free" and what is potrayed as a "money back guarantee" may not align with your assumptions.
Lets look at the two cases mentioned above:
1) Free 30 day trial: In order to get access to the "30 day free trial", you in fact have to enter an agreement. By clicking that you have "read and agreed to the Salesboom.com agreement" you are entering an agreement. Saleboom is giving you access to the product and you are agreeing to abide by the contract. At this point you can let the agreement expire after 30 days and owe nothing. But if you decide to pay for a license, there are terms in the agreement that can be a surprise to the naive and unsuspecting.
2) 90 Day Moneyback Guarantee" On the product Pricing Page which outline the Team, Pro and Enterprise prices and features, at the top of the chart a small banner stating "90 days Money Back guarantee". Given the competitive nature of the industry this seems like a confident claim by a small company trying to gain new customers - especially with the likes of Saleforce CRM and Microsoft CRM and a myriad of other well financed companies advertising for CRM service business. It appears to be a compelling promise and a statement of confidence by the company on its ability to deliver a CRM service.
However, if a prospective customer failed to read terms and conditions regarding the "Money back guarantee" and should that customer agree to purchase a license, and then decides to cancel within those 90 days - the following definitions of those terms will become apparent:
1) the money back guarantee only applies to customers who buy 5 licences. Costs of training, configurations, customization, software development, testing etc are not included. While it's understandable that Salesboom does not want to be exposed to large investments to customize the customer's portal and then be left exposed to those costs, it does seem a rather broad, vague and open ended clause. Furthermore, there is no real "money back". It's a "refund of the remaining license costs" - so in essence a return of money not yet earned. Money back, yes. But it doesn't align with guarantee as our culture has come to know it.
2) if you agreed to the 12 month plan, you are indeed liable for the full year. You can only cancel within 30 days of the end of the current licence period and if you miss that window you are liable for another full year of license fees.
3) Furthermore in order to cancel, you need to send a registered letter prior to 30 days before your renewal date. No email.
4) AND in order to cancel your license, you are obligated to pay a US$600 cancellation fee.
As much as I have no opinion about the software, the terms of this agreement need to be viewed very carefully by prospective customers. What you "assume" the terms to mean, and what they actually mean may not align.
FINAL WORD
This company has the right to do business as it desires. I make no judgment about legality, ethics or morality. I am only pointing out what prospective customers may miss in their haste to access this software service.
So my advice to readers before you agree to buy, READ THE CONTRACT / TERMS OF SERVICE. If you still decide to buy a license, at least you've done with a full knowledge of your obligations.
Salesboom.com Inc. Reviews
This report does not accuse the company of any wrongdoing nor is it a review of whether the software performs as promised. It is a review of how the company's website information provides what appears to be a compelling case to try their software, but when you read the contract fine print, you find that what is defines as "free" and what is potrayed as a "money back guarantee" may not align with your assumptions.
Lets look at the two cases mentioned above:
1) Free 30 day trial: In order to get access to the "30 day free trial", you in fact have to enter an agreement. By clicking that you have "read and agreed to the Salesboom.com agreement" you are entering an agreement. Saleboom is giving you access to the product and you are agreeing to abide by the contract. At this point you can let the agreement expire after 30 days and owe nothing. But if you decide to pay for a license, there are terms in the agreement that can be a surprise to the naive and unsuspecting.
2) 90 Day Moneyback Guarantee" On the product Pricing Page which outline the Team, Pro and Enterprise prices and features, at the top of the chart a small banner stating "90 days Money Back guarantee". Given the competitive nature of the industry this seems like a confident claim by a small company trying to gain new customers - especially with the likes of Saleforce CRM and Microsoft CRM and a myriad of other well financed companies advertising for CRM service business. It appears to be a compelling promise and a statement of confidence by the company on its ability to deliver a CRM service.
However, if a prospective customer failed to read terms and conditions regarding the "Money back guarantee" and should that customer agree to purchase a license, and then decides to cancel within those 90 days - the following definitions of those terms will become apparent:
1) the money back guarantee only applies to customers who buy 5 licences. Costs of training, configurations, customization, software development, testing etc are not included. While it's understandable that Salesboom does not want to be exposed to large investments to customize the customer's portal and then be left exposed to those costs, it does seem a rather broad, vague and open ended clause. Furthermore, there is no real "money back". It's a "refund of the remaining license costs" - so in essence a return of money not yet earned. Money back, yes. But it doesn't align with guarantee as our culture has come to know it.
2) if you agreed to the 12 month plan, you are indeed liable for the full year. You can only cancel within 30 days of the end of the current licence period and if you miss that window you are liable for another full year of license fees.
3) Furthermore in order to cancel, you need to send a registered letter prior to 30 days before your renewal date. No email.
4) AND in order to cancel your license, you are obligated to pay a US$600 cancellation fee.
As much as I have no opinion about the software, the terms of this agreement need to be viewed very carefully by prospective customers. What you "assume" the terms to mean, and what they actually mean may not align.
FINAL WORD
This company has the right to do business as it desires. I make no judgment about legality, ethics or morality. I am only pointing out what prospective customers may miss in their haste to access this software service.
So my advice to readers before you agree to buy, READ THE CONTRACT / TERMS OF SERVICE. If you still decide to buy a license, at least you've done with a full knowledge of your obligations.