With the stand-alone TRUST PRO™ product offered by C5 Services now being unavailable many of you have contacted me about an alternative. I am very, very pleased to announce the development of TRUST PRO™ Online, a web-based service that will replace the most important sales features used in the stand-alone product.
Web-based means that the software will reside on a remote server and all you will need is Internet access to connect to the program. Any wifi or 3G connection will be fast and effective. Web-based also means there will be no laptop compatibility issues that plague embedded software products.
We will be ready shortly to replace this functionality that TRUST PRO™ included:
- Customer data input and management
- Customer Concerns Survey input
- BEST BETTER GOOD Choices® Proposal generation
- System pricing
- Financing
- Savings estimation and return-on-investment calculation
- Repair vs. Replace Analysis for sales lead generation
- Much, much, much more.
If you are comfortable using the internet for this kind of sales support and would be interested in being part of our upcoming beta-test please contact me.
May 18, 2010
Dear C5 Customer,
I am writing today to notify you that as the owners of C5 Services, we have determined that we are no longer able to keep our dream alive and are ceasing operations on May 27th.
The C5 software user license(s) you purchased from us (in many cases through your local distributor) requires you to pay annual renewal fees. Technically, by ceasing operations, your rights to use our software would end when your license term expires. However, before we shut our doors and sell our assets, we have decided to grant you permanent user license status which means that you can continue using our software forever without any renewal fee requirements. If you want to take advantage of this permanent status, you will need to contact me before May 27th so I can dial into your computer and modify your program to prevent the software from shutting down when the current expiration date comes around.
Here are some answers to questions we expect will be at the top of your list when you receive this news:
1) Will you still be able to get technical support if you keep using the C5 software?
I will personally attempt to provide no-charge basic technical support as I am available and able for the next six (6) months or until I am able to sell the rights to our software. Then availability and cost for support will be solely up to the new owners. Since I will be providing this support personally, I can be reached on my cell phone at 813-470-0568 between 8am and 5pm eastern time. Support services for pre-C5 versions of our software (Nitek) will end forever when we close our doors at the end of the month.
2) Will I be able to install C5 software on any other computers?
For now, you may install the software on other computers you own, and will be provided free permanent activation for those computers.
3) What about the brand library and setup services?
We will no longer be able to offer or provide product/brand setup services (which we called our “Brand Library”). That means that adding or modifying the product data in the software will now be your responsibility.
Will there be any future upgrades or improvements offered for the C5 software?
No. If any critical operation issues are brought to my attention for the existing C5 programs, those issues will be addressed as promptly as possible. However, each issue will be individually evaluated and I cannot promise if or how quickly any issue will be resolved.
) What can I do about this? Who can I call?
Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done. We have exhausted every available option to keep it going. Our best advice is to make a back up copy of your software and store it somewhere safe in case you ever need it. If you have questions that are not answered in this letter, you can call me on my cell phone at 813-470-0568 and I will do my best to provide answers. However, the decision to shut down has been made and the process is in motion to close our office and seek new career opportunities.
From a personal perspective, Tom Wittman and I want to thank you for being part of our journey. We are saddened to see this 15+ year adventure come to such a disappointing end. But, we are counting on that famous saying “when one door closes another will open”. Our industry is going through some dramatic and often difficult changes and we are confident that progressive and forward-thinking contractors like you, who understand and embrace these changes, will do very well.
As pioneers and leaders in the in-home selling technology field, Tom and I are just as hopeful that we will find new opportunities to re-apply our vision and our desire to help our industry navigate through the next technical frontier. Until then, we want you to know we deeply regret that this action is necessary. We sincerely appreciate your business and hope in the future that we might be able to share new and even more revolutionary paths to business and personal success with you.
Sincerely,
C5 Services, L.L.C.
John Heilbrunn Tom Wittman
President Vice President of Sales and Marketing
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