Who's reliable

[Erick Anderson]

it looks like this is open for other secretaries. i'm new to being a secretary and need to buy software. i don't like doing business with internet companies.

i lost good money when i bought software from a quote reliable place. I waited forever for my package. I never got it. when I tried to find out about my package, i checked out the address for the company and i found out their address was really a mailboxes, etc.

does anyone know if this company is at a real place? what about Perfect Treasure or 101-bowl?

[Frank Goebel]

Erick,

All I can suggest is to look at how many threads exist already in BLS-2007, in the Testimonials section, and that there's still a forum for last year's (BLS-2006) software. Yes, users of CDE's products have concerns, problems, need assistance, but I can say one thing: That they have such an interactive forum, where they can (and have) responded to customer problems and requests (I can attest to several of my own), and how one user can assist another through these same forums.

It matters not to me how large a location they have, nor how many are employed there (or anywhere). CDE is a stand-up organization all the way.

I cannot speak for the other firms you mention as I have never tried them. Even if I could, I would not consider it appropriate to make such comments here. Perhaps others might, but I just couldn't bring myself to do that.

As for "good money": I had owned the "Pro" version of every year's BLS software since 2002 (BLS-2003). This season, I paid only $25.00 for an upgrade from BLS-2006 Pro. That was delivered electronically; I downloaded their installer and they e-mailed an activation key specific to me alone. I did have BLS-2003 (four seasons ago) shipped to me, and I paid full price as a new customer, plus I did receive a full book manual and CD-ROM. That, too, is an option. Many users, I'm certain, will attest to the efficiency of electronic delivery (download) and, even if you opt for physical delivery of a CD-ROM and manual, you could still opt for doing the download as they will e-mail you your activation key.

And, your concern about them being at a "real place": I'll let one of them speak on that, although I did do a search for "Mailboxes" and "Seattle, WA". Their street address (which is at the bottom of this web page) does come up legitimately.

[Greg Paxson]

Erick,

I wholeheartedly agree with Frank's post. I have used the CDE software for quite a few years (DOS version) and I can say that this is a GREAT compnay with dedicated personnel who care for teh customers that utilize their product.

There are times when then can get a little "testy" in their tech responses, but usually it's because the customer hadn't given them all of the information on what their problem was.

The biggest thing that I think is a plus for CDE is the fact that you pay the full price only once and get all of that year's updates free. The next year you pay a nominal fee ($25 or so) to get the most recent version for that year and again, get all of the updates for that year free. Most software companies put out their yearly version and you don't hear back from them on updates unless there is a major glitch found in the program.

Another great thing about the BLS software is these forums. I can't remmber how many times I have used this forum to find answers to a problem that I couldn't seem to resolve. In most cases someone else has already come across the problem and has posted their resolution in the forum.

CDE Software & BLS ROCKS!!!!

Greg Paxson (a lifetime BLS user)
Wekiva Men's Commercial, League Manager
BPA Men's Travel League, League Manager

[Frank Goebel]

Here's a link that should be of interest, right here at cdesoftware.com:

http://www.cdesoftware.com/about/index.html

You'll see the actual building.

[Leslie Kidwell]

Frank... that was a good link showing their office. Must be real, eh? I had a friend had bad dealings with software companies.

She was going to purchase Perfect Secretary. She looked at their ads in the rule book and magazines and decided to researched their address.

Well... it was a UPS Store. She didn't thought a good company would use a UPS mailbox store to be their store front and thought she was going to have the same experience.

[Frank Goebel]

I'm not opposed to using something like a UPS Store, if it facilitates shipping.

Perfect Secretary does advertise with USBC, in US Bowler (magazine) as well as other publications like the Rule Book. So, at least there's that much investment; they've been doing that for years.

I really hope this thread doesn't turn into comments on other specific bowling software (and their parents companies). There are reasons I chose BLS over them (and others) in the first place, and I'm certain they exist for others, or for some who migrated here from elsewhere. Again, I don't think these forums are a good place for disussing that.