[ima2nr (McMedics)]

Dear Golden Motors,

FIRST... Let me say THANK YOU!

We are excited by the software you have obviously invested much money and resources into creating. I think I can speak for everyone here in that we believe if your software is capable of doing everything you advertised, then it is valuable to the owners and we want you to make a profit on you investment so your company will thrive for the long term and this community will benefit from the product as well! (That would be a "WIN-WIN" scenario for everyone)


I would suggest the "one VIN solution" is the most logical path for the software vendor. We can easily do quick math and calculate the number of cars McLaren has built per year worldwide. And then make approximations as to how many owners are DIY (and would consider purchasing software) and the rest of the owners will always go to the dealership no matter what the issues might be.

The actual number of "potential" customers for this software is much lower than for other super sports car brands so capturing this market early is critical for any software company to not have wasted their money investing in making this software for a specific brand of automobile. PLEASE Follow my thought process for just a minute and I hope it makes sense...

I'm an owner of the 12C P11 platform, and I would pay at the most 1,000.00 MAXIMUM for a single VIN license. I AM RARE! MOST WOULD NOT PAY THIS MUCH... you need to have options availalbe at lower price points as well. HERE"S WHY....

Any more than 1,000.00 dollars (USA money) and I can do the necessary mechanical repairs myself, and then just pay the dealership "one hour" labor to reset the ECU or clear any codes after those repairs (this is exactly what I've done for the past 4 years, and I've only needed the dealer to reset my ECU three times, which is still a lot less than 1,000.00 to purchase some software to reset it myself)

I don't believe the average owner keeps a sports car much longer than two or three years before they trade up to something different, so most McLaren owners will have a hard time justifying a price as much as 1,000.00 for ANY DIY software solution because they may never recoup the upfront expense by doing it themselves. (Don't be greedy, or you will end up with very little marketshare in the McLaren community.)

The Porsche community is a great example of single user VIN software that is capable and priced well. Just Google search DURAMETRIC.

Durametric has "Enthusiast Kits" (basically single VIN License starting at 287.00), and their "Pro Kit" is for shops using unlimited VIN's for 735.00.

I suggest different levels of software offered to the users. (below is just an example of what each level could offer)

level I - (Single VIN) Can download the software and have the ability to scan the ECU and read all codes. Maybe even let the user download the software for free, allowing them to explore the menus and functions (which would be locked until they purchase)
level II - (Single VIN) Ability to reset codes, adaptations, oil service intervals, etc
level III - (Multi VIN) Allow to reprogram/flash update ECUs and CAN BUS modules. (most individual owners will never use this functionality for fear of "bricking" a computer module)


HERE IS THE CHALLENGE FOR THE SOFTWARE VENDOR! IF YOU INITIALLY PRICE THIS TOO HIGH "RIGHT NOW" BECAUSE YOU THINK HAVE LITTLE OR NO COMPETITION, THEN "WATCH OUT" BECAUSE YOU LEAVE A LOT OF ROOM FOR SOME OTHER SOFTWARE PROVIDER TO UNDER CUT YOUR BLOATED PRICING MODEL AND TAKE THE MARKET SHARE FROM YOU FOREVER.

I suggest if this software vendor sets their pricing to something that is very reasonable, then you will find a much larger adoption from the consumers NOW which could potentially discourage the "next" software vendor from even considering this brand as a potential market to write software for.

Basically, by pricing what you have fairly now, you could be the next "Durametric" preferred software provider in the McLaren community with little or no future competition. (regarding the Porsche world, I think most people will tell you to forget about trying any "new" or "latest and greatest" software, just use Durametric which has been proven reliable for more than 10 years, plus the price is so reasonable on a consumer level, why spend your money with another "brand new" vendor and take your chances of being disappointed or getting ripped off?)

FWIW - We owners already have the opportunity to purchase emulation software exactly mirroring the McLaren Factory software to program our cars for way less than you just offered this software at 6,000.00 Lira. (and every McLaren owner that has been on this forum for more than 30 days already knows where to get it).

If I'm going to pay that much, I would much rather spend my money on the "Sure Thing" that I already know works 100% correctly, 100% of the time. (Pleas know I am not saying this new software has any flaws (I have never used it or seen it in use) All I am I'm saying is if the cost is the same, most customers would rather buy something that is already established and has proven to work in all situations)

In summary - Jump in and become the PREFERRED software vendor and give the owners something we really need at an exceptional value! THEN the owners will become your loyal customers making your company the real winner for the long run!

 

[ima2nr (McMedics)]

@Golden Motors

I think you have a nice bit of software, but I can tell you that NOBODY will buy it at the current asking price of 2000 EUROs or 2200 US Dollars based on the very limited functionality they would receive especially on a single VIN license.

I am providing a logical opposing position from the consumer perspective as I HOPE and BELIEVE we can find a mutual understanding as I am very interested in purchasing your product.


- A single VIN means it ONLY works on one car, EVER. your initial retail asking price of 2200.00 US Dollars is over priced for the market. I think you have missed understood the income level and budget level of the average current owner of an aging super car. I purchased my 12C for well under 100k. These cars "were" 250k+ when new, and people with much greater income purchased them new for that price. Those buyers have already played with and got tired of this 8 year old car, and they have already had three different newer super cars since! (the avg owner keeps a car approx two years). Basically your potential customer base is a guy (or girl) that cannot afford or cannot justify spending 2,200 dollars to scan their own ECU (remember its a SINGLE VIN LICENSE) and reset the oil change service interval once per year.

- Having to purchase an annual update is useless on a model like the 2011-2014 MP4-12C or 650S because we already know there will be no new functionality or updates for these cars. McLaren themselves have announced they are no longer updating or supporting refinements to the software for the P11 Super series cars (12C, 650S, 675LT, etc) - So why should I be required to pay you 600.00 per year to keep my SINGLE VIN software working? I know you will say to keep the software up to date, but there will be nothing to update unless your software has bugs that should have been fixed before hand anyway.

- You said after the 1st year the functionality would be reduced to the the first 5 items:

1- Read and erase DTCs - for 79.00 you can buy a "OBDLink MX+ Pro" to do this

2-Detailed display of DTCs - for 79.00 you can buy a "OBDLink MX+ Pro" to do this

3-Read freeze frame data (faults recorded by time ,mileage , speed , date , time etc )
- for 79.00 you can buy a "OBDLink MX+ Pro" to do this

4-Actuators (testing actuators such as window motors, lights, fans, injectors , seats etc )

5-Actual values (dynamic real-time values of systems / sensors)
- for 79.00 you can buy a "OBDLink MX+" Pro to do this



Basically I cannot see any value in buying the software tool for the remaining limited functionality if it can only be used for such a small 12 month window of time.

In short, every McLaren owner would spend LESS MONEY per year just taking their aging super car to the dealer and pay for an hour or two of diagnostic time when they need deeper access to the ECU. the Dealer charges 175.00 per hour in my area, so I could go to the dealer and pay for two hours of diagnostic time 12 DIFFERENT TIMES in one year before I equaled the 2200.00 investment you are asking for. (IF MY CAR IS SO BROKEN I NEED TO SEE THE DEALER ONCE PER MOTH FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR I PROMISE I'M GETTING RID OF THE CAR!!!!) And I could go to the dealer 3 DIFFERENT TIMES per year there after before I spent more than the 600.00 per year you are asking just to keep the software alive.


Please reconsider your pricing strategy, as I don't have access to your current sales volume, but I am willing to bet you have not sold any of this software yet at your current pricing strategy, and I'm sure you wont see any new customers anytime soon either. Basically the pricing just does not make economical sense.


Thank you again for working toward making a useful product that is also affordable and provides VALUE at the price point of the software.

 

[ima2nr (McMedics)]

Dear OP! (I "think" I'm speaking for the collective community here, since the community's silence so far is an even louder response to your initial offered price point that was unacceptable to all the consumers here)

"We" (the collective McLaren owners community) are very interested in your software solution (at least I think we are? Maybe I can only speak for myself... But I can say I am personally interested)... but "we" are NOT interested at the price you offered it (not even close).. and we are NOT interested in paying for yearly fees to keep the software active!


So... Please let us McLaren owners know if you are ready to offer your product at a price that is LOGICAL for the benefit it would provide a single license user. Basically when we bought our beloved McLaren cars we knew the only cpu diagnostic software was at the McLaren dealership.... AND we are happy to continue on the path we choose when we bought the car for the times when our CPU shows that ugly check engine light thing-a-ma-bobby thing. SURE, we want to do it ourselves with a laptop and some software at home, but the price has to make sense! AND we actually like the software you spent time writing and developing! You did a good thing! BUT... If it does not make sense to US (the owners), it does not make dollars for the developer... If you need an explanation please review my earlier post on the cost comparison I posted visiting the dealer vs the price you suggested on your software.

Thanks Again! I really hope we can make this work! Your product does look awesome and I personally am ready to spend some Christmas money on myself (if the price is right of course)....

,



THANKS AGAIN!

 

[ima2nr (McMedics)]

Greetings to all of you

Perhaps a little delay in the response but I assure everyone that we are working every day to develop our tool to include all models up to 2020 .. We will launch an update soon.

Dear Shags & ima2nr
I am sure you are trying to help us reach a price that many friends aspire to, but it is not a matter of greed from us.
The design of the price came based on multiple costs not only to sell the tool .. but to stay on them effective and strong for years ..

Especially with regard to single Vin solution
It will be able to anyone buying this device to change the VIN in the future if he replaced his car with another , may be his first car WAS 2014 and the other IS 2020 and here lies the advantage
At a time when we are discussing the price here, there are many customers from all over the world buying our tool and seeing the results.

Warm regards to you
Younis

Basically I cannot see any value in RENTING the software tool for 2,200.00 USD for the 1st year + 660.00 per year to keep it 100% fully functional. This pricing model does not provide any ownership, it is truly just renting.

In short, every McLaren owner would spend LESS MONEY per year just taking their "aging super car" to the dealer and pay for an hour or two of diagnostic time when they need deeper access to the ECU.

The Dealer charges 175.00 per hour in my area, so I could go to the dealer and pay for two hours of diagnostic time SIX DIFFERENT TIMES in one year before I equaled the 2200.00 investment you are asking for.

2 hrs labor at McLaren @ 175.00 per hour = 350.00

350.00 spent on Diagnostics every two months (SIX times in ONE YEAR) = 2,100.00

(IF MY CAR IS SO BROKEN I NEED TO SEE THE DEALER ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR I PROMISE I'M GETTING RID OF THE CAR!!!!)


And I could go to the dealer THREE MORE TIMES per YEAR needing a one hour diag or CPU reset thereafter before I spent more than the 600.00 per year you are asking just to keep the software "fully functional".


Please reconsider your pricing strategy, Basically the pricing just does not make economical sense.


FYI - I am heading to the Dealer in the morning to have a full diag for an "Engine Fault" warning..

YES... When the light came on 2 days ago I thought to myself "Wouldn't it be great if I had that software so I could scan my own car by myself?"... But I immediately remembered the math lesson above and said to myself "Sure it would be nice to have the software and do it yourself, BUT that software costs WAY MORE than going to the dealer... And the dealer can also better interpret the Diagnostic results to get to the root cause issue more quickly, and if you need some parts you will already be there to get them."

Basically 350.00 spent at the dealer tomorrow morning seems like a much better investment than forking over 2,200.00 for one year + 600.00 more per year just to rent your software.

I'll repeat this because this part is true for me and 99.99% of every other McLaren Owner out there....

(IF MY CAR IS SO BROKEN I NEED TO SEE THE DEALER ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR I PROMISE I'M GETTING RID OF THE CAR!!!!)

PLEASE KNOW.... I am NOT bashing your product! Quite the opposite! I really want to buy it, but it has to make better financial sense. Please reconsider your pricing strategy. Allow me to OWN the software for a more logical price. (no annual reoccurring fee)

Thank you again for working toward making a useful product that is also affordable and provides VALUE at the price point of the software.

 

[ima2nr (McMedics)]

@azmurciev12

I think no matter what the market or accessability to a dealer MDS tools it is still not acceptable for a software vendor to require an annual fee to keep the software fully operational.

I fully understand if a customer chooses not to pay an annual renewal that their software would no longer recieve NEW updates. This is traditional in the software space.

The major diffrence with this vendor is their software will lose approx 70% of its core functionality after the first year!

Unless of course you pay them an annual fee of 600.00 USD to keep it active. This is where I'm having a major problem justifying the purchase, and this is why I shared the mathmatical example comparing just taking your car to the dealership multiple times per year.

Good luck with your car in the Philippines! You are a brave man indeed knowing you have zero dealer support should you have an issue.

FWIW - I do hope all of our input on this topic is beneficial to to the software vendor. I personally do want to become thier customer and I would love to own the software, but I refuse to "rent it" for the rest of my life. What if I keep my car another 10 years? I promise there will be no new updates for the 12c from McLaren ever again, and the software vendor is not writing code for the modules or ECU either... why am i required to pay 600.00 more for evey year I continue to own my car?

 

[ima2nr (McMedics)]

Been doing it over a year. I installed a smart mirror that is basically a phone, dashcam and, reverse cam. I have IRIS 1 or I'd go deeper making that part of IRIS 2. Thoughy reverse camera is way better than factory.

Please do start a separate thread and share what you have created!