Helios charges

[Woodlands]

So, ya'll sick of my questions yet? :)

One of the "expenses" for the owner's in the salon I'm looking at buying is $599 for Helios. I've read here that 1. they've lowered that and 2. you really don't need it because there's plenty of free info to find on the interwebs.

Or does the whole thing shut down if you don't pay? Would a "discussion" with them get the price lowered? How much to reinstall other software - looks like there's a lot out there and I don't that many folks using Helios.

Ideas? They've had the system in now for at least 4 years so I'm assuming it's an "older" model. It looks like the price of it went up $479 in 2006 to $599 for 2007 and 2008.

Thanks again everyone - I promise to pay it forward and give advice if I ever get into the game!!

[irene]

Helios has automatic shut downs programmed into the dongle. The next one is in September I believe... So if you choose not to pay, yes it will give and error which makes you call in to get a FREE patch to override it.. This is a auditing step to be sure everyone is paying their dues.. $599 is to high as the only time I ever call in is for the FREE patch's. you think they would A) give a discount to the store paying in full at the beginning of the year and B) come up with a yearly patch for those owners so we only have to mess with it once a year. I have tried other software, the only one that came close is SunLynx and after three months they refunded my money in full because of it's limits in the inventory area.

[Woodlands]

Thanks, Irene. From what I know, the current owners are paid up through this year so Sept shouldn't be an issue. Well, I'm ASSuming they are paying at the first of the year - I could wrong. My luck their contract runs out in August ;)

Are you paying the $599? I ran a search here and saw where others were paying much less (I think one was $299)

Thanks again - trying to get everything in place before there's a problem instead of during.

[Woodlands]

OK, I just reread your post (it's late) and it seems that you can get the FREE downloads?? So what's the $599 payment for? Tech support? I'd rather pay per call for tech support (or find the info out on the web or get a techie in there). that $599 a year just seems outrageous.

[irene]

It is outrageous... my complaint exactly... RIPOFF!! But is there an alternative for me?? NO !!
It sounds like it will be a straight forward tanning salon... In that case use it for a year... then at the being of the 2nd slow season convert... There are a few out there that are reasonable, I have'nt researched it lately... but maybe SunTouch..

[unity]

The way Helios works is you "sign" up for support and pay $50 a month just to have it.

However the salon owners appear to have paid for a year in advance without doing the monthly.

What you can do is a support transfer. Its costs $50 and their support is transfered to you without insane sign-up fees. I did this.

However, like I said, it sounds like they paid for a year so I am not sure if you can transfer now or at the end of the support period.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by unity

The way Helios works is you "sign" up for support and pay $50 a month just to have it.

However the salon owners appear to have paid for a year in advance without doing the monthly.

What you can do is a support transfer. Its costs $50 and their support is transfered to you without insane sign-up fees. I did this.

However, like I said, it sounds like they paid for a year so I am not sure if you can transfer now or at the end of the support period.

Yeah, but they have been paying EVERY year for at least 3 years. Is the software really worth $600 a year?!! If I have to pay additional "insane" sign up fees, I'll either change systems or not tell them the salon has changed hands. I'm keeping the name so the payment would come from the same company.

Just sounds like a total ripoff to me......

[unity]

Well then look at it this way. If the software sold separately it would probably cost $1000 on up. The system that a Cingular Office I worked at paid $10,000 for a billing system and it ran on hardware that cost almost the same.

While I think its crazy expensive you have to figure if you are computer savvy enough to fix any problems that come up with it. If you are, why pay - just get help here, etc. If you are a computer novice you may want to stick with it. It is the CENTRAL part of your business.

[unity]

By the way, I was "stupid" enough to have REAL phone lines at the salon. I paid ATT $110 a month just for ONE line and extra for the fax line.

Now I pay $75 a month total for Vonage Business with two lines and cable internet access.

There are plenty of places to cut costs if this is you primary concern. I also installed mini-compact fluorescent light and dropped the electric bill about $200 a month.

[Woodlands]

Saving money is always a concern, but I'm not dumb enough to do it as a detriment to the company. What I will probably do is keep it either until the end of the current contract (depending on when that ends) or renew and/or pay the $50 a month if the contract is almost over. Then I'll see how much I use the service while trying to fix the problem myself first. That way I can spend a few dollars to see if it's worth it.

Thanks again everyone :)