Sawyer Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Yesterday I got 2 calls from "Autodesk". They came in on my cell phone as restricted. I told the first guy I didn't have time to talk and to call later. That afternoon I got another call and I noticed with both callers that they sounded really unprofessional, lots of ums and uhh. They wanted me to upgrade my version of autocad from 2005 light. I told them I never had that version and basically nicely hung up the phone. It wasn't till later that I thought this was weird. They weren't my reseller and I imagine ADSK has a good record of who owns what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinHawaiian Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I got a call too from a lady with a thick accent and barely decipherable speech claiming to be from Autodesk. (I have nothing against people of different cultures, it's just that I honestly couldn't make out what she was saying at first) I was more than a little suspicious until she confirmed my username and contact info (Which isn't really easily available). She wanted to tell me about Autodesk's "specials" that they have going on and basically, wanted to know how happy I was with Autodesk's service and my subscription, as far as I could understand. I was convinced especially as she didn't really try to mine me for any information, just seemed like a weird, sales call/touch bases with their subscription people thing. It seems like a nice gesture, especially considering we're donating 500 bucks a year to Autodesk for each Max subscription that may or may not yield useful software updates. Kind of weird though, that they were barely understandable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmoron13 Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 working for THEM for 3+ years, I can tell you that there are divisions of autodesk that are in almost every continent. I sometimes would deal with folks in India and Shanghai, and even within the division, personal changes meant that some of these employees would come here or we'd go there.... So it wouldn't surprise me if the latter caller was legit.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 I don't like to be solicited for anything. I usually know what I am shopping for, and prefer to do research online to get a mix of professional and user reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Mann Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 I've just had a call from Autodesk following up a letter they sent recently (which I don't recall receiving) offering me a service to check that all of my software was licensed and legitimate but they just needed to check my details first! Very kind of them but I don't see how that is a service to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Denby Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 I got that letter too. No thanks, I know my software is legit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 I've just had a call from Autodesk following up a letter they sent recently (which I don't recall receiving) offering me a service to check that all of my software was licensed and legitimate but they just needed to check my details first! Very kind of them but I don't see how that is a service to me. You didn't provide your details, did you? This whole thing is sounding worse with every post on this thread. While it may be legitimate (which would mean that A'Desk has lost licence control at a fundamental level), it may also be an elaborate social engineering/ phishing/ vishing operation. Once a group of hackers has enough I.P., user and account information en masse, they have everything they need to begin cracking and piracy operations. I suppose the easiest recourse would be to refuse to provide ANY details over the phone and instead, phone A'Desk directly (in your own country) and confirm that they are looking to update/ fix their licensing data. While you're at it, ask them why they are so incompetent or over protective that they need to annoy their paying customers when they clearly can't manage their own licence data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Mann Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 You didn't provide your details, did you? No, I default to cynical these days. While you're at it, ask them why they are so incompetent or over protective that they need to annoy their paying customers when they clearly can't manage their own licence data. Good point, I upgraded to Combustion 4 just before christmas...a couple of days before the next version was announced but I still haven't been able to register it properly with Adesk. They tried to "suggest" it wasn't a legit version till I sent them photos of the case with serial numbers and got my reseller to contact them too. Its still not sorted and you know what, I don't think a'desk give a sh*t. I bet illegitimate users don't have this problem. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quizzy Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 even I got a call, what version of autocad I was using (none) and if I'd like to try out Revit, so they send me an email. too bad I deleted it, but it looked legit.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Sugden Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Well yesterday I got a call from a lady claiming I had put an advert in a magazine I'd never heard of, and wanted payment, when I told her that I didn't know what she was talking about she started insulting me, saying I didn't know what was going on in my own company! When i politely asked her who she spoke to, who supposedly made this purchase she said she that the name was on a piece of paper downstairs that she couldn't get, becuase she was on her period!! And I wouldn't make a girl go and get it would I? Then she said she had spoken to "Andrew?", I told her there was no Andrew here, she said "Adam?", nope no Adam, "Dave?", nope.... "Brian?". And so on. Then she said I had a lovely voice!! and I said thank you and hung up. One of the most bizarre calls I've had to my business yet. Almost as strange as the, "you've bought some books for schools...... "I had a few weeks back. Wouldn't be surprised if it was the same lady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandmanNinja Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Jiminy Crickets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 This all sounds very strange. But, considering the economic downturn, nothing would surprise me. My reseller tells me sales are flat and many firms are not upgrading or adding licenses. So, I can only imagine that the pressures on everyone are very high. It would be very sad though if Autodesk stoops to doing cold-calls. I really hope this isn't the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Denby Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Following my letter last week, I've just had the call (international). I've put them off 'till next week. I wanted to read more on this thread. Why would AD want to confirm we have the correct licences etc...they supplied them. Also, if someone had dodgey software, they're not likely to agree to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Denby Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Hmmm...just read some more on this thread. This all sounds very dodgey. I'm not going to entertain them if they ring again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtaddei Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Hmmm...just read some more on this thread. This all sounds very dodgey. I'm not going to entertain them if they ring again. better yet, entertain yourself with some hilariously hard tech support questions... and then just keep asking "well why does it do this like that?!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandmanNinja Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 you: "I'm so glad you called! I have a list of questions that Tech Support has never gotten back to me. First, when I apply an editable poly modifier to the stack of a spline..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I think the calls to customers about current software specials is legit (though annoying), and the "follow-up to the letter we sent you" call is a scam. You can bash them for making cold call sales pitches, but maybe it's a bit unfair to bash them for something they had nothing to do with and that was perpetrated by criminals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinHawaiian Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 better yet, entertain yourself with some hilariously hard tech support questions... and then just keep asking "well why does it do this like that?!" LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agatsuma Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 This is sort of off topic, but has anyone heard waht may be in store for Max subscribers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antisthenes Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 higher subscription rates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil poppleton Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 We are also receiving letters from Autodesk for a 3rd party to audit the company. Even though we have nothing to hide, unless I see a good case put forward I won't be letting anyone into our buidling to view files on private workstations, and waste our time. Why don't Autodesk chase the people whom have never bought their software, and leave us paying customers alone. Not the best pr stunt I ever seen........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil poppleton Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 We are also receiving letters from Autodesk for a 3rd party to audit the company. Even though we have nothing to hide, unless I see a good case put forward I won't be letting anyone into our buidling to view files on private workstations, and waste our time. Why don't Autodesk chase the people whom have never bought their software, and leave us paying customers alone. Not the best pr stunt I have ever seen........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandmanNinja Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 This behaviour of A'desk is so nuts... I truly cannot understand it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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