Zipcar

Posted by Scott McEachron on Sunday, July 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment

I got an email a few weeks ago from someone needing help with software. The email came from a POB subscriber, a licensed Land Surveyor, and he needed help with linework codes in Softdesk. What bothered him, and probably bothered me more, was the fact he couldn’t find help from his local software vendor (you know the line, “We’re sorry, the software has been ‘retired’ and we are unable to help you, but if you’d like to upgrade, we’ll be happy to assist.” Here’s my other favorite line – “I’m sorry sir, that question falls in the category of training, not technical support, and I’m unable to assist unless you sign up for a class.” Is it really any wonder software resellers are dropping like flies?) and he had browsed discussion groups for several days trying to find information. I guess there are just some things in life I’m not meant to understand. Of course I helped him, the questions weren’t actually support related, he simply needed a little good advice (God forbid – not related to training OR technical support, that throws a wrench in the entire system – in the words of the Soup Nazi – No help for you!). But I was utterly shocked by the fact the consultant he trusted for support and training was unwilling to help unless he upgraded his software. One has nothing to do with the other – the surveyor may not have had a choice – it may have been a client requiring the use of old software!

And think this was an isolated incident? Not at all. I worked with a client in Texas a couple years ago whose software vendor sold them Autodesk Inventor for subdivision work – and no – I’m not kidding. One of the largest vendors in the States. I was at a firm recently whose software vendor (by the way, the same vendor) sold them 6 licenses of a product they again, absolutely, under no circumstances, needed. The price they paid for the software would have allowed them to keep an employee they were forced to lay off for another year!

When it comes to delivering to consumers what they need, when they need it, I’m about fairness, I’m about reality, and I think a consumer has the right to use “old” software if they so choose (just one of the reasons I started I.II.I); in many cases, it’s been a troubled economy that has forced firms to make the decision to not renew subscriptions, or to not purchase new tools. I think it’s absolutely unthinkable to penalize them for making such a choice.

So I’ve been a little upset with vendors of goods and services lately. More particularly, I’ve been upset by those that have knowingly mislead consumers and then whined about how a troubled economy has hurt their business (of course it couldn’t possibly be poor business practices or purely shoddy work), and I ran across an idea so simple I was utterly proud to pour a glass of wine and toast that someone gets it – I think you might too. Zipcar.

How sweet is this. They provide the car, you choose the vehicle you want (there aren’t car “lots” per se, the car you want to ‘borrow’ may be parked down the street), and you move on with your life. An excellent alternative to car purchases or rentals.

Simply put, with zipcar, you pay as you go (sort of like SaaS for vehicles, and from the consumers point of view, it makes obvious sense). Cars can be reserved by the hour, or even by the day, and the steps are simple:

1. Join the club
2. Reserve a vehicle
3. Unlock a vehicle with your zipcard or iPhone (coming soon)
4. Drive

For more information, check out this video: