Frustrated that they force you to buy a support contract for a NetworkMgmtCard 3, but then ignore you when you actually try to purchase the contract

[CKNYC]

Without the support contract, the NMC3 is stuck on firmware 2.5.  If I want to upgrade to ver 3, the support contract is needed, SO WHY MAKE IT SO HARD TO BUY IT.

After adding the support contract to the shopping cart, you get "CALL FOR PRICING".  JUST SELL IT TO ME, WHY DO I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE FOR A $300 ITEM.

[Teken]

I just have to ask why would you ever want to be locked into their subscription service?!? 🤔

It’s not like they (APC) are going to offer you or anyone else a quick fix on the NMC! 🤦‍♂️

You’re talking about a company that still uses and sells hardware based on 1990 technology. 🤢 

There are literally tens of millions of APC devices that don’t have working SMTP email because the company doesn’t care to provide a firmware update. 

As it relates to firmware, APC literally leads the industry in the worst firmware upgrade process & failures! ☝️

They literally offer no technical support or customer direct method to unbrick a ATS / UPS / PDU from a failed (firmware) update?!?! 🤦‍♂️ 👎

The only thing worse is the so called web master managing their website! 😡 You literally have a billion dollar company being run and operated by bean counters and people that can’t figure out how to get out a wet paper bag. 🤣

Why would you think throwing good finances at this company would be so easy! 

[CKNYC]

I have a professional obligation to provide the client with the latest updates for their UPSs and related equipment, it's that simple.  My own opinions on the matter are almost irrelevant.  If an audit uncovered that the NMC3 was several releases behind the latest version, my defense could not be "SE is frustrating to work with".

[BillP · Accepted solution]

@CKNYC 

We apologize for the inconvenience. . You can purchase the license at https://www.se.com/us/en/shop/software/, and we plan on adding a "Buy Online" button to the US se.com NMC web pages soon. 

From https://www.se.com/us/en/shop/software/ select Secure Network Management Card Subscripts. 

Once you select Buy Now scowl through the list to find the correct UPS.

Note Smart-UPS are at the bottom of the page

[CKNYC]

BillP thank you for those links, we have purchased the support contract.

In a warning to others who may read this post, the license code is not activated on the device itself but on the firmware upgrade software tool.  I had assumed incorrectly that the device would be activated.

[LarryK]

Glad you posted that realization (not really).  Because I never thought of what would happen when I repurpose an NMC3 from an old client to a new one.  It is going to open up an exceedingly awful software maintenance nightmare scenario for me. Frak!