cdchurch 
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| 01/07/2007 3:51 AM |
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| In my opinion your software, Wilcom ES, is outrageously overpriced. I've used other high-end software before that is every bit as complex and important to business as your but is 1/10th the price. I repair embroidery machines and have been to many small shops but none of them use your software. It's simply too expensive for most small businesses, so they choose cheaper alternatives. |
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Quailtail
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| 01/07/2007 9:42 AM |
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| I too would like the answer to the high price question. I want the software but a small home based business can not afford it. |
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chetan
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| 01/07/2007 11:47 AM |
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I have used the cheapest software from embird
then i used a medium priced software from gis
lastly i bought wilcom
My opinion on this is simple
wilcom offers excellent lettering
with closest join fuction to avoid trims
It also offers centre out Function for digitizing lettering for caps
The digitizing technique in wilcom is very easy to learn
I have since bought more than 15 licenced ES digitizing softwares from wilcom for our digitizing centre
I believe wilcom gives the best value for money when you compare the price to the features and the ease of use
www.netdigitizing.com |
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kjdesigns
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| 01/08/2007 4:53 AM |
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| I too have used Wilcom ES it has great features, i think it's worth the money and as soon as i can afford it I will purchase a copy. I'm just starting out in my own business but I've worked for an embroidery shop who has ES. It's very stable and it hasn't crashed my Melco Software crashes frequently. |
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Onrie
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| 01/09/2007 6:19 AM |
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| I have been using Wilcom for several years. We started out with a home embroidery machine and Palette Software. I taught myself how to use Palette. After Palette, we upgraded to an auto-digitizing program called Origins. Origins is a great program but it did not have the features offered by Wilcom. I invested in the lettering and digitings portions of Wilcom. This cost about 1/3 of the full package. I was so impressed by the program, over a period of time, I have bought the remaining add ons which offered more and more tools to work with. If you are going to be in the embroidery business, you need the tools to create great designs. I use Wilcom everyday and I have become a pretty good digitizer, but mastering this program takes time. The program offers so many tools that make my job easier but I seem to learn something new everyday. Expensive, yes, but if you want to compete in this business you need the best. There are other shops in our area that use the cheaper software programs. I've seen there work and it can't compare to ours, ie. design and stitch quality. As a matter of fact, some of them are sending the hard to do things to me. |
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planet_embroidery
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
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| 01/11/2007 5:12 PM |
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The reason it is so expensive is that when some of those small businesses get bigger many of them will opt to up-grade to wilcom (Rather than the cheaper alternatives you speak of)....
Supply and Demand... bottom line...
Obviously Wilcom does have a competitive edge....
Some of this is Branding, no doubt about it.
(I.E. Is an Audi really worth 100k when a car 85% as good costs a 1/4 of the price?)
Some people just want top shelf gear!
Having said that I think Wilcom's main advantage is that their competitors have failed (much more than they have)to provide decent User Interface's (UI) for their products.
And the best UI's provide maximum power and flexibility and put the program's GRUNT as close as possible to the user's finger tips (I.E. with a minimum of steps and alow it to be leaveraged ETC... no one wants to do a square dance to get something done which could be more streamlined.....
And wilcom is not perfect (far from it) but it is a very comfortable UI which has a good (Professional) windows feel to it and is improving....
The UI's on the cheapys (even if they have 85% of the grunt) are only 35% as good.......
If these guys ever wake up then wilcom will have more competition....
But most are too worried that big UI changes will alienate what little market share they have..... So fear should keep them at bey.
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David Hewitt (Digitizer/Director)
Planet Embroidery (Australia)
web: http://www.planetembroidery.com.au/
email:digitizing@planetembroidery.com.au |
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applemb
Posts: 12
Location: Orange NSW Australia
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| 01/27/2007 2:40 PM |
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| Hey Kjdesigns, glad to find someone else in the world who has crashing problems with Melco software. When I complained to the Australian Melco distributor I was told I was the only one with the problem so it must be my inadequate computer. I asked for 3 references of users without any problems which the distributor did supply. When I phoned them each one said that their systems crashed regularly but "don't all computers crash all the time????" Also in each case I was talking to a person in a management role, obviously removed from the frustrating situation of continual crashes - and I mean 1 crash every hour if doing a lot of editing.
To answer the question about cost of Wilcom, I have also run Wilcom ES for the last 6 years with relatively few problems. The embroidery quality and ability to edit (change sizes/stitch density/etc) is well worth the money. When I did have minor problems I was not impressed with the after sales support provided by Wilcom. I have just installed all new machines requiring the use of Wilcom Machine Manager for sending designs to the machines. The wonderful support girl "Kaye" at Wilcom Sydney was very prompt in all her dealings with me and solved all my installation problems so maybe Wilcom has improved their after sales service or they and we)are just lucky to have Kaye with them at the moment. |
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lesch
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| 01/29/2007 6:31 AM |
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I had the option to choose between Wlicom and Compucon a few years back and opted for Compucon as I received better service at the time. Since then Compucon upgraded to Version 3 and I could not even use the programme for nearly a year because it had so many problems. I have worked on Wilcom V7 and 9 and find it much easier to use. the new Compucon interface is less than friendly, but now it is impossible to change.
I believe that most of these programmes are overpriced and as such opens a market for cracks. |
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applemb
Posts: 12
Location: Orange NSW Australia
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| 01/29/2007 8:13 PM |
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| I tried Compucon before buying Wilcom 6 years ago. Compucon claimed to be able to convert scanned images into embroidery programs. I know local girls at home who swear by Bernina etc saying they can scan & convert anything with their software - haven't seen any of their handywork though!! Back to Compucon - the computer could not interpret the transitions from one shape to another requiring a lot of editing so back it went to the local agent for a full credit and hence Wilcom. |
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applemb
Posts: 12
Location: Orange NSW Australia
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| 01/29/2007 8:17 PM |
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| PS -- we are a small business - just wife & I. Using good embroidery software and using a good digitizer can take a lot of worry out of the day and lets you get thru a lot more work. The cost of Software is nothing compared with other operating costs but gives you huge returns. |
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gholcomb
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Location: Fresno, CA
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| 01/30/2007 10:20 AM |
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| I have been digitizing for 12 years and have used several systems. I can tell you Wilcom is by far the best. I had the opportunity to visit their Sydney office while on vacation a couple of years ago and I was stunned by the number of employees it takes to produce and keep this software up tp date. Sure there is alot of cheap software out there, but don't expect much if you choose to save a few bucks. |
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terisews
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| 02/04/2007 1:22 PM |
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| I too am a small business, my husband and I, and have just started up two months ago. I am currently using MasterWorks, but find it very very limiting. I attended an ISS Show a couple weeks ago and saw the Wilcom software and was very impressed but refrained due to the price tag. But I agree, the cost of Software is nothing compared to the other operating costs of the business especially if it gives you huge returns.
I am new in digitizing and want to learn it and have had to teach myself as the after sales support system for Master Works is non-existent, which I find very frustrating especially spending hard cold cash for same. I chalk it up to experience and am keeping my eyes open for bigger and better software opportunties, which from my research sounds like Wilcom.
Also, as to your post about Melco machines crashing. I do not own a Melco, but was considering purchasing some, but have decided against that as I have heard from 4 different new Melco owners from different regions of the USA complaining about the same thing -- unstable operating system. Plus, personally, the stitch output of some of the stock deigns was not impressive.
Any machine recommendations? I currently have a single head which was purchased for mobile embroidery. I need to purchase additional heads for in house production. multiple single heads and network them or purchase a 4 head or greater machine? Thoughts?
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applemb
Posts: 12
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| 02/05/2007 12:43 PM |
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| Terisews, I assume you are in the USA so my comments may or may not apply to your situation. First of all I think one should concentrate on doing one job well and basically what you are selling is embroidery. Why go into digitizing when there are so many people now doing it at such a low price.Having said that you do need the ability to edit designs as most digitizers have never been near an embroidery machine and do not know the many tricks that can make a sew-out good/bad and easy/difficult to sew. When I started we were paying A$30/1000 stitches for digitizing. I can now get most designs for under A$30 depending on complexity not stitch count. So think about that! ****** next aspect is multiple single head machines - I think that is the best way to go for the average small embroiderer. You can efficiently run different designs at the same time. If you have a breakdown on one machine you can still keep up production to keep customers happy. The only benefit I see in multiple head machines is a lower capital cost for the same number of heads but I believe the trade off is in less efficient production. Oh well back to work!!! |
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lesch
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| 02/06/2007 7:05 AM |
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I tend to agree wit applemb on the digitizing. I am in South Africa and had to teach myself how to digitize and learned the tricks of embroidery the hard way. In the beginning I bought a few designs on the internet and downloaded a couple of free designs. I stitched them out and watched how it was done and then copied the technique. Must say, I spend days practicing the art and now after 5 years I can say that I am proud of my work. Never had to advertise my work.
My wife and I run a small home-based business (while I work fulltime) and we recently aquired our second single head Tajima. For us it was the obvious choice as we are growing at a pace and a 4 head will not be the right thing at the moment.
I have just seen the Melco Amaja on video and the concept looks perfect to me, but we cannot get them here |
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terisews
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| 02/07/2007 1:37 AM |
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| Applemb, yes, I am in the US -- the beautiful state of Virginia. Thank you for your insight and great advise. I have to agree with you on the digitizing. Learning to digitize is consuming more of my embroidering time. And you're right, I want to sell embroidery! Back to work for me as well!!! |
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pinedsa
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| 02/17/2007 5:34 PM |
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| I own both Wilcom ES 2006 and Compucon V3, Wilcom is by far easier to use, more stable and the stitch engine is excellent. You certantly get what you pay for. My only complaint with Wilcom is that they don't offer a discount for a second or third license to use on other computers, they want full price for them. |
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planet_embroidery
Posts: 37
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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| 02/21/2007 8:17 PM |
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http://www.barudan.com/product.aspx?model=BEVT-Z1501CB
I have one of these (with the old controler) very nice.
I have had it for 3 or 4 years and it has given me absoutely no trouble.
Built like a humb vee. If you hit the frame you dont need to cry...... this machine can handle it.
I dont know about networking though this is probably my only reservation... im not sure if you can daisy chain several up to the same controller like you can on some other brands (which are inferior otherwise).
But in my book an exellent build quality (no nylon cogs!) is my biggest concern....
consequently this is about the most immobile single head you will ever come across... it will definitely take 2 strong guys to move one of these about.
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David Hewitt (Digitizer/Director)
Planet Embroidery (Australia)
web: http://www.planetembroidery.com.au/
email:digitizing@planetembroidery.com.au |
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