Anyone get C4D8 in the mail yet? I preordered on July 23rd.

[fxgogo]

In the UK, I have recieved my manuals, and the updated discs are on the way. It seems to be a different story on your side of the pond. Have you tried speakinf to Rick Barret?

[visualsee]

I've posted a few other posts about this, but never saw the replies due to the recent problems CGTALK had. The replies I typically get are "be patient", which doesn't really answer my "when" question. And since it's Tuesday now and I haven't received any emails with shipping info, I'd suspect the answer to my "when" question is "not yet". Wow! If there really were that many pre-orders ahead of mine, I'm very happy for Maxon. But part of me finds that hard to believe. I guess I wouldn't be so antsy if they didn't charge my credit card the full amount over two months ago. :(

[rgwarren]

I got an e-mail last monday stating that my software had been shipped 2 day air. It's been over a week. I wonder who got MY PACKAGE? Hopefully he's having fun with it. I'm not :(

It's been a long wait and it's not getting any shorter.

A tracking code would have helped. But alas. None was to be seen.

[visualsee]

That's odd. Any other time I have received an email from maxon about a shipment it was from UPS and had a tracking number. Sounds like someone else got your delivery. Maybe it's heading my way? My guess is that all the orders are shipped UPS ground, regardless of what you paid for. At this time of year that means a LONG wait. :)

[FrankW]

Our purchase department got the mail from Maxon on Friday. It statet, that the package will be shipped on Monday 9.Dec, which was yesterday. Let's see, how long it takes...

[bcbarnes]

rgwarren,

I got the same email from MAXON on 12/2. Then, on 12/5, I got an email from UPS indicating ground ship, schedule delivery 12/11. Included a tracking link. The tracking site shows that it is on the delivery truck headed for my house at this very moment (a day earlier than expected!).

[visualsee]

May I ask when you originally ordered it?

[bcbarnes]

Visualsee,

In case that question was pointed at me, I originally ordered on Oct 31. Then cancelled a couple days later (when I found out it wasn't shipping yet). I then got a phone call from Rafi (sp?) at Maxon, convincing me to go ahead with my order. That was on about Nov. 4th.

[visualsee]

Thanks. Darn I ordered mine back in July. I guess taking the EB wasn't that good of an idea as it appears to have delayed mine. :)

[rgwarren]

Well at least I've got the EB CD's and the electronic version of the manual for the time being. It would be nice to get some paper though (not that I don't have enough from the previous versions!).

Time will tell.

[astrofish]

I'm in the UK, pre-ordered it ages ago (July?), got the early bird, and my full package arrived this morning via a next-day courier.

Contents (XL package):
One big main manual.
A smaller tutorial manual (different tutorials to the XL7 manual).
A set of mini-manuals (60-100 pages each), one for each module, including short tutorials in most cases.

Four CDs:
Main App Installer
XL Modules
Documentation
Extras

I think that three of the disks were labelled version 1.2, and one was 1.1, but I need to check.

Note that these are DISK version numbers, NOT software versions.

[flingster]

i'm in the uk did an upgrade from 6-7 with 8 included....not seen anything yet..:bounce:

called maxon a few weeks back and was told they would be here by xmas...:eek:
glad to see they exist though astrofish...was beginning to wonder whether it was all a fob off!

[visualsee]

I just spoke with someone from Maxon (who was very polite to me) and was informed that if I took advantage of the Early Bird I would get my shipment AFTER all of the other pre-orders shipped. She said that US early birders wouldn't see their shipments go out the door until late this week. I am stumped by this. I did pre-order, but it sounds like I'm penalized because I pre-ordered and elected to take the early bird offer. I asked why this was that case and she said that since I already had a copy of the EB, I did have a copy of the software and that they wanted to make sure people who didn't have it yet got it first. That sounds screwy? Charge my card two months ago and make me wait longer that everyone else even though I may have pre-ordered ahead of them. I really love C4D, but am very puzzled at how this whole release has been handled and communciated.

Can anyone comment on this?

[robertkist]

I got mine last Monday, I preordered it some time ago.
I too called and Maxon told me they started shipping today, which was on 30. Nov I think.

Only thing that annoys me is that they said there's no fee to use old BP3D and Dynamics with the XL Bundle, and now I found out it's $50 to make them work. I even called them a month ago and asked if they would charge like in Europe, but they said they'll handle it differently in the US and everything I need to get BP and Dynamics working would be included ...guess not :/

[fxgogo]

YEah I think EB people should be first in the cue. We ordered and shelled out first so we should get first. I think they have been running behind schedule, and they did the EB thing to buy some time and satisfy the earger users, and then hand out the final copies to the other orders thinking we would be happy cause we have our EB versions. Dangerous thinking if you ask me.

I am from the UK, and I think here it might have something to do with stock levels. As Astrofish said, he got the EB version and he just recieved the whole shebang. I was also a EB user, and I got only the manuals, but that was a week and a half ago. So things are crazy if you ask me.

[Erik Heyninck]

Kwramm, here in Europe we too pay 50 Euros to have a new version of Bodypaint sent to us.
Bodypaint was a standalone that could be tightly integrated in 7, but now it is a module. Same goes for Dynamics for example.
Personally, I have no problems with this: even if it isn't a real upgrade, things do change and costs (cd's have to be made and handled, and snail mail costs money too) have to be paid for.
I do remember that there were postings saying that the "upgrade" would be free, but I can't remember whether they were by someone of Maxon or not.

As for late deliveries: my Early Bird got lost on the way, and yesterday it arrived back at Maxon Germany. We did exchange some e-mails about it before that date, and I got a mail from Maxon Germany today that my package was to be sent today with special courier so I would certainly have it next friday. For more than a month I had nothing but my demo version, but I did learn a lot. I downloaded the manuals, and after some phone calls, found the cheapest photocopy center in the neighbourhood, and had some of them printed out. Very handy to make sketches, add remarks etc without damaging the manuals. I must say that the texts are much better than before (only poor Pyroluster is still unreadable) and that, doing the tuts, I know more of 8 than I ever knew of 7. (I have to admit that I am far from an experienced user).

As for the idea of first sending EB's, then final versions (with the same version as the EB's on the cd's) to other customers and only then to those who already have their EB's and can work with the temporary code for three months their final version: I find this a fair and defendable choice.

Me too, I felt anxious from time to time as, indeed, the money had been taken off my bankaccount, but I suppose (and hope for them) that C8 is such a success that they simply cannot follow.

No bad feelings I hope...

[robertkist]

The difference is that a Maxon representative (sales) told me over the telephone that they would not charge me $50 and that Maxon USA will handle it differently than Maxon Europe and that there is nothing I have to pay or worry about. I called right after I heard that they charged Europeans for the upgrade (on c4d-treff.de). This was well over 2 months ago.
Now I find out they do ask for $50, which I didn't have in my upgrade budget initially.

I wouldn't have a problem with all that, if I had known in advance what to expect, without being told differently by Maxon itself. Besides, they told me the update would be something to download, so there wouldn't be any CD's or printed manuals or postage involved that cost any money.

So initially I was quite confused, because I did spend quite some time to figure out how to install BP and Dynamics on my XL Bundle, until I finally called tech support and found out that, unlike they told me, I cannot install BP and Dynamics and would have to purchase an update. Unfortunately I do not have the name of the sales rep that told me all this, because I assumed "those guys know what they're doing", like they did in the past (I've been really happy with Maxon USA so far). I guess I learned my lesson now ;)

Anyway, Maxon said they'll call me back about this issue, and I hope I can work something out with them. $50 for each upgrade would really rip another hole in the tight budget I'm running on now ....yeah, I'm a student, will do 3D work for food ;)

[FrankW]

My package came yesterday (12.12.02). Now I have to read a lot :)

[RickBarrett]

Originally posted by fxgogo
I think here it might have something to do with stock levels.

Hey Guys,

Sorry to come into this late but I've been busy with DVexpo this week. Here in the US, it has everything to do with stock levels. It was never our intention to stick it to the early-birders - we always planned to ship preorders first, eb's second and then deal with everyone else. The preorders and eb's should've all gone out last week, but we didn't receive our complete initial order and ran into some inventory problems. I'm hoping those are resolved next week and we can get everyone's software under your tree for Christmas morning.

I'm sorry if there's some confusion about the BP & Dynamics "upgrade fee". Just call the sales department and hopefully we can clear it up.

- Rick -

[Mentat7]

I just sent an email to Maxon inquiring about this. I ordered ver 7 XL in early August and was told I would receive the free ver 8 when it became available. Haven't seen hide nor hair of it yet. Is it actually shipping? Are there still people like me waiting in the dark cold corners of the country anxiously awaiting its arrival??

[DiGiman]

I ordered the XL version 7 upgrage as well.
I ordered it in Aug., with the promise of getting the version 8 upgrade when it came out.
Last week I talked with a salesperson at Maxon. She suggested that this week sometime it would ship out. I don't know though, we'll see....

[odictamis]

I am not exactly sure when our multimedia center at the university I work for ordered Cinema, but I think it was sometime in October. I am a big fan of Cinema, but if I could go back and do it again, I would order something else, probably Maya. But I can't. I think the way Maxon has handled this whole Version 8 situation is a professional embarrassment. I am not exactly sure what the delay is for everyone not getting Version 8 in a timely manner. But after many calls to Maxon and reading posts on various message boards. These seem to be a couple of reasons why we are still without the newest version:

1) Low stock in the U.S., its on the way anyday (yeah right!!)
2) I have version 7 already, so I will be penalized and receive my upgrade last, so that all new customers can receive theirs first.
3) Call back next week and we can see if it has been shipped yet. (Fell for that for 3 weeks in a row)

I have no idea if any of these are true, except for #3. But what I know is true, is I don't have my upgrade yet and I don't feel that I have been treated with respect by Maxon. I don't enjoy being pushed aside like they have done. (Call back next week and we'll check) Meanwhile if it had been shipped (which it wasn't), they wouldn't even be able give me tracking number, because that's out of there hands. I was giving our art school a hard sell on how great Cinema was, that they should consider it before buying Maya. Boy am I glad they chose Maya instead. I would have felt horrible if they would have purchased 30 or 40 licenses only to get jerked around like the rest of us. I would have felt really bad recommending a product that can't be delivered in a timely fashion, which would have clearly been the case in this instance. I personally feel really burned by the whole situation and it is a pain that won't go away anytime soon. I hope someone will eventually tell us the truth for why this whole situation occurred. I just hope they get their "stock" problems sorted out and get everyone's orders shipped before they start losing customers like they have already done with me. I apologize to everyone for rambling on so long, but I, like many others am frustrated and needed to vent.

[derelict]

i got here a demo version. Does that count?

[AdamT]

Originally posted by odictamis
I hope someone will eventually tell us the truth for why this whole situation occurred. I just hope they get their "stock" problems sorted out and get everyone's orders shipped before they start losing customers like they have already done with me. I apologize to everyone for rambling on so long, but I, like many others am frustrated and needed to vent.

While the situation might have been handled better, I think you're blowing it *way* out of proportion. I don't think there's any sort of deception as to the cause of the delay. The software is a couple of months late, which is very commonplace for a major revision. Unfortunately it's just impossible to predict when a program will be "ready", meaning acceptable for release. Unlike most companies, Maxon won't ship a product that's full of bugs just to meet an arbitrary deadline. Once the software itself was ready there was the monumental task of translating the many manuals into several different languages, having them printed, distributing the disks and manuals and shipping them all out. So...in the end a few months of head pounding over the ship date will beat years of head pounding trying to figure out how to do the simplest task in Maya. So there's my 2 cents.

[ndat]

If you think about it though... what are a couple extra months of waiting? Sure It might be an inconvenience but unless you are a firm or company of some sort it really isn’t costing you that much. Just say oh well and wait till you see that shinny package in the mail, it wont kill ya.


And for the love of god don’t give up on this fine piece of software just because of shipping difficulties. Just download your self a demo version or warez copy to tide you over until it comes. I might eat my words having said that, but in all reality I don’t think anyone has ever made a warez copy of cinema 4d. Hehe, that must make us the most honest 3d community of all :)

I might not be the best person to be preaching about patience, but I can say that if you hold in there it will be well worth the wait :).

[DiGiman]

All I know is,
I am a very loyal Cinema 4d user. I think it is a great program. I do have the demo of version 8 and think it is amazing. But I have been waiting for a long time now to get this new version, even after other people already have their copy of it.

In the mean time, I have been playing with the new version of Maya at work.
I am really starting to like it.

The only reason I bring any of this up, is that I hope Maxon doesn't loose customers because they are slacking off.

[Erik Heyninck]

Some will fall off, and lots of new ones will replace them...

I learned a lot playing and experimenting with the demo. The only sad thing was that I had to model etc up to rendering in one evening, and then take notes and print screen.
Yet this has the same advantage as sketching with a pencil: you go for the essence and the weak spots show very clearly.

[AdamT]

I feel yall's pain--being of the immediate gratification school myself. :) But I do think the Maxon folks are working as hard as they can to fulfill orders.

[flingster]

personally i feel its a mess up...and a exercise in PR failure.
forums should be full of r8 is "so damn good" instead they are full of....did anybody see it yet!

i spoke to maxon uk 2 weeks before xmas...."yes it will be with you by xmas".....yeah right.....i ain't got it yet.

(i would like to point out though that the boyz n gurls at maxon seem to be working their socks off to get it corrected....this of course does not resolve their initial failure.....furthermore....companies should not promise to provide when they essentially can't and have not)
:thumbsdow

[odictamis]

Exactly!!!

[JoelOtron]

Don't want to be branded a whiner--or blacklisted for complaining either--but I really thought I'd have it by now.

I had a week of R and D / down time which I planned months in advance to use to help get up to speed in R8 (having ordered it in August), but its come and gone--and I will be really busy with the jobs I had hoped to use R8 with.

I will probably not even have the time to really learn the program for a while now--even if it comes tomorrow. Yeah--could have used the demo--which I messed around with a little bit--but since I cant save or render it wouldnt be too efficient. Wanted to use it on projects I am in the development stage with and wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Wasnt eligible for the EB either. Shucks.

At the same time--od course, Im really looking forward to getting it. I can at least skim through the manuals now and then once I have them (don't like reading pdfs)

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