Fusion 360/Autodesk denying free startup subscription since "knives are weapons"

[H2Oknife]

yes that’s understandable and I don’t think anyone has argued contrary. What’s the issue is that thy give free to some people and not others because thy don’t like what thy make.

Just guessing but they probably have it covered in their terms and conditions that covers their rear end.
Big corporations are not interested is us little guys at the bottom (only their $$). Auto desk is hooking small independents in with "free" then once the volume of people rely on their cloud software they will spring the new fees schedule out for a take it or leave it.

 

[P.Brewster]

I think you guys are overthinking it. If I was Autodesk, I wouldn't offer free goods to knifemakers because the ROI is poor. The ROI is poor because knifemakers as a whole are not good business prospects. They aren't good business prospects because they are not, collectively speaking, financially successful enough to justify the purchase of a professional CAD program.

In other words, I'll give Joe a free thing if I think Joe's friends will buy it for full price. Conversely, I won't give Joe a free thing if I don't think Joe or any of his friends will buy it for full price.

This explanation covers the issue of "thy give free to some people and not others because thy don’t like what thy make" - Autodesk doesn't care what you make. They care about making money.

 

[JTknives]

I think you guys are overthinking it. If I was Autodesk, I wouldn't offer free goods to knifemakers because the ROI is poor. The ROI is poor because knifemakers as a whole are not good business prospects. They aren't good business prospects because they are not, collectively speaking, financially successful enough to justify the purchase of a professional CAD program.

In other words, I'll give Joe a free thing if I think Joe's friends will buy it for full price. Conversely, I won't give Joe a free thing if I don't think Joe or any of his friends will buy it for full price.

This explanation covers the issue of "thy give free to some people and not others because thy don’t like what thy make" - Autodesk doesn't care what you make. They care about making money.

Then why tell the OP it’s because he makes weapons. But for this reason and others I HATE cloud operated programs. I want the program on my computer and want to save to my drives. I had an issue with fusion 360 a little while ago when we did not have internet. It happens frequently out here. I want to own the product, not a subscription.

 

[P.Brewster]

Then why tell the OP it’s because he makes weapons.

I already explained why. If my theory is correct, then it's because Autodesk has come up with a list of industries they have identified as high risk/low reward. Weapon making is apparently on that list.

You see a similar thing in regard to payment processing. For example, Stripe has a list of industries they have identified as high risk/low reward. On that list is porn. I can't use Stripe to sell porn. Stripe would tell me the problem is that I'm selling porn. The core issue isn't that Stripe doesn't like porn; the issue is Stripe has decided that the balance of risk and reward in the porn industry isn't worth their involvement.

 

[seanj]

I already explained why. If my theory is correct, then it's because Autodesk has come up with a list of industries they have identified as high risk/low reward. Weapon making is apparently on that list.

You see a similar thing in regard to payment processing. For example, Stripe has a list of industries they have identified as high risk/low reward. On that list is porn. I can't use Stripe to sell porn. Stripe would tell me the problem is that I'm selling porn. The core issue isn't that Stripe doesn't like porn; the issue is Stripe has decided that the balance of risk and reward in the porn industry isn't worth their involvement.

While in essence this is true it's not really that simple. There are many forces that are pushing company's to change their view on the balance of risk vs reward. For years the porn industry has produced more revenue than just about anything else on the net. However perceptions and pressures from outside groups are changing that. It's not entirely about the bottom line. Company after company is being pressured to take a politically correct stance. Look at Dick's Sporting Goods.
I think that's wrong. Companies are free to do what they want. But if that's what they want to do I'm also free not to give them my business.

 

[i4Marc]

^^^That.

 

[JTknives]

Well the fusion guy got back to me. This was the same guy that pushed the start up license to me in the first phase. This is his response to my “not approved because we make weapons”

Jarod,


Unfortunately, machining and fabricators are not being approved for startup licenses. Custom work qualifies as consultants doing work for clients or prospects. Startup licensing is not approved for cases like these.

 

[P.Brewster]

While in essence this is true it's not really that simple. There are many forces that are pushing company's to change their view on the balance of risk vs reward. For years the porn industry has produced more revenue than just about anything else on the net. However perceptions and pressures from outside groups are changing that. It's not entirely about the bottom line. Company after company is being pressured to take a politically correct stance. Look at Dick's Sporting Goods. I think that's wrong. Companies are free to do what they want. But if that's what they want to do I'm also free not to give them my business.

Yes, porn is lucrative but I think it's reasonable to assume that success is the extreme exception rather than the rule. 999 out of 1000 applicants wishing to start an internet porn business are likely to be a net loss to the payment processing company. Why? Because chargebacks. Why chargebacks? Because chargebacks and porn go hand-in-hand for obvious reasons.

Your comparison of Dick's and Autodesk is absurd. I think we can all be sure that no "outside groups" are pressuring Autodesk to "take a politically correct stance." This Autodesk/weapon issue is nowhere near the public eye, and nowhere near the scope of politics.

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

The term is "Virtue Signaling". It has nothing to do with business. It is about making a political statement.

The CEO of Dick's admitted his decision to destroy firearms cost the company millions of dollars. He wanted to signal his specific mindset. He should be removed for not fulfilling his fiduciary responsibility to Dick's stockholders.

Chuck

 

[seanj]

Yes, porn is lucrative but I think it's reasonable to assume that success is the extreme exception rather than the rule. 999 out of 1000 applicants wishing to start an internet porn business are likely to be a net loss to the payment processing company. Why? Because chargebacks. Why chargebacks? Because chargebacks and porn go hand-in-hand for obvious reasons.

Your comparison of Dick's and Autodesk is absurd. I think we can all be sure that no "outside groups" are pressuring Autodesk to "take a politically correct stance." This Autodesk/weapon issue is nowhere near the public eye, and nowhere near the scope of politics.

I don't think the comparison is absurd. But I will leave it at that. There's no point in carrying this any further. I've never cared for arguments that go nowhere.