Wow. Quark just announced that any copy of QuarkXPress 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 registered and used in the Americas is eligible for a $199 upgrade, which includes this:
QuarkXPress 8
2-year ServicePlus membership (see below)
QuarkXPress 9 when it is released
Quark’s ServicePlus Maintenance Plan is normally reserved for companies that use five or more copies of QuarkXPress, but with this offer they’re waiving that requirement — owning just one copy gets you this deal. Its regular price is $528 per license!
ServicePlus gives you quite a few benefits, including (according to their website):
- Free Maintenance Upgrade of QuarkXPress Software, if an upgrade is released during ServicePlus term. (Quark is currently on a less-than-24-month release cycle, so your term is sure to include QuarkXPress 9!)
- On-site, two-day, GAP or transitional training for all creative staff; training days must be scheduled during enrollment period. (This may have a minimum seat requirement — be sure to ask.)
- Technical support provided through e-mail and a dedicated direct ServicePlus member phone number to Level 2 and 3 Quark technicians
- Concurrent usage of QuarkXPress 7/8
- Free replacement CDs.
- 25% discount on all Quark branded XTensions® for QuarkXPress.
Offer expires April 30 and you must use the following promotional Code: 0430QXPPROMO. (Your order must be processed by that date, and processing may take a few days — so get on it now.)
Take advantage of this offer here:
- Email Quark at serviceplus@quark.com
- Call Quark at 1.800.998.1716 (toll free)
Popularity: unranked [?]
30. March 2009 at 4:01 pm
Quite honestly, I don’t understand what all the hoopla over Quark 8 is about. I’d been using my old Quark 4.04 in a Classic format for ages without any problems or complaints at all when, 2 months ago, my entire computer system crashed and wouldn’t reboot. I had it repaired and the geeks who did so took it upon themselves to upgrade what I had to version 10.4.11.
Since 4.04 wouldn’t function under the 10.4.11 upgrade, I found myself having to spend my carefully set aside vacation money to take advantage of the offered “deal” for the new. So, instead of finally being able to meet my now 6-month old grand-daughter, I have and am using Quark 8. It’s far glitzier than the old one was, to be sure, and does a number of new things, but most of them I’ve found to be either better left to specialty programs like PhotoShop and Illustrator or are, for the most part and for most uses, so entirely unnecessary that it’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever use them at all.
All in all, I don’t see any substantial “improvements” to the package and I’m not in the slightest bit impressed by it. Frankly, I’d go back to my old workhorse version of Quark in a heartbeat if I were able to.
The way I see it, software companies continually “upgrade” their products for no other reason than to deliberately make older versions obsolete, thereby FORCING consumers to constantly re-purchase. Inasmuch as all these programs are obscenely overpriced to begin with, these companies make out like bandits. Which is what they are.
1. April 2009 at 7:25 am
Why is the American version so cheap?? For the european market we have to pay m±320 euro (±423$!!!) and you get 9 for free.
I don’t like that, when is there such an action in Europe Quark???
1. April 2009 at 10:42 am
Ferdinand: I think this is a test promotion, for only one month. If they get enough positive response, perhaps they’ll expand it to other areas.
6. April 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hi Jay – Thanks for the promotional code!
17. April 2009 at 9:47 am
this offer is not valid — was told it was for “Quark Print Collection” only, whatever that is, not QuarkXPress…
17. April 2009 at 11:31 am
Lao: you may have reached someone who doesn’t know about it. Did you try pointing them to this page, and/or asking them to ask their supervisor? This isn’t a widely-promoted special, so the individual you contacted may not know about it.
21. April 2009 at 4:12 pm
I called Quark to confirm. This offer does not guarantee Quark 9 as stated above.
If Quark 9 is released within 24 months of purchase, it is included. Otherwise, you can pay to continue your subscription.
They expect a 2-year cycle, but do not promise it.
22. April 2009 at 10:14 am
Here’s how I did the math: Quark truly is on a 24-month release cycle. Even if they miss it by 8 months, you’ll still get your QuarkXPress 9 upgrade. (Version 8 was released in July 2008.) As you said, there’s no “guarantee”, but I think it’s extremely unlikely that version 9 will be released more than 32 months after version 8. Quark can’t afford to do that.
10. February 2010 at 11:56 pm
So Quark 9 is coming out soon? That’s why they have this blowing sale of “Buy 1 license of Quark 8, we give you another one FREE”?
I’m wondering if I should wait… any news on that?
I currently own Quark 7 and have no problems with it.
24. March 2010 at 11:49 am
Ceci: I don’t know anything about their release dates… how about anyone else? Anyone? Bueller? ;-)
9. August 2010 at 5:26 pm
I agree with Arlene that the software manufacturers, including QuarkXpress, are just out to get our money. I have QuarkXpress 7.3, been using it for more than a year with no problem, and all of a sudden, I wanted to print a file and it wouldn’t print. I knew the problem was not with my printer because it prints files created in Word and Photoshop. Then when I converted a QuarkXpress file into pdf, it would not do it. I called tech support and I was told that Windows 7 does not support QuarkXpress, or is it the other way around, and that I would have to upgrade to QE 8 in order to print and create pdf. What a dirty trick on helpless consumers and especially retirees with limited income like me.