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Zendesk CEO calls Freshdesk a freaking rip off - Freshdesk responds

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Re: Zendesk CEO calls Freshdesk a freaking rip off - Freshdesk responds

#21
This might be a good lesson in don't feed the monster so it gets more attention.

When the big guy talks smack about a presumably smaller guy, it's because they're threatened?

Who cares if their pricing is a rip off, it's good for Zendesk if Freshdesk is a ripoff, because no one will use it. By saying and doing nothing Freshdesk could spiral into a blackhole of me never hearing about it.

Instead Zendesk put Freshdesk on it's own level by talking about it as an equal.

Zendesk used it's brand power to legitimize Freshdesk as an option just by talking about them like this.

Instead of never seeing Freshdesk, I checked out a Zendesk competitor because of Zendesk, with more than normal scrutiny. One feature I now like about Freshdesk is that it manages multiple SLA's.

P.S., I use neither Zendesk or Freshdesk.

Re: Zendesk CEO calls Freshdesk a freaking rip off - Freshdesk responds

#23
post #19

Disclaimer: I'm the founder of Helpjuice.com. We compete with Zendesk's knowledge base. This is so rude from Zendesk. In case you think someone has ripped of your product, in any way, you (as the CEO of a 30+ company with 10,000 customers) SHOULD NEVER, EVER write something like that. I'm 100% with Freshdesk on this one specifically because of the tone of Zendesk and Freshdesk. The way Mikkel responded to Freshdesk i…

It should be noted that the person who called them Indian cowboys has no relation, direct or indirect, with ZenDesk. That tweet is masterfully used by FreshDesk to stir emotions in the reader.

Re: Zendesk CEO calls Freshdesk a freaking rip off - Freshdesk responds

#25
post #20
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, this should increase the number of trials and customers for Freshdesk. It's like playing chess. Zendesk made a bad move and Freshdesk used that move to respond brilliantly.

I'm sure it will. It doesn't change my perception of them. In my opinion, anyone who thinks taking the time to create a web page for an argument or who thinks a product in the same field with a similar name is a copycat doesn't care about me, the customer. They should be spending their time improving the product, coming up with new ideas, or responding to legitimate support inquiries. Neither of these companies showe…

If we had to pick a loser here, I'd still go with Zendesk.

Re: Zendesk CEO calls Freshdesk a freaking rip off - Freshdesk responds

#27
post #24

Hey girish, Can you write a post in a week to let us know how many customers you gained from this? If you can find out how many came from ZenDesk, even better.

If you think that will help the HN community,I will. I have another post almost ready where I wanted to share my Series A fundraising experience . But then this happened!

Re: Zendesk CEO calls Freshdesk a freaking rip off - Freshdesk responds

#28
post #19

Disclaimer: I'm the founder of Helpjuice.com. We compete with Zendesk's knowledge base. This is so rude from Zendesk. In case you think someone has ripped of your product, in any way, you (as the CEO of a 30+ company with 10,000 customers) SHOULD NEVER, EVER write something like that. I'm 100% with Freshdesk on this one specifically because of the tone of Zendesk and Freshdesk. The way Mikkel responded to Freshdesk i…

> I'm 100% with Freshdesk on this one specifically because of the tone of Zendesk and Freshdesk.

Why would you decide who is right based on tone?

Why not on the validity of their argument?

Re: Zendesk CEO calls Freshdesk a freaking rip off - Freshdesk responds

#29
post #18
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, this should increase the number of trials and customers for Freshdesk. It's like playing chess. Zendesk made a bad move and Freshdesk used that move to respond brilliantly.

Nah, this is like playing chess on the wrong board. It's a waste of time and no one gets anything worthwhile accomplished.

Seriously? Creating that page just got Freshdesk on the HN homepage and hurt Zendesk's reputation very badly. That's a twofer in my book.

The fact that Zendesk is using "analyst" payola smacks of the worst practices of four quadrant research firms and enterprise software. "Want to the upper-right quadrant? Sure thing, the price will be..."

So at least in this case, it was exposed and we can properly adjust the value of all involved's reputations.

Re: Zendesk CEO calls Freshdesk a freaking rip off - Freshdesk responds

#30
post #6

Looks like I won't be using either of these products. Think of all that could have been accomplished on the product had they not been squabbling and setting up websites to argue with one another. No one comes out on top in situations like this. I think it's best to end it with something like: "I'm sorry you feel that way. We'll let the customers decide."

it's just another form of marketing. spending resources on marketing is a valid approach when you need to stand out from your competitors.

with this new campaign, they're likely to get an infusion of customers and cash, which will in turn be more beneficial to their product than the 30 minutes it must have taken them to set up the mud slinging website.

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