So my first post and it's about a vendor... Just haven't had much to contribute, but I do on this topic. Their indicators are excellent. What you do with them is up to you. Tools don't make a master carpenter and brushes don't make an artist. I am a big believer in having good tools.
Now in terms of working with Rancho, they are draconian regarding business matters. Want to upgrade? Wait for your current term to end. Same for downgrade. Seems to be more of a back-end accounting system issue. The one thing that really ticked me off was paying $10 for a new machine ID. And decently enough a few months later after an OS change generated a new ID they were no longer charging. That's cool and the right thing to do.
Note when you buy their stuff, you're on your own. There's very little content to help apply the tools to the market. There is some attempt, but it's minimal and not very helpful. At first I found this very frustrating, but after about 9 months of using the tools I realize it's about how you personally interpret what the tools provide and the actions you take.
Just like any indicator on your chart.
As far as their technology, no complaints. Sometimes I have to restart NJ script or reload data. The playback function can yield missing bars, etc. but for the most part, I can replay markets and work live without issue.
--VSPEEDS
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Trading: The one I'm creating in the present....Index Futures mini/micro, ZF
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Nice post.
I’ve been using Rancho since 2011. Big fan of Troy. Back then $800 got me everything, lifetime. I have added his new Order Flow tools so he got some more from me.
His tools are awesome. Very solid. Beautiful to look at. Which helps. I know I can trust my tools under stress.
As far as his skills he is pretty much the best in my book. Ex-Microsoft software engineer. Knows .NET, Windows, C# and WFP and more.
But, yes, you have to have a very solid case to get Troy to add features or change something. Like finding a bug or......
I do find there is adequate documentation, though. But maybe I’m just more familiar with his stuff.
Trading: Bond Futures, ES, Options, Stocks, SPY, SPX
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I'd like to know if there are any current Acme VI users who could comment on their impression of the tool.
I've used FinAlgs MarketBalance and the Acme VI and each has their strengths and weaknesses. I prefer the Acme tool, but there are a couple of things that I find bothersome.
1. When you shift the VI chart down, long Volume columns cover the footer. I was told by their support guy this am that the indicator did this by design. I've used MarketDelta for years and, as I said Muly's MarketBalance and neither of these tools place the vol columns in front of the footer. The data always is BEHIND THE FOOTER. To design the indicator so that the data obscures the footer by design just seems odd to me.
2. There are no Session/Period Letters along the top to the footer for reference. Again the other products provide this basic information. I asked about this a few months back and was told that because different traders use different time-frames that the addition of the Periods A-N) probably wouldn't be beneficial. I referred the support chap to Dalton's book so that he could educate himself and left it at that. Again, the answer didn't make sense to me.
3. It would be nice to see Bid Vol and Ask Vol for each period.
To me it feels like the level/quality of support over the last several years has changed and not for the better. But, I'll accept the fact that maybe it's just me. As an aside, I had at least a 45 minute email exchange on the usefulness of the Period/Session letters and came away frustrated and almost certain that the support person did not know who Jim Dalton was, nor familiar with his book Mind Over Markets.
I've managed support departments and realize that not all problems are soluble, but I trained my employees on how to interact with customers who buy the products that pay the bills. Too many support personnel take the attitude of, "what is the absolute minimum that I have to do to get this eprson to go away". That's how I felt.
I have two reference points: when Troy responded to questions and now the current support guy who answers the questions. Troy was helpful to a fault, his support guy not so much.
So, I'd appreciate any feedback on the features of the Volume Impression indicator and the level of support others may have experienced. Again, maybe it's just my experience.
Thanks and sorry this is so long.
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The same experience here, support can’t help, sends ridiculous template to fill instead, if feature proposed it gets rejected immediately, pointing out to something unrelated, etc. But do you have to use them, I think native NT8 order flow charts are doing exactly the same?
I have to agree with the previous posts regarding ACME products and support. I like there products. I have not offered suggestions for product improvement. Based on my experience with technical support, I have no desire to offer suggestions. My latest issue with support really frustrated me. Seems the support guy was aware I was not following the instructions he provided correctly (which is my fault), but just keep telling me to read the instructions instead of pointing out that I was going in the wrong direction. If I knew what I was doing wrong, I wouldn't of needed technical support. That's why it is called support. I will be going in another direction going forward for software add ons.
Agreed with the previous posters.. I actually opened up a new thread on this before I realized this..
I am doing a trial of their product. The indicators seem really promising, but their support is extremely unhelpful. If anyone knows them well (from their early days), perhaps they can pass this on .. I am hearing that from other traders that I work with as well)!
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[SIZE="5"]The product provided by Rancho D. is superb-""Acme Analytics"" There are many well written help pages by Rancho on Acme site to guide one. Perhaps one may not have hand holding although -once one becomes familiar with product the questions are few and support is on limited basis available- Product is excellent! GL 2 you.
I agree that the product does look promising... and I would also agree that once someone becomes familiar with the product, the questions will be fewer..
The issue I have is that I am looking to leverage the product to trade - not spend significant time and energy to learn the product and become an expert at that.
For that, I would argue that initial hand holding would be very helpful.. RTFM is fine once you know some basics.. They may have created a better mouse trap, but if customers don't know how to set it up... ?
I would also agree with your comment that support is available on a limited basis.. 'limited' is truly LIMITED - as in barely exists - beyond referring one to the support page.
Oh.. finally, contrast the 'support' provided by RD / Acme vs. the really good ones provided by Ninja Trader or even ToS…
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Well maybe I just can't read, which is a real possibility LOL, but I do not find their help guides well written. But far worse for me was asking any questions. I have dealt with a lot of vendors over my years learning to trade. I have never had a worse experience then with their technical support guy. I have resisted the temptation to buy something from them that I liked based solely on my last experience. I am glad you are having a better experience with them than I did.
I'm sure u read well and I understand your comments- All I may share is that Acme Analytics on NT8 is an exceptional "TOOL" !!!!! -Yes it takes time and sure you will resolve this process with study-effort- Personally I have not used another although i have heard most independent chart systems require significant effort and well worth it. I am clearly NOT ""IT "" expert by any means and required much work and assistance from real computer experts. Once you accomplish the basics you will find Acme Analytics fabulous IMHO. Good luck and best to you. G-nite
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I woke up this morning loving Rancho Dinero, and then this happened -
Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory...
I've liked and used their tools and recommended them to a lot of others over the years as well. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that they really don't care about their customers AT ALL.
I purchased a product this morning. Then realized I already had what I was looking for in another product I had *already purchased* from Rancho Dinero (range VWAP in Range Volume Profile) so I immediately asked for a refund and apologized for the inconvenience. Didn't really think much about it.
Then I got the finger from support! "No refunds, read the TOS, it's a contract, blah blah blah." Ok, fair enough, that's legally correct. My bad. But it's still not the right thing to do to an existing customer. I let them know within an HOUR of my mistake.
And just so everyone knows, this came directly from Troy (eventually after several emails with 'support') who's first offer was a 'store credit' good til the end of the year. No thanks, c'mon Troy, do the right thing this is silly.
Finally he refunded $49 of the $79 purchase price. So I guess that $30 is really gonna make the difference on this month's balance sheet for Rancho Dinero. Better than nothing one could say, but I say it's still very poor handling of an honest mistake that was brought to their attention in mere minutes by an existing client. Shame on you. Don't spend it all in one place, because it's the last you'll ever see from me and anyone else I can influence. There are plenty of options from NT vendors who are reasonable and fair without a fight.
Let's be clear about this. This isn't a digital product that once you download it, they can't control its use. Rancho Dinero can just turn off the license, viola, no service, no value delivered.
Here's the email I got from Troy -
*********** Hey Wayne -
You apparently made a mistake yet expect us as a business to pay the costs because it's the right thing? Since none of this is our fault and it's not right for you to pick my pocket I've issued you a $49 partial refund against this transaction. It will be credited to your card in 3-5 business days.
The difference covers my hard costs for the license issuing, the payment processing fees for both the sale and refund, as well as support and exception accounting time.
-Troy
***********
Pick your pocket? I've run several businesses over the years, and yes, sometimes you make exceptions to show a little love to your clients Troy, even when it's their mistake. It tells them that your goal is to truly add value and provide quality service as a first principle, that it's not just nickels and noses, and that you appreciate their patronage and hope they refer friends and say nice things about you.
It leaves them will a good impression and improves your net promoter score. (How likely are you to refer a friend?)
Poor Troy, being picked on by pesky repeat customers. The time I spent getting this handled in an almost reasonable way wasn't worth it. We both lost. Thanks.
BTW - if the response had been 'Hey Wayne, Would you mind paying our actual costs for the transaction, and we'll refund the difference?' I would have HAPPILY said yes and paid it!!
So that's my direct experience with Rancho Dinero. Hope everyone finds this review informative.
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Everyone has a business model. I guess this is theirs.
Whilst they have every right to do this, it seems like a genuine honest mistake from an existing customer and a very condescending tone used in response to that mistake. The cost of issuing an NT license is about 60 seconds worth of work. As for the transaction costs, yeah I get that, it would have been fair of them to charge you that with a polite slap on the wrist IMO.
I agree, not a fabulous way to reward customer loyalty. Each to their own I guess.
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- Trade what you see. Invest in what you believe -
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Yeah, their tools are much faster than NT's. NT8's VP and profile tools are pathetic. They degrade my platform. I am running 48GB's of ram, too lazy to pop the keyboard on my Sager.
Rancho's tools are snappy and don't slow down my machine. In terms of their service, I can see how one could feel about it. However, their product is way better than NT’s. Also, if they trade and are not merely a vendor, i.e. a trader, I wouldn't mess around with requests either. Or they might have a ton of traders that are on subscribptiuton with them because they think it's the holy grail. Time is money. Ninja needs to up their game. They get all their programming done on Upwork. Their platform is user friendly but is really behind the times.
Quick feedback about Acme suite Pro package. I have been a big fan of their tools and a long time user since 2010 if i remember correctly but must admit i am very disappointed with their implementation of their tools on NT8. Their custom drawing profile tool gives frequent errors due to the fact it can't load cached data or can't load data from the server. Their footprint tool needs to have tick replay on which may slow down your CPU and is no more necessary. Fortunately, Ninjatrader provides similar tools and are much easier to use and flawless if i compare to Acme's tools. I don't recommand them anymore.
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