Blackthorne Software Discussion Forum: Seller's Assistant Release: Looking for serious Beta testers for SA Basic

By John Slocum (jslocum) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 02:53 pm:

I am currently looking for 20 beta testers for the new Seller's Assistant Basic. We are trying to release as quickly as possible, so I need beta testers who are willing to spend some time with the program in the near future. I would also prefer to use current AA Classic customers for this beta. If you are interested, please email [email protected] and I will send you the beta invitation.

Thanks,

John

By Edward G. Martin on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 02:56 pm:

Boy.... now this really takes BRASS KA-HO-NEES!
I wonder if there are even 20 people left in your entire user base that would jump on this train today after the announcement you just dropped on us.

By John Slocum (jslocum) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 03:04 pm:

Edward,

We are being very tolerant by allowing disgruntled users to post anything they want to this board. Please show the same courtesy to those who are trying to use the board as it is intended. I think you would be surprised how many users there are out there that are looking forward to the new versions.

John

By Carl W on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 03:17 pm:

Hi John,

I would agree that many users are looking forward to the new versions. However ALL users thought they had already paid for them.

Black-Eyed Carl

By Edward G. Martin on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 03:21 pm:

John,

I totally expect you to yank the plug at any moment on us "disgruntled users", this should be evident by my "wanted" post. I have read all of the messages, I have practically lived on the board since yesterday... and it is VERY evident that those "looking forward" to the "new" version are far and above out-weighted by the majority of us how are totally appalled by what you have done.
As for your assessment and qualification of the degree of my courtesy in the above statement; I consider that a complement coming from you.. seeing how courteous you have been to all of us. There is nothing in my statement that "crosses the line" of acceptable communication, in my opinion. I'm angry, like most people here who feel that you have sold us out. And I, for one, will NEVER pay "rental" fees for software. I will count it as a loss and never use it or Ebay again, if it comes to that. I wish that I had never even heard of Blackthorne software and "Auction Assistant" at this point. But if you read ALL of my posts to the forums within, I'm sure that you must agree that I have tempered my statements (and anger) to a great degree. What you are doing is WRONG John.. You have betrayed and sold out a lot of people with you current actions. I wonder if and how you can feel good about that?

By Alan Kenyon (alan) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 04:48 pm:

These messages are getting a little crazy now.

Why on earth is everybody giving John so much grief? Did all of you so called 'disgruntled' users really expect to be supplied with program upgrades forever and a day and at NO CHARGE!!. I for one certainly didn't. I run a multitude of different programs on various PC's and more often than not upgrade them to the latest versions when they are released. However, I neither expect or get FREE upgrades - they have to be paid for.
Alternatively, as with accounting software, I have the option to pay a yearly fee for support for that programme which then includes any upgrades at no additional charge. If I don't choose to take out the support option, I then have to pay for any upgrades. This is normally a necessity due to tax and other legal changes that the UK authorities thrust on us from time to time.

My point is that the new API programme is a major programme release and anybody that thinks it should be free are living in cloud cuckoo land (a bit of UK slang!).
I too paid the $200.00 for AAPRO and also the cost of AA Classic before that. In fact, I was quite possibly one of John's first customers. However, the programmes have paid for themselves over and over. The thought of paying $15.99 a month after a year (for existing customers) doesn't bother me one bit. In fact, I consider the deal that is on the table as exceptionally good. Also, as far as I am aware, I paid for AA Pro Version 1.26. Version 1.27 has always been a Beta which is used through choice and has never been a version that could be purchased. I use 1.27 but only Beta 20 because I couldn't get on with the changes to the email side of the correspondence studio. However, that was my choice and one of the minor drawbacks of running Beta software.

I for one am looking forward to trying this new programme and I would guess that most of the 'disgruntled' are as well. Time will tell I guess.
And I thought that we Brits were a bunch of moaners!!!

Alan

By TCuster on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 05:10 pm:

I fully agree. We all, for the most part, did get what we paid for. A program that is 99% bug free (if M$ could achieve that) that makes us money until progress renders it unuseable. This is a fact of life in all of the computing world.

Nowhere, in all of reality, is there any software program that gives you free updates for life...you complainers on that point are pure loopy.

By a former customer on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 05:16 pm:

Alan,

When someone sells something and says the upgrades are free for life. It usally means for life! Not until they change their mind, or a better deal comes along. John should have made EBAY give the owners of AAPRO a free ride for life!

Because by buying the software, the seller and the buyer ( me ) made a contract. I agreed to pay the price for the software. John agreed to give us free upgrades to the software.

John has basically broken that contract with us his customers.

Somehow I think a law has been broken here!

By Alan Kenyon (alan) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 05:42 pm:

But the life of what?. Your life, the life of the that version of software or the life of Ebay?.

There used to be an advert running on UK TV for Scotch VideoTapes (not sure if was on US TV), but the bottom line of the ad was that Scotch Tapes would last for life. I often wondered which way to take that. Did it mean that the tape would last all of my life or did it mean the life of the tape?

You get what you pay for in this world. You have had free upgrades and we are being offered another major programme upgrade that we can use or try for a year with no additional cost. Not a bad deal in my books!.

Alan

By John Slocum (jslocum) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 06:09 pm:

For the record, we have never promised free upgrades for life. Our policy has always been that minor and intermediate upgrades will be free, but we reserved the right to charge for major upgrades. I have always believed that anyone promising free upgrades for life does not plan to live long. No reputable software company I know promises this.

John

By Alan Kenyon (alan) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 06:40 pm:

John

I was a little hesitant to mention that I had never read anywhere about free upgrades for life.
But, I guess that some people expect you to carry on writing software and just give it to all and sundry with no return.
Not a good way to run a business!!

Keep up the good work John. There are a lot of us out there that appreciate everything that you do. I for one am looking forward to the new program.

Alan

By Virginia E. Neill (sewcollect) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 07:55 pm:

Dear Alan Kenyon,

This is not the UK, this is the USA!!! FREE and CAPITALIST. Where a contract is a contract! There is a HUGE difference between paying for a major upgrade and paying a monthly fee to use what you already own per prior CONTRACT. Inhabitants of other parts of the world are used to turning over and exposing their underbellies to the "Powers that be" , but that is not the American way. We were promised something, and we expect John to keep that promise. Make no mistake, we will gladly use the courts to enforce it. A monthly fee was never part of the contract, and a unilateral change of this type is DEFINITELY not allowed by the UCC.

By Dan DeArmond (castingold) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 09:34 pm:

I don't expect free upgrades... I do however expect what I paid for to function....which will soon cease! AND... I expect to be given the CHOICE to either use what I have... or upgrade. I DO NOT expect or appreciate being used as a rug!

John, test the software yourself! I predict you will have some time on your hands!

By Rodel Treggiari (radio) on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 01:53 pm:

John Slocomb writes "No reputable software company I know promises this."

Clearly, this explains why YOU DID PROMISE us !

Go back to your yacht !

By Rodel Treggiari (radio) on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 02:02 pm:

What's more, John, you have not provided me with ANY bug fix, major, or minor upgrade WHATSOEVER since the day eBay bought you out. The daily check for upgrades has become JOKE. Every auction I list is an exercize in INCONVENIENCE due to your lack of responsibility in keeping up with eBay's changes. You know GODDAMN well this is true.

By Blackthorne Tech Support (help) on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 03:06 pm:

Please refrain from using profanity on our boards.
Thank you.
Blackthorne Software

By Michael Jay O'Neal (mjoneal) on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 10:42 pm:

I am testing the new classic version. Yes it is a major upgrade. As I told John I'm not trilled about paying a monthly fee but I don't know of any software company that can continue to give free upgrades for life. I am glad that John is staying on. Now that would be something to get upset about. You will get the new version free for a year. Wait till you see the new version before you make up your minds. We have found a few bugs but over all I am very impressed you will not believe how fast the listing stage goes.

By Connie Bonczek (bonz) on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 11:50 pm:

I am also testing the new classic version. It certainly is a major upgrade. As Michael stated above, the listing stage is very fast....exactly what I have been hoping for! I am not happy about the fees either. But after seeing the new version, I feel it will be worth $5 a month to me. Though I would like to see name & address in 1 block to make copy/paste much easier.

Nice work John!