Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

[eMediaSales]

Hi Miva Merchants,

We have just published an update to our Viking Coupons module for Miva Merchant 5. If you haven't updated since last year, there's a new feature to offer a coupon for a percent off shipping, otherwise this is primarily a bug-fix release.

]
]   Copyright 2010-2011 SNH Designs LLC, www.vikingcoders.com - an eMediaSales Company
]
] Coupons
]      Version 5.029 2011/05/04
]      -fixed a bug that prevented qualifying products from properly presenting coupons
]
]      Version 5.028 2011/01/25
]      -fixed a bug in price group exclusion of coupons and display of error messages
]      -fixed AvailGroupXCustomer_Load call to Price Group DB library
]
]      Version 5.027 2010/9/9
]      -feature addition: shipping coupon method exclusion/inclusion
]
]      Version 5.026 2010/9/8
]      -feature addition: % off of shipping
]
]      Version 5.025 2010/08/26
]      -fixed bug in coupon product restriction

This is a paid update, when you go to download it you will be requested to purchase a SUS subscription via our MvtRocks.com store. The SUS price will vary by how long you've had the module, and the baseline software update subscription is currently $5/mo.

Best,
James

[Robin]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

Viking Coders...does this mean every module a store may have bought from Viking coders is now subject to a $5 per mos fee? IF I had 5 modules then you would collect $25 per mos?

[lesliekirk]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

Hi Robin - wow that's an interesting question and could be a huge dilemma. I happened to notice that a Viking Coder's module in one of the stores I maintain had an update available, so I clicked the link and went down the rabbit hole with it. The best I could figure is that it was going to cost $100 one time + $5/month ongoing. The module itself lists for $150 new. I'm now trying to figure out what to tell the store owner.

Leslie

[Robin]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

What also concerns me Leslie is the lack of response from them. See the date I posted this...still no comment until you posted today. I can't believe no one else has expressed concerns.....

I have a couple viking coder modules and will eliminate them over time. I think that if a person buys a module under 'old' plans with free updates, it should stay that way.

The MIVA developers are adding fees for every update...ok I can swallow that....but to tell me to update I have to have a subscription too???? I'd like to get that job per hour x customers......

I kept my miva store because of the ability to add modules(even after the "hey if you have mmui your stuck with it, without starting over horrors').

After almost 5yrs I am thinking of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. My ranting for the day.

[eMediaSales]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

Hi Leslie,

I'm now trying to figure out what to tell the store owner.

Leslie

What I hope you'd tell them is that over the last 5 years, significant changes have occurred in the way module vendors need to do business to stay viable. You're not required to update, this is a choice; of course if you want the new features, bug fixes, or require support, you'll need a software update subscription stay current.

Paraphrasing my longer note (available here on this topic), it used to be that module vendors could count on "upgrade" revenue as new versions of Miva Merchant are released. This is no longer the case.

Instead, you'll see that all of the major vendors are charging for updates in one way or another; I believe Sebenza charges 50% of the module price per year, Weiland $10 per update (and you have to find your original purchase invoice), and now we are charging what amounts to $60/yr. That's just about a cup of coffee a month at your local fancy coffee house.

Best,
James

[Robin]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

All that said. Interesting not to answer me b/c I suppose I am not a big timer. And your math is wrong.
R

[lesliekirk]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

Hi James,

I understand the costs involved in keeping modules up to date. I was going to use the analogy of purchasing a new OS and how updates are pushed out for free, but I know none of the module developer are Apple or Microsoft.

I hope you won't feel bad or give us too hard a time about paying a small amount to keep getting improvements on those module features

I agree and understand the need to charge a "small amount" to update a module. I suspect our definition of small will vary from person to person. I just find it curious to charge for a problem not caused by the customer.

With Bill's modules for the most part you don't have to update them every month. He has pricing tiers and coupons available all the time. If he finds a bug he notifies his customers and has provided an update for free (in the past).

Robin, my apologizes for jumping in on your thread.

Leslie

[Robin]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

"Robin, my apologizes for jumping in on your thread."

No apologies required, I am just surprised that I am the only one who appears to be voicing any thoughts on this. THANK you and I agree 100%. I pay Bill when I do updates as I need them. AND I would think if a company sold me something with 'bugs' they would take care of it. cheers...

[jsdva]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

...AND I would think if a company sold me something with 'bugs' they would take care of it.

I am also with you on this Robin and Leslie. Particularly, if there are bugs, the fix should be free. The bug is not the fault of the customer, and so they shouldn't be charged to fix it. I'll take great care to make sure my clients aren't subject to a charge like that.

[eMediaSales]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

All that said. Interesting not to answer me b/c I suppose I am not a big timer.
R

Hi Robin,

No such intentions here - I just don't always see every post on the forums.

Best,
James

[eMediaSales]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

I am also with you on this Robin and Leslie. Particularly, if there are bugs, the fix should be free. The bug is not the fault of the customer, and so they shouldn't be charged to fix it. I'll take great care to make sure my clients aren't subject to a charge like that.

Your clients are subject to it every day - if you (or your host) doesn't pay the ongoing license fee to Miva Merchant, you'll lose update privileges, which includes both bug fixes and new features. The software update subscription isn't new to the software industry, just fairly new to the world of Miva Merchant.

Minutes ago - literally - I had to purchase an update from QuickBooks 2008 to QuickBooks 2011. As of May 31, 2011, support for downloading transactions from my bank account would no longer "work" in QB 2008. Why who knows! But the point is, I didn't make it quit working but I still had to pay for the update to keep up with the latest version and to keep my accounting up to date.

[lesliekirk]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

Your clients are subject to it every day - if you (or your host) doesn't pay the ongoing license fee to Miva Merchant, you'll lose update privileges, which includes both bug fixes and new features. The software update subscription isn't new to the software industry, just fairly new to the world of Miva Merchant.

Yes, they are. And I have had quite a few ask if it's really worth continuing with Miva Merchant. Perhaps it's not. Some of these folks are just frugal and want to make sure they are getting the best value for their dollars spent. Say they have 6 VC modules, that adds an additional $30 a month to the cost of running their store. That values the cost of 6 modules at half of what it costs to host. For some, it's going to be hard for them to justify paying those costs when they could move to other platforms that include all the features they need for less than the the module subscription & hosting cost combined. I think businesses are really looking to get the biggest bang for their buck, which includes a bug free product with great customer service.


Back to analogies - Apple puts out a new OS, then provides free updates until the next version comes out, then you decide do you need the new version? I waited a couple of years before updating to Snow Leopard. Yes that's Apple and they can afford it. So I tried to figure out another analogy and my husband mentioned video games. They are constantly coming out with a new version of a game and you plop down your 60 bucks to get that new version. But they don't charge for patches. Now if you'd like some sort of add-on to that game, yes there's a cost for that. But the old games still work.

On a sidebar note, I suspect a lot of these companies that push online updates for their applications may have to start rethinking how they distribute their updates with so many ISP going to bandwidth caps. When you've got updates that are in the GB's and you're capped at 250GB you have to seriously think about that download or online backups.

Leslie

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

FWIW I don't think you're average 5.5 store would have $30 in monthly module costs and those that do would generally have special needs (which always cost more and will likely find other off the shelf solutions have their own $30 a month gotchas for their special needs as well) or are bigger stores which always cost more to operate.

What we see these days is most stores are spending sub $200 total on modules during a store build, so that would lead me to believe most are buying 2 or 3 modules per store.

Obviously we're continually adding to the core software to increase our value proposition.

In this case I think James had to make a tough call, he basically "rescued" the VC product line when he acquired it from them; including bugs, feature deficiencies and all. This was the only way he saw to make it financially viable and I suspect he's correct.

[lesliekirk]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

Understood - and many of the Viking Coder's modules have that little extra something that you can't find elsewhere.

Even with the Toolkit module, I'm still seeing sites adding 5-6 modules and many times it's at least 2 Viking Coder shipping modules (UPS & USPS) because of that little something extra that they have. Then to make those two modules really rock - add in the Shipping SuperMod - and you've got an awesome shipping trio.

Thanks James for keeping all these going!

Leslie

[nottheusual1]

Re: Viking Coupon Module v5 Update Available

This sudden need for revenue by the already pay-to-buy module developers will just push more retailers to look harder at other options.

$350 annual MIVA license plus about $500 a year in module greens fees it approaching unaffordable for many.

But, that doesn't seem to be part of the larger argument.

Please realize, though, that it's getting more difficult to overcome objections about products like osCommerce and their very open community.