Network Solutions Ecommerce Package continues to be a poor choice July 22, 2011
Posted by zzsutton in CommerceSpace, E-Commerce, Monster Commerce, Network Solutions, nsCommerceSpace.Tags: CommerceSpace, E-Commerce, eCommerce, Network Solutions, NS CommerceSpace
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We’re getting close to simply pulling the plug on our eCommerce business. Network Solutions Ecommerce package, CommerceSpace (TM) continues to have major functional flaws (i.e., previously identified problems have largely not been addressed), limited support hours make support problematic, the actual monthly cost of our package is about 500% of what appears to be advertised on the site. We would move to a different provider, but Network Solutions’ CommerceSpace (TM) package fails to provide any reasonable FTP or other access to be able to download what is our property hosted on Network Solutions’ servers.
I certainly would not choose Network Solutions’ for any future e-commerce solution.
nsCommerceSpace – an update to our experiences August 25, 2010
Posted by zzsutton in E-Commerce, Monster Commerce, Network Solutions, nsCommerceSpace.Tags: E-Commerce, eommerce, Network Solutions, nsCommerceSpace
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It’s been a while since I’ve posted what’s been going on, so I thought I would give an update on our experiences with our eCommerce website and our (forced) migration to Network Solutions new eCommerce package, which apparently goes by the name nsCommerceSpace.
There is both good and bad news.
The good news: we did eventually migrate, and there are now work-arounds for the major deficiencies we saw in the newer version of nsCommerceSpace. Also, the cost of the new version is lower so that it is not so uncompetitive in the market. Generally, the user interface is better (although very inconsistent across different back-end functions).
The bad news: far and away the worst news is the drop in our Page Rank. Under the old version, our PR was 4, under the new version our PR is O. Of course, we cannot be positive the migration is the cause, but we cannot see any other reason for the drop, as the site remains much the same except for specific products being added or deleted. Also, the timing of the PR drop corresponded exactly to the migration. There was a concomitant significant drop in orders.
I’m still quite frustrated that Network Solutions refuses to admit that fundamental design issues or usability issues are defects (bugs), which need to be fixed. Their view is that the product is fine so long as it is working as designed, even if the as-designed functionality or interface is deficient or actively does not meet the needs of their customers. Without going into great detail, the obvious examples have been mentioned before (and remain unrepaired). We are a drop-ship seller, and nsCommerceSpace inappropriately forces us to bastardized the manufacturer and warehouse entities in the system to accomplish what used to be available simply within manufacturers. Similarly, eliminating simple variants (like color: red, blue, or green) and forcing a MUCH more complex form of variants or the use of functionally incomplete personalizations on us has significantly and negatively impacted our productivity.
So, we’ve stuck with Network Solutions’ nsCommerceSpace, primarily because of the prohibitive cost of moving our site to another platform. While that choice did not shut us down instantly, which we had feared for a while, the drop in PR and traffic will likely have that effect in the longer term.
If you are looking for a new eCommerce package, I would suggest choosing a different package than Network Solutions’ nsCommerceSpace.
Update on our experience with Network Solutions’ nsCommerceSpace (TM) August 16, 2009
Posted by zzsutton in E-Commerce, Monster Commerce, Network Solutions, nsCommerceSpace.Tags: Baby Mine Store, E-Commerce, Network Solutions Pro E-Commerce, nsCommerceSpace, Pro E-Commerce, pro ecommerce
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We have decided to attempt to move our store (Baby Mine Store) to Network Solutions’ Version 7 of their ecommerce package (now renamed nsCommerceSpace). Apparently nsCommerceSpace has been enhanced such that it will now be capable of supporting Baby Mine Store. Of course, the proof will be “in the pudding.”
Our move to nsCommerceSpace is scheduled to begin on 9/28/09. In the end, we made this choice for several reasons. First, as a Monster Commerce (which was purchased by Network Solutions) customer, Network Solutions provides a migration path to Version 7 that hopefully will be cheaper than moving to a competitor. Also, Network Solutions substantially overcharges for the older version and has not provided any real support for at least 3 years.
I will say that the Network Solutions team has promised significant help in this migration, for which we are grateful.
We decided the time had come; one way or another, we have to get off the old version of nsCommerceSpace to reduce our cost and have a supported product. Either we will succeed with the transition to nsCommerceSpace Version 7 or we will determine we cannot do so (in which case we will either be forced to shut down our store or pay $10K+ for migration to a different platform).
I will continue to post updates throughout the migration process to memorialize both the migration itself and our continuing assessment of the nsCommerceSpace Version 7 product.
The Search for Medicare Prescription Drug Insurance February 25, 2009
Posted by zzsutton in Medicare, Medicare Drug Plans.Tags: Medicare, Medicare Drug Plan
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Why is it so easy to get very high level information about prescription drug coverage to go with medicare and so difficult to get specifics? Who knows what happens if your pharmacy sells generics at less than your copay? Unfortunately, the sales people are trained to make sales, but they are terrible at answering specific questions. The Medicare site gives the plans “star” ratings on a number of dimensions, but none of them do very well.
More updates to come…
Lipitor Discount Card February 16, 2009
Posted by zzsutton in Medicare, Medicare Drug Plans.Tags: Lipitor, Medicare
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Not really on the other subjects in this blog, but my pharmacist told me a couple of months ago about a discount program offered by Pfizer at the Lipitor website.
Pfizer covers part of your copay ($15 per month, in my case). Unfortunately, the discount stops when I (or anyone) makes it to Medicare. I wish my pharmacist had told me about this much earler.
New Micro Blog on Travour.com to share travel experiences February 14, 2009
Posted by zzsutton in Blog, travel, Travel Planning.Tags: travel, travel planning, Travour
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Travour.com now has a micro blogging facility to allow and encourage travellers to share their experiences and profit from the experiences and knowledge of others using the site. Check it out at http://shout.travour.com.
I note that there is also a Travour community building on Twitter.
Further Developments with Network Solutions’ E-Commerce Pro November 19, 2008
Posted by zzsutton in E-Commerce, Monster Commerce, Network Solutions, Shopping Cart.Tags: ecommerce packages, Network Solutions Pro E-Commerce, Network Solutons, Pro E-Commerce
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I sent another email to Network Solutions asking for a commitment to provide our required features and functionality which were in the older version–but not the newest version–of Network Solutions’ Pro E-Commerce package. I sent that email to the Pro E-Commerce Product Manager, and I copied Roy Dunbar, Network Solutions’ CEO. My experience is that I get a response of some kind when I copy Mr. Dunbar, so I do believe he is listening, although it is not clear that he is aware of the magnitude of the problem.
This time, I got a response from Ntoh Etta who, it appears, may be taking over the E-Commerce business initiative at Network Solutions. Ultimately, this resulted in a conference call among Mr. Etta, the Product Manager (J. D. Pohlman), and myself.
Mr. Etta and Mr. Pohlman acknowledged the main problem that prevents us from using the new version of Network Solution (that significant functionality associated with dealing with manufacturers was in the previous version, but not the current version, of Pro E-Commerce), but I still did not get a firm commitment that the problem would be fixed.
I was told that I could continue using the older version of the Pro E-Commerce software as long as I wished. Since I had previously been told that same fact in a longer sentence that also contained the phrase, “but all support of the product will stop,” I asked about continued support and about the fact that the monthly price of the old software ($700+ for us) appears to be 2 to 3 times more than competitive packages.
I don’t believe any commitment was made to continue support of Version 4 of Pro E-Commerce or to make it price competitive. In any case, constructive support (for example, fixing even critical and serious bugs) ended a couple of years ago; the only support in recent history has been answering, “how do I…” questions.
I’m encouraged by the fact that Mr. Etta’s responded at all, but I don’t see that any net new commitment to actually solve any of the problems came out of the discussion.
Time will tell…
Google me this… November 6, 2008
Posted by zzsutton in Google.Tags: AdSense, AdWords, Google
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I have a multi-faceted relationship with Google.
I use many Google products. I’m a Google stockholder. I’m a Google publisher (of AdSense ads)–likely bigger than most. I’m a purchaser of Google AdWords. So, in two different ways, I’m a revenue source for Google.
Given all of that, I’m enormously frustrated with Google. I’m frustrated with the nearly total lack of communication with Google, the unpredictability of revenue streams from Google, and I’m frustrated that my Google stock could be worth so much more if Google behaved maturely rather than as a self-centered, egotistical teenager.
Like many others, I’ve found my Google revenue stream completely unpredictable. I’ve had revenues decline by 90% for no apparent reason, stay there for a month or so, and then return to their previous levels. Google provides no help or guidance as to why such an event occurs or how to deal with it.
The Google products (desktop search, etc.) are great ideas that are incredibly unreliable and which have a fatally broken support mechanism. I’ve given up using most of these products because they simply don’t work.
So Google, please start behaving more like a real business so that my Google stock goes up and my frustration level from working with you goes down!
