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
1 comment so far
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
1 comment so far
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!
