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familychoice
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« on: May 23, 2011, 11:06:30 AM » |
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Yeah I know, here he goes again breaking the internet and then crying about it.
Over the weekend I *nearly* purchased what looked like a great theme with features that would take me weeks to build - assuming I'd even be able to work out how to build them. However after a bit of testing I discovered that the main selling point of the theme, which is an area search facility, doesn't work properly. Most towns and cities I tested it with either weren't found at all, or at best it defaulted to US versions.
This isn't a cheap theme, it's nearly $200's worth, and the developers state that they don't offer refunds (sounds familiar).
I've queried it on their forum and they're 'looking into it', but it's yet another example of developers putting stuff out there that doesn't work and then trying to block anyone attempting to get a refund.
Dodgy and disappointing.
</moan>
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Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
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Charisma Bypass
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« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2011, 11:54:53 AM » |
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Offering a refund on a digital item is hardly ever done, for very obvious reasons.
Don't like that, easy answer: don't buy.
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m00min
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« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2011, 12:11:37 PM » |
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Offering a refund on a digital item is hardly ever done, for very obvious reasons.
Don't like that, easy answer: don't buy.
But for $200 I'd expect it to work. When I encounter this type of thing I consider I've bought $200 worth of pissing them off, mostly in the form of slagging off their work/company/firstborn to what ever forum/blog post I find applicable. |
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Dom
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« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2011, 12:44:05 PM » |
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Offering a refund on a digital item is hardly ever done, for very obvious reasons.
Don't like that, easy answer: don't buy.
True, but I think that if you can prove that their software doesn't work, then they should at least consider a refund if it turns out something doesn't work. Getting a refund because someone "changed their mind" is one thing, but I'm pretty sure the law would cover you if you bought it and it was faulty. I guess it might be a bit of a grey area when it came to software, though. Especially if the devs are in another country. |
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Charisma Bypass
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« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2011, 12:46:14 PM » |
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Hence why sellers of digital items need to make sure that the buyer knows precisely what they are buying and the fact there is no refund. I have turned many potential clients away due to me not liking the tone of their emails  |
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familychoice
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« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2011, 12:57:39 PM » |
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Offering a refund on a digital item is hardly ever done, for very obvious reasons.
Don't like that, easy answer: don't buy.
That's not an easy answer if you don't know the question, and I don't see why software companies should feel they're immune to trading laws just because they haven't put piracy protection into their products. If it wasn't for a fact that I'm a bit of a Theo Paphitis (he that rips off handles in Dragon Den in the name of usability testing) and have already been ripped off twice from previous Premium Theme purchases, that I gave the theme a thorough testing before buying it and avoided spending $200 on something that doesn't work. I just wish the developers had gone to the same amount of effort before putting it up for sale. Hence why sellers of digital items need to make sure that the buyer knows precisely what they are buying and the fact there is no refund.
I'd appreciate it if they could ensure their products work, too, before I invest my hard earned cash on them. |
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« Last Edit: May 23, 2011, 01:00:54 PM by familychoice »
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Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
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Jem
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« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2011, 01:19:52 PM » |
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Have you tried some of the more mainstream theming sites? elegant themes / woothemes etc? They have quality control, support etc
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oi.
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familychoice
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« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2011, 01:48:46 PM » |
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Have you tried some of the more mainstream theming sites? elegant themes / woothemes etc? They have quality control, support etc
Yeah, I've had problems with Themeforest and this one's from another well known theme company. It's not for a clients site but for one of my own projects so not the end of the world, but it concerns me that companies aren't testing their products properly. |
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Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
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Jem
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« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2011, 02:03:59 PM » |
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Elegant Themes / Woothemes are worlds apart from Themeforest  |
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oi.
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Dom
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« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2011, 02:37:09 PM » |
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suedenem
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« Reply #10 on: May 27, 2011, 10:02:27 AM » |
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Yeah I know, here he goes again breaking the internet and then crying about it.
Over the weekend I *nearly* purchased what looked like a great theme with features that would take me weeks to build - assuming I'd even be able to work out how to build them. However after a bit of testing I discovered that the main selling point of the theme, which is an area search facility, doesn't work properly. Most towns and cities I tested it with either weren't found at all, or at best it defaulted to US versions.
This isn't a cheap theme, it's nearly $200's worth, and the developers state that they don't offer refunds (sounds familiar).
I've queried it on their forum and they're 'looking into it', but it's yet another example of developers putting stuff out there that doesn't work and then trying to block anyone attempting to get a refund.
Dodgy and disappointing.
</moan>
You see, I'd suggest that $200 *is* a cheap theme, insofar as it could cut a significant chunk of development out of something that would take "weeks to build". It's the equivalent of 2 or 3 hours of billable time. TBH, I wouldn't necessarily expect a theme to be tested in every international territory. Assuming it's a US-based company (or South African company aiming at the US market, if you're on about Wootheme's city or 'real estate' themes), it's not surprising that it's optimised for the US markets. In fact, kudos should surely go to the company for saying they'll look into it. They're providing a product, not a service, so there's no obligation as such. You've done your product research and decided it isn't for you. Why feel the need to moan about it? Incidentally, many theme companies release their themes under the GPL. If you think it'll give you a head-start on a project, why not source it from elsewhere and give it a more thorough evaluation? |
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So this SEO copywriter walks into a bar, grill, pub, public house, Irish bar, bartender, drinks, beer, wine, liquor...
Beware my weird, cross-dressing comment's; they are pretty standard examples of trolling.
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familychoice
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« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2011, 11:44:46 AM » |
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You see, I'd suggest that $200 *is* a cheap theme, insofar as it could cut a significant chunk of development out of something that would take "weeks to build". It's the equivalent of 2 or 3 hours of billable time.
I agree, it's worth buying if it's for a clients website and provides a good chunk of the development work that would have had to be done (assuming the location issue can be fixed).
You've done your product research and decided it isn't for you. Why feel the need to moan about it?
My moan is about companies releasing products that don't work as advertised. Regardless of how much time it'll save someone using it as a base for development work, there will be customers purchasing the theme who will be expecting it to work out of the box as advertised and who have no coding skills or budget to get it fixed up and working as it should. If they haven't tested the search feature as thoroughly as I have then the first thing they'll know about it is when their customers, who've paid to advertise on the site, start complaining that their ads aren't being found and demand their money back. They eventually checked out the issue and their response is that it's 'Googles fault' and they can't fix it. It's not Googles fault, it's bad design and so they either need to cut the price and note the limitations on their feature list or fix it by adding more options to the search feature. They've done neither and are still selling it worldwide at the full price. There's a members-only forum for customers, and non-members can view initial posts and threads, but not the answers, and I've seen a whole range of complaints on there about it's lack of functionality. Incidentally, many theme companies release their themes under the GPL. If you think it'll give you a head-start on a project, why not source it from elsewhere and give it a more thorough evaluation?
I don't think it's available anywhere else, but if it was it'd be useful to see how long it'd take to fix. |
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Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
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Haze
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« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2011, 10:46:47 AM » |
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Following on from this I wondered whether anyone had any experience of other Wordpress sites, which did offer good product support via forums or otherwise?
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sarahA
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« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2011, 01:05:01 PM » |
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Following on from this I wondered whether anyone had any experience of other Wordpress sites, which did offer good product support via forums or otherwise?
Elegant Themes / Woothemes are worlds apart from Themeforest |
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familychoice
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« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2011, 01:21:46 PM » |
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I should amend this thread really - Appthemes are pretty good, and some of the members on their community forum have been exceptionally helpful.
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Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
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sarahA
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« Reply #16 on: July 11, 2011, 09:33:33 PM » |
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