14 replies to this topic

[rrinker]

Our client recently upgraded to SiteLink 5.0 and this, naturally, has now broken my program that pulled the SiteLink data for sending to their Amazon store.
First change was simple, but SO completely stupid - the data directory changed from sitelink/data to sitelink/sentdata. A completely MEANINGLESS change, why do something like this? Sorry, I write programs for a living and my clients would fire me if I did thing like Dydacomp so I get a bit incensed...
So I made that change in my program, figured everything would be OK now. But the client calls me back, shows me the screen - a bunch of gibberish. Pop into DBUWIN - GREAT, now they are encrypting the description fields. I found a message to this on Yahoo, the IDIOTIC excuse give was something about 'speeding up the upload.' RIGHT! The encrypted version is more than 2x the number of bytes as the plain text, so you'd need a better than 2:1 compression to even EQUAL the speed.

So - has anyone figured out the algorithm used here, so I can fix my program and get back on track?

This kind of thing is unconscionable. Oh wait, I'll bet Dydacomp has a $$$ add-on that shows me how to read the data, right?




--Randy

[rrinker]

They now have their OWN Amazon order import/export module which is a $995 add-on.
Catch-22. If you were doing your own thing in addition to Sitelink, don't upgrade. But if you don't upgrade, good luck getting search engine visibility.

--Randy

[notehead]

The encryption issue is a real thorn in my side as well. I have import routines through MSAccess which allow me to add 100's of items and all of the web information in a few minutes as opposed to hours/days with thier interface. Now I am relegated to doing part with my routines and too much with thier interface. I have asked for the decryption algorythm but they have said that it's proprietary and they will not part with it. I have offered to sign a non disclosure aggreement to get passed this but again, they are unwilling.

The real issue for them is 3rd party hosting. They put this in place when they were loosing site link customers to 3rd party hosts. Now if you use a 3rd party host you have to have your web data outside of MOM.

nh

[noblenull]

Now if you use a 3rd party host you have to have your web data outside of MOM.

If the reason you are using a third party host is to have more flexability, better performace, quicker updates, enhanced SEO, more uptime, (the list goes on and on) then it probably isn't a terrible idea to store this data outside of MOM.

Sure it isn't as easy as clicking on the SiteLink tab within MOM to update your web descriptions, but the SiteLink interface is terrible in my opinion. If you stored this information on your own, you wouldn't be confined to 4 description fields, 1 image, 1 upsell/cross sell, etc. If you are going through the hassle of designing your own website, why not design your own web manager that can support more complex operations?

Just my thoughts.....

[SiteLINKTeam]

Hello noblenull,

I'd like to reply to your assertion that other third-party solutions can offer a better service than SiteLINK.

"more flexibility"
==> Since SiteLINK is the ONLY eCommerce store designed by Dydacomp specifically for M.O.M., it is the only shopping cart software that offers true 2-way integration.

Therefore, SiteLINK offers the ability to modify your store tremendously through custom design or custom programming to offer almost any concevable design or feature while maintaining it's unique 2-way integration with MOM. Other eCommerce software may say they are flexible, but either their custom features don't work with M.O.M. or they will charge you an arm and a leg to make the modifications to have them work with M.O.M.

SiteLINK is designed with Flexibility in mind. You can modify the layout yourself, hire a third=party designer, or you can have our design team create a custom design specifically for your site.

There is no limit to the features or the design possibilities you can have for your site.


"better performance"
==> I'm not sure specifically what this refers to, but SiteLINK stores offer excellent speed and response rate, and the feature set is unmatched in the industry. You'll have a hard time finding a better performing eCommerce software out in the market.

"quicker updates"
==> The only quicker updates possible would be "real-time" integration, and that is only possible when the eCommerce store and back-end system are on the same server or network. This isn't the case with 99.999% of the eCommerce stores on the web.

Currently SiteLINK offers a 1-click order retrieval and store updating system. This system uses a secure XML data stream that gets your orders from SiteLINK into MOM and them publishes your updates to the web store. Just click the button and your site it updated. What's easier than that?

However, coming soon, SiteLINK will offer an automated upload/download feature that will give your SiteLINK store near-real-time integration. Your MOM system and your SiteLINK store will "talk" to each other on a scheduled period of time without the need to click anything. No other system offers this level of integration with your website (expect those few that have everything hosted on the same network).

We're working on that now and expect it out before the holiday season.

"enhanced SEO"
==> SiteLINK has many features built in specifically for SEO, and the results have been tremendously positive. SiteLINK has a built in Google Sitemap Generator, a Froogle data feed, Meta Tag generators for each product and department, breadcrumb navigation, and many other SEO specific feature. Many SiteLINK stores have thousands of pages indexed on Google.

"more uptime"
==> SiteLINK stores have tremendous uptime. We have 2 battery backup units for our server room, a gas-powered generator for extended power outages, on-server monitoring programs, off-site monitoring programs, and 24/7 tech support. All of these details insure that our SiteLINK stores have the best level of up-time possible.

We've worked very hard over the years to build a first-rate eCommerce software and hosting service for our SiteLINK customers. We're continually looking at ways to improve our product from every area and will continue to offer additional services and enhanced features for SiteLINK and M.O.M.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns about SiteLINK or our hosting facility, or if you are interested in finding out more about what's in store for the future of SiteLINK.

Sincerely,

Neal Wexler
Director of SiteLINK Sales
Dydacomp Development Corp.
800-858-3666 x260
[email protected]
http://www.dydacomp.com
http://www.dydacomp.com/sitelink
SiteLINK Support: 973-774-4100
SiteLINK 24/7: 973-641-0901

[SiteLINKTeam]

Hello longtimemomcaptive,

I'm sorry to hear about your frustrations. I'm sure that your MOM Account Rep would be interested in hearing about your issues so that we can work together to improve your experiences with using MOM.

Dydacomp is always open to hearing from our customers, whether the feedback is positive, negative, or constructive. We strive to build strong, positive relationships with our users, and if there is any way that we haven't met your expectations, we want to hear about it, so that we can do something about it.

What I'd like to add is that no company or product is perfect. At Dydacomp we believe in building great products, while offering very high levels of customer service and support. If there are times we fall short of our high standards, or don't meet our customers expectations, we want to know about it so that we can rectify the situation. However, I speak with many MOM and SiteLINK users every day that say we're not only meeting their expectations, we surpass them.

Getting back to the SiteLINK issue for a moment. When was the last time you investigated SiteLINK? The older versions of SiteLINK were not as sophisticated, however since releasing SiteLINK 5.0 in January, I'd say that our current product is as good or better than any of the other eCommerce programs on the market.

We have SiteLINK stores with every conceivable design layout and feature available. If you're interested in viewing some SiteLINK stores together, please feel free to contact me and I can put together an online demo.

The daily MOM updates are usually just for customer specific changes, so you do not need to download every single one. For additional functionality and features, these enhancements are detailed in the "readme.htm" file found in the same page as the program update. This file details every change made to the system not including customer specific changes. We also send out an email when a there is a mid-version release that every customer should download. For example, if UPS adds additional options, we have to include them with a MOM update. An email would be sent out to MOM customers letting them know of this update.

I would recommend reading the "readme.htm" file once a month or so, just to see if you want or need any of the updates, but besides that, you don't really need to check every single day.

Sincerely,

Neal Wexler
Director of SiteLINK Sales
Dydacomp Development Corp.
800-858-3666 x260
[email protected]
http://www.dydacomp.com
http://www.dydacomp.com/sitelink
SiteLINK Support: 973-774-4100
SiteLINK 24/7: 973-641-0901

[notehead]

Let users have access to thier data directly. Loose the encryption or give users the key to access it. I am familiar with many business systems all larger and far more sophisticated and expensive. None, I repeat NONE have encrypted my data with the exception of credit card information. All make thier algorythms available so that users and developers can access THIER data.

I understand that you would like to protect your market share and prevent your customers leaving in droves for third party e-commerce solutions but if you offer a quality product then you don't really have to worry about that do you? Forcing people to use your solution in this way is pretty poor.

The stock argument that you serve up regarding all the benefits to the customers in the enhancements that encryption provides is hogwash and anyone who has the slightest understanding of data understands that. If it were true there would be alot more encryption in all of the Sitelink related tables but there ain't. This is simply as previously stated, an exercise in greed.

When I approaced Dydacomp for access to the key they were unwillining to part with it. When I suggested that I would crack anyway and they could just save me some time I was threatened with the EULA and told that I would be sued. I wonder which court in the land would uphold a suit like that?

You would think after a rant like that I'd feel better....I don't....

[JackHorner]

The encryption issue is a real thorn in my side as well. I have import routines through MSAccess which allow me to add 100's of items and all of the web information in a few minutes as opposed to hours/days with thier interface. Now I am relegated to doing part with my routines and too much with thier interface. I have asked for the decryption algorythm but they have said that it's proprietary and they will not part with it. I have offered to sign a non disclosure aggreement to get passed this but again, they are unwilling.

The real issue for them is 3rd party hosting. They put this in place when they were loosing site link customers to 3rd party hosts. Now if you use a 3rd party host you have to have your web data outside of MOM.

nh

God, people! I can't believe you're not sreaming about/at these Dydacomp folks. They're treating you like chumps!

Say you aren't happy with Authorize.net as your provider for whatever reason, and they won't support anything else, then you will need to move your data to another business software package, right?

If they won't then give you *ALL* of your data without squeezing another $50,000 out of you first, then they seem to be putting themselves in a risky legal position. As I last heard from anyone knowledgeable about this topic, that is roughly the actual cost they were asking before you could have your encrypted data back. Is this not extortion?

[Andre]

Sitelink Team,

You have some nerve. I have had the same problem and it has taken you months to come up with a semi fix.
I have other issues that I have given up on.

Where do you get off with this bullshit. You are a bunch of incompetent employees working for what has now become a has been company that can�t get anything done. I will watch your slow death. Perhaps you guys are believing your own bullshit. Take it from me, in it's current state MOM SUCKS and your employees suck even more. Just a matter of time. "Arrogance usually comes before the fall"

Don�t get me started with my list of all your features that do not work and your inability to fix them.

Hey Louis Evangelist, I am still waiting for a quote on that custom work. As a matter of fact it has been 2 months. Please hurry I have not left my desk or eaten and now I need to go to the bathroom. Since it is so important for my business I will be waiting right here for your call, holding my bowel movement.

Dydacomp employees If any of you had any pride you would not come anywhere near this board.

Seriously folks if you care about your business you won�t come near this software.
You can�t bullshit me I have a MOM user for 15 years. If you want all the reasons not to come anywhere near this software give me a call 800-230-5955

Neal Wexler "CHUMP" give me call or I'll come to your office. I am only 15 minutes away. We will have a heart to heart, face to face on how your company has hurt my company and my sales. How can you sell this crap with a straight face ?

Anyone out there that wants to file legal action against Dydacomp give me a call. Class action will work for me. I have pages and pages of documentation and tons of audio recordings. "Yes it's legal to record someone without their knowledge in the state of NJ". Here is my number again 800-230-5955. PUT UP or SHUT UP.

Hey Mike Scheister "sorry if i did not spell your name right" I really like how you think you are to good to return my phone calls. Wait are you an employee getting a paycheck ? LOOSER !

Anyone have anything to say come and say it to my face. I am here 9 to 5. My address is 436 Getty Ave Clifton, NJ. Or I can come and meet you or I can come to your place of work and meet you in the parking lot. "WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT"
Here is my cell 201-362-5486 just in case you get the itch after hours.

Andre
LIC #2971
15 year MOM �Mail Order Mismanagement� user.

[dseibold]

We've been using MOM for 11 or 12 years and basically like the program. We have always had a service contract which we rarely used. We have our pet peeves but we have always created work-arounds to get the program to be functional for us. We use extensive MS Access programming to obtain reports to help us run our business.

Then came MOM 6 with its FoxPro container system that is unreadable in MS Access. We bought MOM 6 and it is still sitting on the shelf unused.

We have considered moving to the SQL version which would put the data into an accessible format. But if MOM is encrypting data that belongs to us for whatever reasons they may have, we will be unable to pursue that upgrade.

This is the final nail in the coffin for us. No matter how much we like to use MOM and hate the idea of transferring our data to another software, we are forced to look for our future. If we lose access to our data, we lose our ability to compete in the marketplace.

I don't know how long it will be before we switch, but our software selection team has been formed to begin the process.

Dydacomp, any chance you will reverse your direction so we can stay with you?

[Barney Stone]

If you are looking for a new order management software vendor, please give Stone Edge Technologies a look. I think you will find that the experience is quite different. The Stone Edge Order Manager is written in MS Access and VBA, and the vast majority of the code is supplied uncompiled. There are even tools for hooking in custom functions and re-importing custom code, forms, reports, etc. after installing a new version of the program. Data is stored in Access or SQL Server, and with the exception of credit card data and passwords, is un-encrypted and available to other systems. We are a smaller company than Dydacomp, but have about 2,000 merchants using our software, including 11 of this year's Internet Retailer Top 500 (Dydacomp only has 6, OrderMotion has 4). Our Knowledge Base, Users Guide and User Forum are all open to the public. You can get to them from our main Support page. Or give us a call at 610-994-3699 to discuss what we can do for you. (My apologies to anyone who is offended by this admittedly commercial but relevent to the conversation post.)

Barney Stone, President
Stone Edge Technologies, Inc.
www.StoneEdge.com

[dseibold]

If you are looking for a new order management software vendor, please give Stone Edge Technologies a look. I think you will find that the experience is quite different. The Stone Edge Order Manager is written in MS Access and VBA, and the vast majority of the code is supplied uncompiled. There are even tools for hooking in custom functions and re-importing custom code, forms, reports, etc. after installing a new version of the program. Data is stored in Access or SQL Server, and with the exception of credit card data and passwords, is un-encrypted and available to other systems. We are a smaller company than Dydacomp, but have about 2,000 merchants using our software, including 11 of this year's Internet Retailer Top 500 (Dydacomp only has 6, OrderMotion has 4). Our Knowledge Base, Users Guide and User Forum are all open to the public. You can get to them from our main Support page. Or give us a call at 610-994-3699 to discuss what we can do for you. (My apologies to anyone who is offended by this admittedly commercial but relevent to the conversation post.)

Barney Stone, President
Stone Edge Technologies, Inc.
www.StoneEdge.com

Barney,
I spoke with you a few years ago about converting to your software when we upgraded to MOM 5. At that time SEOM did not offer a BreakOut kit where each part of the kit is listed on the order. We need this for our suspension systems so phone customers can customize their system with our salesperson's help. Under MOM, we can delete an item and add a substitution or an upgrade.

I spent several hours on your web site yesterday and can't find that your software has added this feature since the last time I spoke with you.

Sorry, but unless I am wrong, I have to go elsewhere...

It's a shame cuz I really like everything else I've seen.

[Barney Stone]

Barney,
I spoke with you a few years ago about converting to your software when we upgraded to MOM 5. At that time SEOM did not offer a BreakOut kit where each part of the kit is listed on the order. We need this for our suspension systems so phone customers can customize their system with our salesperson's help. Under MOM, we can delete an item and add a substitution or an upgrade.

I spent several hours on your web site yesterday and can't find that your software has added this feature since the last time I spoke with you.

Sorry, but unless I am wrong, I have to go elsewhere...

It's a shame cuz I really like everything else I've seen.

I'm not sure I understand exactly what you need, but if you give me a call on Monday, I will be glad to discuss it with you again and see if we can come up with a solution for you.