Lot's of bugs

That is a lie. I’m the author and I work on this plugin full-time. Notice how I’m even replying to this on a Sunday! Because I work 7 days a week, providing customer service on this plugin daily. If I don’t reply to an email, it will be for a reason i.e. if I receive the same question many times I’ll blog it. That will be communicated by RSS if you subscribe as suggested in many places.

Also if I get an email regarding an issue with the plugin, I don’t waste time chatting about it with 5 people who report the problem. Otherwise I would never get anything done. No, instead I get right on fixing it and the reply is the fix.

Working like that is why I have many loyal followers who get more than their money worth.

Search YouTube for over 3 hours worth of tutorials, showing the plugin working fine.

If you buy and your not happy. Get a refund as promised so don’t be scared to buy ever.

I’ve been doing this for 2 years, will be doing it for another 2 years including a brand new importer plugin coming in 2012. But please do me a favour, do not buy it while it is in the early stages. All software as complex as ECI has issues in the early days and I can do without comments like this damaging it. I release software early for professionals who enjoy helping to test and make some progress in development rather than holding it back.

ECI Sales Page
https://www.webtechglobal.co.uk/wordpress-easy-csv-importer

Blogged Response To This Forum Thread On ECI Blog…
https://www.webtechglobal.co.uk/blog/wordpress/easy-csv-importer/damaging-eci-comments

My name is Sam Ingersoll and I have hired/worked with about 22 wordpress plugin coders on various projects. I’ve reviewed hundreds of plugins personally using them in a variety of different configurations and themes.

ECI is an incredibly powerful but complex plugin. It’s one of the best SEO plugins available for affiliate marketing and several other industries I won’t mention for competitive reasons.

I create all kinds of outside-the-box solutions and I can tell you that the plugin is a remarkable combination of creativity and programming.

I haven’t had to have much interaction with the author at all because ECI has worked for my purposes, but any questions I’ve sent have been answered promptly – except when I was asking dumb things that I should have discovered by reading the forum or digging around a little bit.

Doing this of script at this level takes a ton of commitment and time and I appreciate anyone who makes as much effort as the author has to develop something really special.

No I did not lie to anyone here and I don’t appreciate being called one for pointing out facts that people here should know about. You sir need to act professional and quit trying to turn this into a circus and or marketing attempt.

This software is so buggy now, that the author took it off his site for users to download, claiming a WP update has broken his download area for his users. So, for a paying member to get a update, you now have to email him and he sends you a copy. You know it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to create a download link for his customers.

I personally don’t like getting updates this way, I want to know that everyone else is receiving the same thing and not something that could have a backdoor or some other bug nobody else has. This is no way to track bugs and fix them. Ya know I would almost be OK with this if I had something that actually worked, but we have to beg him now to get the next version of fixes, hoping that the next version actually works but I’m sorry to say, it’s still not ready for prime time.

So tell me, what version actually works correctly? Because I would like a public download link for that version, one that all members that have paid can get. I don’t need another bloated update that adds new features without fixing the bugs, we need something that will work on a live site.

I already gave up on this script until the author can actually program something reliable, I found another called Datafeed Import by Digitalquill
https://www.digitalquill.co.uk/

Digitalquill’s worked the first time and has worked every time since, it’s fully automated and actually does what it says it does and does it reliably.

You sir need to act professional and quit trying to turn this into a circus and or marketing attempt.

Just a personal observation here, if I might… I think you need to accept that the opinion of others is every bit as valid as your own, whether you agree or not. That, and also realize that your individual result may be something unique to your own site, and not necessarily representative of the average user experience with this plugin. You offered an opinion on why you were dissatisfied. The author gave a pretty clear summary of his own thoughts and your choices…

“If you buy and your not happy. Get a refund as promised so don’t be scared to buy ever.”

Just sayin’…

What does the download area have to do with ECI?! I don’t like what your suggesting at all.

I think this thread needs to be closed.

There is a new download area on the way and if you know about the old download area, you would also know I’m making a new one. You must have found out about it because you read my blog post or I emailed you?! I blog every day about Easy CSV Importer. The RSS is also displayed on the plugins home page so you know new information becomes available. If I never replied to an email of yours, I know I at least communicate all the time so that everyone knows what I’m doing every day.

I tweet also. You can figure out if I’m working on the plugin or sleeping by how often I communicate.

So please do not talk like I can somehow close myself off from my customers and don’t provide the goods because that is what is sounds like your suggesting.

Regarding the download area.

It was an integration of 2 other plugins, that I upgraded WordPress and all plugins to find that it no longer worked. A simple case of no longer being compatible and I never had the time to get into it.

Instead I decided on a new far better customer service plugin as I’ve always wanted and tried but deciding on the approach has been hard. Do I integrate it with other plugins again, do I integrate it with phpBB forum, do I integrate it with other sites on other domains so that I can localize my service? Answer is yes to all of these questions, so not a simple plugin to come and that is why it won’t appear over night.

ClaytonJames I put the links there for information so people know what we’re talking about. I’m happy with my current sales rate and that is why I can’t continue on this thread. Lots of work to be done ??

@webtechglobal

ClaytonJames I put the links there for information so people know what we’re talking about. I’m happy with my current sales rate and that is why I can’t continue on this thread. Lots of work to be done ??

I appreciate the acknowledgment, however my comments were clearly directed at the opinion provided by @antswers, not you. I really have no opinion about your links, nor did I make any mention of them.

If you actually take the time to read what I wrote, you will see that I was advocating for your position on the issue, not taking a side against you. But frankly, if this is at all representative of your thinking in general…

I think this thread needs to be closed.

…then perhaps the ability to express your own position or respond to customer inquiries in a concise, and intelligent manner becomes suspect, and the OP’s assertions gain some potential credibility.

Why should this thread be closed? You would choose to censor the thoughts and opinions of others – in relationship to your plugin, of course – and deny any further possibility of productive dialog on the matter by closing a thread that contains opinions or statements that you just don’t happen to like? Again, just my own observations.

Good luck with your efforts, and I hope all goes well with the development and updates! Looking forward to seeing them in the near future. Keep up the good work!

Your reading into it too much but I do understand what you mean. I considered that but I create software mainly for the most serious of WordPress users/developers. They will buy what they need, when they need it and won’t let a forum thread get in their way.

So I posted and ignored the politics.

I suggest the thread is closed because I strongly do not believe this forum is the place for this type of discussion and for a good reason that many people may not consider.

My reason for wanting the thread closed is this…

This forum is is provided free, WordPress is free and all the plugins on this site are free. I don’t believe such a discussion involving a paid plugin should take place here. Premium plugins have their own forums for that.

This thread was opened with the mention of a paid edition plugin. If we encourage it, we’ll get competitors revelry coming out on this forum and I have already seen it. Most of the time it is not noticed so much however because forum threads are created at such rapid rate.

I just don’t want it to increase.

I mean, could I really ignore this thread or a thread like it, could any author?! Should I be pulled into the forum if a competitor decides to attack my plugin rather than review it or be none bias in their comments? I’m not saying that is what is happening here, but I have seen it and I think it is going to get worse for reasons I’m not going to get into.

Suppose this is my little warning for the mods and community to keep on top of this kind of discussion.

I want to provide a great free edition. I would love such a thread on that. Tell me all it’s faults because they will be noted so that better can be provided later. I have every requested change by email or forum noted in lists per plugin or service.

ClaytonJames I was trying to figure out why I read your comment wrong. It did originally confuse me. I do read fast, type fast, just so much to do lol

I was reading a computer in the library today and the first line didn’t appear like a quote, the screen was old, could not see the box I just realised that. I thought that was your comment that quote, the rest is then taking different.

I work 12 hours a day with a 1 year old running about. That is why I made ECI, to make money for her. My oldest customers know that and boy does it encourage a little more support ??

I prey for a nursery to take her soon though so I can really get stuck in ??

Sorry.

ANTswers I just realised it was 3 weeks ago you posted this. You’ve no idea how much improvement comes to ECI in 3 weeks. You would be surprised. I’m talking fixes and new features. Actually I’ll post a video here soon to show one of the features I added and I’m confident you’ll keep checking in on me to see what I come up with next ??

Also, contact me for a copy in another 3 weeks then come back here and update everyone. Please.

Suppose this is my little warning for the mods and community to keep on top of this kind of discussion.

You know, the thing about the internet is, when you respond openly with statements that carry this particular type of undertone( pseudo-threatening, oppressive, naive, whatever… ) you have to stop and remember that you really don’t have any idea who you are actually responding too, nor the depth or breadth of how it could, down the road, affect your reputation and -or- customer base. I’m not sure why you would think you were in a position to “warn” anyone about their ability to speak freely in an open forum atmosphere, here or anywhere else.

Your reading into it too much

Maybe. I can do that on occasion, but I don’t think I agree with you this time. I truly respect and admire the amount of dedication, education, and time it takes to produce a quality, marketable, dependable product. That being said, it sure seems like you’re now just making excuses and covering your butt with them. But, that’s okay. We’re all human, and who among us hasn’t painted themselves into a corner once or twice? ??

If we encourage it, we’ll get competitors revelry coming out on this forum and I have already seen it…
…if a competitor decides to attack my plugin rather than review it or be none bias in their comments? I’m not saying that is what is happening here, but I have seen it and I think it is going to get worse for reasons I’m not going to get into.

Well, then perhaps you shouldn’t plant any ideas for discussion beyond the topic at hand in your comments. By the way, it’s always been my personal belief that when it comes to quality products and outstanding service, civil competitive rivalry is exactly the type of thing that cuts the quality goods away from the crap. I think it’s how you respond to it that marks you. That, and character revealing conversation opportunities such as this one.

I create software mainly for the most serious of WordPress users/developers. They will buy what they need, when they need it and won’t let a forum thread get in their way.

I find the level of self-injurious and alienating content in that statement to be disturbing at best.

Be well, friend. I hope all works out well with your 12 hour days and your little ones.I think most of us have been there! I wish you nothing but prosperity and good fortune. Thank you for the opportunity for the dialog, and take care!

Cj.

ClaytonJames have you even used ECI?

This is a strong comment…

“I find the level of self-injurious and alienating content in that statement to be disturbing at best.”

“disturbing”, come on you have too much time on your hands.

And you really had to ask why I would like the thread closed!

I state my target audience for a product, that hurts you! Are you saying a developer is not allowed to create software for advanced users only and they must add all the extras needed to guide beginners?

Your just trying to make a fool of me now or something I’m not sure what your trying to do but it is a little amusing even if I do sound like a smart **** for saying so. How much your also trying to teach me about reputation. I’m guessing your a very ethical person, probably don’t bend rules even though you can do so without really being unethical.

Your very wrong about reputation at least on this level for this type of product. We’re not talking about a prescription drug or a piece of safety equipment. Developers want what they want, if they find something that works, they will buy it from a serial killer if it helps them get the edge. Have you ever considered that someone like myself might be the actual person who created the thread in the first place? I know people who do that, create conversations, visitors get sucked in and more good comes out of a flaming argument than bad when people wonder what the fuss is about. Then realise there is actually a very impressive product in discussion.

All because of a special thing called our own opinion which people can decide for themselves.

I bet you think this thread would damage ECI sales don’t you? Put a 100 threads like this on this forum and my sales will increase. Actually don’t I need a break.

Just adding my two cents for people that are actually considering buying this plugin. I bought this plugin myself and tried working with it on several occasions. Here are my thoughts:

– ANTswers is right to conclude the plugin doesn’t always work (especially the update part). I’ve had the same problem.

– I’ve e-mailed with the author of the plugin (WebTechGlobal) several times and he is always kind and responds 90% of the time. He’s very invested in this plugin, open to suggestions and offers support without additional payment, which I always really appreciated. If I remember correctly, he added the update part without any charge because I requested it awhile back, which only points out how willing this guy is to help you and inprove his plugin.

– Like mentioned, it is indeed very inconvenient that there is no download page/automated e-mail whenever a new version is released. Also, new releases of the plugin don’t work with projects you’ve already created, which is super inconvenient and not an option for me.

– Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to figure out how to get the automated updates working, which is crucial for my project. It might be me, it might be the plugin or maybe both, I still don’t know.

Either way, if the update part wasn’t a crucial part of my project, I’d probably stick with ECI. Since I really need the update part, I’m probably going to go with Datafeed Import by Digitalquill.

Thanks for your comment SKSchouten.

People like Datafeed Import by Digitalquill, but those users are not who I’m aiming at. The author is another person who claims you can build an affiliate site in 60 seconds or 2 minutes like another claims.

What kind of site do you put together in 60 seconds?! None, takes longer than 10 minutes to put together a WordPress site. It is false advertising but I don’ see any threads about that?!

The people I work with don’t care if it takes 60 hours to make a site as long as that investment of time is worth it. As long as there is a return equal to the investment. They don’t want a plugin that handles everything for them because that means, it is handling everything for every other user also. Meaning, it is doing the same thing per project.

How, is that, going to make you money???

That is what I’m all about.

I’m working with people requiring a special and unique approach. I’m currently uploading a video for a new feature, you’ll see what I mean. I even talk in the video despite a cold and mention how the feature will become even more.

You can create posts in 60 seconds with that plugin I agree sure, but they won’t get much traffic even with SEO. SEO, is the cheapest and most abused word on the internet. Mention SEO and your product must have a halo. SEO is important, but what about making a visitor wanting to return, making them feel the site they visited is offering something they cannot get anywhere else?!

ECI is not perfect, always been the first to say it. But as I have already said. I’m working for professional developers, I’m working for the people who want the edge. They easily know that ECI is delivering that and there are some features that need a little improvement to bring it even more. As mentioned by customers and not just on this page. I am here all the time making that improvement. The people who work with me close, contact me weekly. Know just how much I have on the to do list also and they are more than keen. They are investors. They know ECI for me, is partially a prototype. My chance to learn everything I need to.

There are features and abilities in ECI that no one who has posted here know about but me. Added for those who has requested them and those who know how build a real money making site. People who have great attention to detail and go all out with their template design.

Not this single image with a paragraph of text stuff. There are already too many sites like that on the internet. They won’t make you money.

You need to spin content, merge records together to create a page like no other, create lists of posts within a parent post that acts as a directory, you need to have a dynamic design that changes depending on the category the post is being applied to, depending on the values in t he data and the updating does work. You need that to update specific parts of the post, make it change constantly and avoid writing over your manual changes whenever you make them.

ECI does all that.

But we need more.

There is nothing wrong for developing for the future, even if your current product is not perfect. I don’t mind giving out refunds. What makes me happy, is the emails I get from people who look deep into ECI ability and see the potential. I don’t use those emails as testimonials but it is about time I started.

OK I’m done. Just got to say sorry for last nights comment, I was just playing around a little. It was very late. Have a nice day everyone, I have an ECI client to make happy now.

I think you need to accept that the opinion of others is every bit as valid as your own, whether you agree or not.

@claytonjames

I’m not sure where you think I need to respect his opinion in his reply, calling me a liar? I think not!

I would have thought that would have been targeted at him, not me. He gave no opinion I’m aware of, just called me a liar and told us his actions of how he runs support and advertised his next project.

If you look at my original message, I merely posted the facts as I found them. I know this for sure because I’ve tried adapting his script to every possible CSV configuration you can imagine, including his own. Quite simply what I stated above is factual at the time of the post.

@webtechglobal
My comments are truthful, I’m sorry if it hurts. It’s not meant to cause damaging effects like you think, it’s posted here because that’s what we do here. We share our experiences, good and bad for others to judge and for the authors to take note of if needed. I thought I did a fair job of sharing my experience, I see I’m not alone now too.

But I think yout tried responding with a stiff uppercut instead of listening to a paying customer and taking note. I’m a software developer, I know what it’s like to put your heart and soul into a project while balancing life family and trying to make ends meet. Criticism can be difficult.

The best way to handle something like this is to listen, see if there is truth in what I say, and fix it if possible. Better yet, I would love to have you prove me wrong! You see I would not have bought your script if I had not seen something valuable to me. I just thought it would work as advertised, I didn’t know I was in such a work in progress. But, I’m OK with that because I feel eventually the script will do as advertised. I don’t want a refund, I can wait, but other may not have that luxury. So goes the need to communicate here and let others know what their getting into is not yet a polished project. A script they think can be uploaded and automated is not what your getting at this time.

As I stated in my original message.

I would suggest waiting a few months before trying this one out, hopefully by then I can repost here and brag about the best CSV importer script I have ever bought, for now save your money.

Well it’s been almost a month now since I first posted that message. The last update I received contains many additions and fixes. But quite simply what I stated as broken is still broken. I’m really sorry because I wanted to use this script in my next project and simply could not, the automation did not work and there were bugs in the category settings preventing use among other things.

As I said before, I can no longer download updates without begging for them, I’ve sent as many as 4 emails before being answered. Only to get another version with new additions that still does not work correctly and cannot be used.

Look at the authors blog and you will see someone that is creative, I like that! But I feel like his desire for more money is more important than the treatment of existing customers. It’s like I know I need to fix this but this new client will buy today if I add these new features this week and he will pay extra for them so lets do that first. But at some point, the script has to deliver and I’m waiting for that day, it’s just not here yet.

ANTswers I just realised it was 3 weeks ago you posted this. You’ve no idea how much improvement comes to ECI in 3 weeks. You would be surprised. I’m talking fixes and new features. Actually I’ll post a video here soon to show one of the features I added and I’m confident you’ll keep checking in on me to see what I come up with next ??

Also, contact me for a copy in another 3 weeks then come back here and update everyone. Please.

Yes, I’m still waiting because I know you will have a full featured script soon, I know you will get it right, that’s why I’ve not asked for a refund. But next time please refrain from calling your paying customers a liar for expressing their experience. I work heavily in customer support with the public and on the Internet. Just apologize and let them know there might be a problem, your working on it and or will. Then ask for their email address so you can contact them when it’s fixed or for further information to help. Then send them a copy of the download link when it’s fixed. As ClaytonJames pointed out, you really have no idea who your responding to or how this can effect you down the road. I guarantee you, calling a customer a liar will get you in hot water sooner than anything you can do.