"VIew sites that use this add-on" = yeah, right (?)
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So, with Blogga, ProBlog and ProEvents and some other Calendar type add-ons, I spent quite a bit of time clicking through the same exact sites that supposedly use these add-ons. It seems to be the same exact sites over and over. But, they don't seem to be using the add-ons at all.
Most of the blogs supposedly using Blogga or ProBlog clearly show "Powered by Wordpress" or return a 404 not found page or simply don't have any blog at all. I only found 2 sites with Events pages at all, which looked wildly different from each other. It is possible that 1 of them may have been using ProEvents, but I doubt it (http://www.paysbig.com/events/ ) and the other just looked like a content block of some sort (http://www.djladybex.com/events/... ).
It would be nice if they were removed from the gallery lists since it is a massive waste of time to click three times to get through to the site and then search through the site only to find they are not using the add-on at all.
This false listing pads the results upon first glance which makes the add-on look very successful, when likely it is not successful at all since it would appear that after a trial period, the website owners/designers decided the add-on didn't suit their needs and removed it.
I'm very wary about buying any blocks at all since the add-ons I have bought EXCEPT TONY'S were a major disappointment with awful support and no refund option. All the free ones I've had no trouble with. It would be nice if the gallery of sites utilizing the add-on actually reflected the truth of the matter.
I guess once the add-on is loaded, it connects to the database and shows as being "in use" even if it's really not being used on the site. That's a shame. Maybe instead of automatically connecting, you have the option to list your site if you're happy with the add-on and want to show it off.
Most of the blogs supposedly using Blogga or ProBlog clearly show "Powered by Wordpress" or return a 404 not found page or simply don't have any blog at all. I only found 2 sites with Events pages at all, which looked wildly different from each other. It is possible that 1 of them may have been using ProEvents, but I doubt it (http://www.paysbig.com/events/ ) and the other just looked like a content block of some sort (http://www.djladybex.com/events/... ).
It would be nice if they were removed from the gallery lists since it is a massive waste of time to click three times to get through to the site and then search through the site only to find they are not using the add-on at all.
This false listing pads the results upon first glance which makes the add-on look very successful, when likely it is not successful at all since it would appear that after a trial period, the website owners/designers decided the add-on didn't suit their needs and removed it.
I'm very wary about buying any blocks at all since the add-ons I have bought EXCEPT TONY'S were a major disappointment with awful support and no refund option. All the free ones I've had no trouble with. It would be nice if the gallery of sites utilizing the add-on actually reflected the truth of the matter.
I guess once the add-on is loaded, it connects to the database and shows as being "in use" even if it's really not being used on the site. That's a shame. Maybe instead of automatically connecting, you have the option to list your site if you're happy with the add-on and want to show it off.
The showcase is something people submit to on their own, so its going to be difficult for us to make it absolutely accurate over time. I do see the value in adding a "no-longer accurate" button or something to those listings just like we have a "I like this" button, because sure on the web stuff changes all the time.
I wish we were in a position to have a 100% happiness guarantee refund policy, but that's just simply not how software works (I'm still waiting on my refund from Mircosoft for Vista being.. well.. vista). We are eager to honor the policy we do have however: everything works, everything does what it says. That seems fair to both site owners and the 3rd party developers who are working hard to make this stuff available. If you have support requests that are going unanswered you are absolutely entitled to a refund. Please feel free to forward those support URLs to us through the refund form here:
http://www.concrete5.org/help/legal/refund-policy/...
The other thing to check out is most add-ons should have a demo now. It's one of those black icons just like the sites using this add-on in showcase icon. If there's no demo for an add-on you're interested in, you should send a pre-sales question to the developer pointing out that its impacting your purchasing decisions.