Add-Ons on a trial basis?
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Hi,
Is there a way we can install an Add-On on a trial basis to see if it works for our site, without paying the full price? It is difficult to see if a particular add-on is what we need for the site, just based on the name and the limited description. It will be very helpful if we can test it out once before we buy it?
Thanks,
Sri
Is there a way we can install an Add-On on a trial basis to see if it works for our site, without paying the full price? It is difficult to see if a particular add-on is what we need for the site, just based on the name and the limited description. It will be very helpful if we can test it out once before we buy it?
Thanks,
Sri
Most add-on developers are being pushed to provide demos for their add-ons so you can try them out. While we can hand over a license for a "trial", you may be able to contact the add-on developer and ask them for a demo link.
I agree 100% Sri. There needs to be a way to use a fully-functional trial version of an add-on prior to purchase. I think it can only help developers by removing the risk of purchasing add-ons without a "test-drive" to see if it actually works with our sites and themes.
I've had some bad experiences with add-ons not working with a custom theme and it was an unnecessary hassle to have to pay, find that it didn't work, then harass the developer for a refund because he was very unhelpful and adamant that his add-on was, of course, the essence of perfection and that the problem was that my theme was not designed properly, though the requirements he identified for using the add-on were not in any of his documentation. He finally relented and provided a refund, but only after I contacted C5 directly. It left an extremely bad taste in my mouth and hesitant to purchase additional add-ons.
I don't doubt that this developer's very unhelpful and blaming attitude is the exception with C5 developers rather than the rule, but that experience left me VERY hesitant to purchase any other add-ons for fear that they, also, will not work. I've tried several free ones, but I have not purchased one since that disaster. If I could try them out first, however, I would absolutely do so.
There needs to be a way to install a fully-functional, time-limited version (maybe a week?) of any add-on so that I can install it on my site and run some test scripts to determine if it works with my theme, other add-ons, etc. Maybe the URL gets sent to the C5 servers to validate a license for each add-on or something like that. Add-ons are already connected to a C5 project, there must be some way to implement some kind of validation.
Trying out an add-on on a demo site is not the same thing as trying it out on our own custom sites, which seems to me to be what Sri was asking about.
I've had some bad experiences with add-ons not working with a custom theme and it was an unnecessary hassle to have to pay, find that it didn't work, then harass the developer for a refund because he was very unhelpful and adamant that his add-on was, of course, the essence of perfection and that the problem was that my theme was not designed properly, though the requirements he identified for using the add-on were not in any of his documentation. He finally relented and provided a refund, but only after I contacted C5 directly. It left an extremely bad taste in my mouth and hesitant to purchase additional add-ons.
I don't doubt that this developer's very unhelpful and blaming attitude is the exception with C5 developers rather than the rule, but that experience left me VERY hesitant to purchase any other add-ons for fear that they, also, will not work. I've tried several free ones, but I have not purchased one since that disaster. If I could try them out first, however, I would absolutely do so.
There needs to be a way to install a fully-functional, time-limited version (maybe a week?) of any add-on so that I can install it on my site and run some test scripts to determine if it works with my theme, other add-ons, etc. Maybe the URL gets sent to the C5 servers to validate a license for each add-on or something like that. Add-ons are already connected to a C5 project, there must be some way to implement some kind of validation.
Trying out an add-on on a demo site is not the same thing as trying it out on our own custom sites, which seems to me to be what Sri was asking about.
I totally agree and back what LucasAnderson said. As a marketplace developer myself, I make sure I provide a live demo (if applicable) of the item I'm selling. I also try to add a video demo as well.
I do not feel comfortable offering a downloadable trial of my paid marketplace items. It would be much too easy for anyone to copy the source code and never pay for it.
In the end, it is really up to the purchaser of any addon or theme to ask the necessary questions in regards to compatibility prior to purchasing that item. Of course, it is also the developer's responsibility to make sure their items are up-to-date and compatible with the latest versions of Concrete.
I do not feel comfortable offering a downloadable trial of my paid marketplace items. It would be much too easy for anyone to copy the source code and never pay for it.
In the end, it is really up to the purchaser of any addon or theme to ask the necessary questions in regards to compatibility prior to purchasing that item. Of course, it is also the developer's responsibility to make sure their items are up-to-date and compatible with the latest versions of Concrete.
