Alan raises some important issues that need to be brought home to PM marketing.
I am quite pleased with PM generally, and have really appreciated the speed and efficiency since the Fox Trot search technology was implemented. I am also quite eager to support a small independent (and European) Mac developer with deserved upgrade fees. However, 1) The delay in delivering the registration codes is really unnecessary. This was complicated by the fact that I made the migration just after making the on-line order (thinking it would be soon arriving), but was then told by PM5 installation that because there are over 200 messages (nearly 20,000, in fact), I cannot send or receive messages until I have registered. How then, is the average user (who may only have POP3 access, via PM) supposed to be able to get their e-mailed registration code? If I didn't have other means (i.e. SSH/Telnet) to access my accounts, I couldn't get the registration code when it is finally sent! The CTM website should be more specific in instructing users NOT to upgrade until they have the registration code. Also, with the very reliable, instant CCard processing services like Kagi or Esellerate available, why should paying users have to wait 24 hours, 36 hours, or God forbid, one week, to get a registration code?? 2) CTM needs to seriously revamp their web interface design and web structure with its numerous 404 dead link pages. (For example, the page that comes up when I click on "Buy and Register Now" in the PM menu! Not very convincing sales and marketing tool, if you ask me -- and this seems to be the experience reported by several others.) 3) Can I suggest that CTM move the PM site to a more modern content management system with web-based discussion forums, FAQs, Feature requests, beginner forums, conversion discussions, advanced scripting, etc. This could work in tandum with, or in addition to, this mailing list, which has a great group of very helpful contributors. This would better reflect the reality of PowerMail as an active, developing, community driven, quality e-mail product, and I dare say encourage a lot more converts and buyers who may have been turned away by a dead link or the amature and out-of-date website. 4) Either by integrating this list with a web-board, or by simply moving this discussion list to a more sofisticated mail list management system, the list discussions should come with a marked Subject line [PMdiscuss] that would greatly facilitate identifying and sorting list messages from other mail. I hope that CTM can invest some of their revenues from this new release into the above improvements, as well as continued quality PM development. Kudos on the new release! I'd love to hear other's comments on my suggestions above. -merrill On Thu, 27 May 2004, alan wrote: > So, I was reinstalling the system on my Powerbook (don't ask!) and I > thought I'd upgrade to Powermail 5 at the same time. I went to a page at > the ctm web site and _thought_ that I ordered PM5 + SpamSieve, entered my > credit card, and the transaction ended with a page that said that I would > receive PowerMail 5 "when it is released"! > > Is this normal? Did I find an out-of-date web page? Or am I confused > about the availability of PM5? Am I supposed to get an email with my > registration numbers? I am really confused. (So far my credit card hasn't > been charged, but I only ordered it 24 hours ago). > > How did others get a PM5/SpamSieve registration number? How long did it take? > > A > >
