Best of the ISP-Lists

This ISP Needs Mascara and a Wig

As the ISP industry gets more complex, your signup CDs have to become more complex too. One ISP's search for a CD with more "fluff, poof, and makeup" illustrates the issue.

[December 6, 2004]

On the ISP-Marketing list in October, WT asked:

Hello all,

We are making a decision on a vendor for this product sometime in the next few days. I would like to get some positive and negative if any feedback on the following companies who provide these disks. The contestants are:

1. Usefulware
2. One Disc
3. Rockstar
4. Finepoint

And if anyone has another vendor we should consider I would love to hear about them. Thank you in advance for your input.

[EA noted] "Friendly-Tech. After all the times Romie has written here and you forgot him :-("

FM agreed, posting a press release, not reproduced here in its entirety but available on the Friendly Technologies website, headlined "Usefulware selected Friendly for exclusive support of its customers".

[MB seconded the motion] "I recommend Friendly Technologies. We have been using them for years and they take care of their customers. "

[DT suggested] "Save a lot of money and use ISPWizard."

[EL disagreed] "ISPWizard, while a great product, is pretty rough on new user registrations. I think special files have to be created to allow it, and even then it may not accomplish what WT needs to do. I think he's leaning toward the bigger name dialer companies because they can do more with user registration. Just my 2 cents.

Also, hopefully you got my email about Friendly tech. I know someone else sent something about it, but I would definitely use them before going to Usefulware. Anybody having problems with www.friendly-tech.com?"

[TC reported] "I'm only beginning to learn about Usefulware right now, but I have a client that is a tier 2 provider, moving to become a tier 1, that has done quite a bit of legwork. They are choosing Rockstar at this point. The only drawback they have found was the expense. They thought it was a bit higher than it need be. No complaints otherwise. Sorry that's all I have for you at the moment."

[MG, who works at ISPWizard, responded] "Just to defend ISPWizard: Have you had a look at the latest version of ISPWizard? The new signup features added in Version 5 make CD/disk based signups a lot easier. Version 5.1 added support for IEAK compatible .ins files, so it will now automatically work with any billing system that knows how to send those files back at the end of the signup process. That aside, I believe that WT is looking for something a bit different."

WT found everyone's comments helpful and thanked the list:

"Thank you all for your input. It is greatly appreciated. I tend to have a general problem when a vendor can't give us a price with out lots of hoops to jump through or a lengthy sales pitch. I also don't like it when some sales person calls and wants to spend 10 minutes of my time telling me why I can't have answers to my questions. That is why most of these guys are not going to get our business. This would have been an EASY SALE as I need the product yesterday. But one negative experience and no promised email of answers blew that sale out of the water.

One thing I liked about Usefulware was how straightforward they were. They had nothing to hide and they did not look down on you if weren't going to be their biggest customer.

An ISP manager is like any other client. They want straightforward dealings, They need the product if they have clients to provide for. Why is it that so many vendors in this business want to play this game?

In any case, we will probably spend the money, hire programmers and develop our own. If we do, rest assured that we will make it available to other ISPs at our cost. Without hiding our pricing or asking you to jump through hoops to get answers to straightforward questions.

Just so you guys know, we use and love ISPWizard. It works well and works every time. The only reason we are shopping is because we need more "Fluff, Poof and Makeup" for the marketing impression that we make on the new user.

Whaddaya think MG. Can I get a wig and some mascara with my Wizard?"

[MG chortled] "My personal preference is for substance over style, so I don't have any plans for skinning, etc., at the moment, sorry."

—End