J-BusinessDirectory - Packages extend, renewal, etc needs properly finishing off imo

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I'm listing issues I'm noticing as I'm getting to grips with the script. In the user control panel, I've had offers to extend the package straight after they've been taken out (blue coloured offer bar in user control panel) - but when the listing is extended it doesn't add new time onto the end of the existing time, but rather just ignores and essentially ignores/deletes the remaining time (even if a whole year left).

Same with upgrading a listing to a higher package, it just charges for the full year at the new higher rate and doesn't take any account of existing time. By rights it should prorate for existing time left and charge the difference between existing and new prices.

A client would be left very unsatisifed, even very unhappy with how the logic and functionality is at present imo.

I'm a bit confused too, when events appear on the orders page of the control panel. It seemed inconsistent, but this might have been because I enabled/was using a second account to manage a listing actually owned by another account.

I can see it is a fantastic script with a lot of potential, but imo, it seems like there are quite a few significant loose ends which still need finishing off neatly, so as to make it really useable and robust.

7 replies

Extra to above, there's also odd inappropriate things, like the drop down in a clients edit listing, which allows them to downgrade their package when they already have a years worth of a higher package. And then this raises an order, etc and directs the user (in their control panel) to make a new payment. You know how it is, if the option is there, users will try it out to see what happens, and as things are, will just end up a mess. As above, imo, the logic and flow and options available at all stages and times need working through in detail and finishing off properly. It's only half-finished at present :P

Please, would be nice (and would seem appropriate, even basic common decency if I may say) for dev team to respond to this post - given it deals with (imo) half-finished off functionality. To understand the script and post all the (very obvious) issues with it which I found on first using it as an admin/user I invested significant time and energy - and I wrote my observations in good faith - and not with anything resembling malice or ill-will.

I mean, like, just to know that you have read the request would be appropriate - and maybe, what you intentions are about cleaning such features up in the future.

I really don't think it is a script which can be set 'running and left' so to speak. There are too many half-finished off things, too many things on the user side which are unclear and klunky imo. I would bet almost everyone who has enjoyed some limited success with the script ends up having to manually setup listing entries (and probably everything) for clients who they find. It's like it's a script which is 20 years old (and which was not properly finished off then).

Tbh, I'm rather disapointed and am very much hoping that you will be taking the opportunity with the Joomla 4 release, to get the script up to scratch.

The most successful directory I've managed to locate using the script has approx 36 paying clients - which althouth very modest, is still a good acheivement imo (given listing users appear to be paying a couple hundred bucks a time) - but it is just indicative of how klunky and 'messy' and unfinshed-off it all is, to use as a paying listing user imo.

To state the obvious, for a script to be a foundation of many website successes, every single aspect of functionality which a user has access too, needs to be streamlined and perfect in operation. From beginning to end - and with no need of an admin involvement to sort issues out - of the many types I have lsited in multiple posts. Such slick operation has to go A > B > C > D which every permutation of what a user will do covered.

Like I say, fundementally I am feeling raher disapointed in the script. Underneath the hood, it doesn't have the functionality which it first appears to (when looking at it from the outside) - at least not in a clean and smooth way, and which avoids the need for constant admin involvement. I can however see that a lot of work has been put into the script - and it is ingeneous indeed to be running on the top of Joomla. However, like I say, on using it, it is like the devs haven't actually tried using it from scratch as an actual admin and business listing user (along with selecting options made available which are inappropriate - like downrating a package, etc)... I mean as I posted in another thread, the system doesn't even let a new business listing user know that an account has been created for them!

 

Tbh, though I'm not finally decided, I'm feeling like I would do better going with a different script. I had felt loyal to Joomla because of it proving such a success for me with a different project - and for sure, there are some very nice aspects to this script. But imo, considering this is already on version 5 - and in my appraisal, as I have tried to detail in several posts - the fundemental basics of the user sign-up > post listing and pay for an add and onward management - just aren't clean enough. There's loose ends and issues all over the place.

 

Like do I feel inspired to put 100s if not 1000s of hours into a project with this script at the base of it? Furthermore, essentially there has just been 'silence' from the devs in regard to my sincere and good faith posts - which is another sign which doesn't fill me with confidence.

 

Given the silence and acknowledgement (or even discussion) re my points I wouldn't be happy starting out (and locking the project into this script) with version 5.5. So that would mean waiting for a new updated version (presumably based on Joomla 4) which will also presumably mean an upgrade fee too - just to have a script I (hopefully) would then feel confident in.

 

I'm sorry, I can't hide it - I'm disapointed - and feeling a bit cross as well tbh.

 

Show me a site using this script which is really thriving, and has many hundreds of paid listings? Then I might be persuaded that it's a script which is end-listing-user friendly - cos at this time I just don't think enough end-listing-users would have the patience to stick with it and make such a klunky half-finished script work for them.

 

Earlier on today, for some other purpose I just happened to need to register a $1 domain, and then seamlessly, I was able to setup a free web hosting account and then seamlessly install wordpress - set dns servers right - and then seamlessly install a theme on WP plus an SSL cert. That whole process was amazing and inspiring and how it should be.

 

Like a listing-user with this script should be feeling the same - like wow, this is really smooth and neat and cool - and so it must be a great service too - worth paying the money for...

 


And here, we are just speaking about registering an account and posting/managing a paid listing. And it's on version 5.5. As as I pointed out, the script doesn't even inform a user that it has created an account for them!

 

And omg, this board, what is it with having to enter double spacing and not able to use a spell-checker in it (with firefox)! And not able to expand the width of the text box!!!

 

I would bet almost everyone who has enjoyed some limited success with the script ends up having to manually setup listing entries (and probably everything) for clients who they find.

 

However, like I say, on using it, it is like the devs haven't actually tried using it from scratch as an actual admin and business listing user (along with selecting options made available which are inappropriate - like downrating a package, etc)... I mean as I posted in another thread, the system doesn't even let a new business listing user know that an account has been created for them!

 

I can agree on that and its always important to have a overflow plan how a script and service should work as optimized smooth as poosible to fit with average Joes users in todays demanding UX/UI competition. And its good if leaders and dev team have these competence/insights and experience skills too of course. 

 

Have you tried to make a support post on this and escalate it? I think that also would be a good way to have direct contact with support and try to make this important improvements and be more exact specific about these details explained. It would be easier for dev to understand what you want to accomplish.

 

Thanks for your valuble contribution and hopefully we can together move this issues forward for a better polished JBD for Joomla 4 as you say.

 

Hi Jasmine,

 

We appologize for the delay.
It seems some of the features are not working propertly on your website.
When a package is upgraded the remaining time is being considered and should be decreased from the final upgrade price.

When an account is created, Joomla should send an email message to the end user.
We are going to override the Joomla user account creation on 5.6 since Joomla is not doing a great job on this.

We are always open to suggestions and we're always trying to improve things. The main priority right now is to improve the UX.

Thanks for great update and info George!

Okay, thank you.

 

Re, pro-rating the price, okay will check again. Will post back either way.

 

Though imo, the system shouldn't permit down-grading a package unless it is going to offer a pro-rated refund by the same payment system. It's prob better not to offer an option of down-grading package.

 
 
 

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