would you all stop with this Magento s...!? If you want Magento, go use Magento. This is a ViArt forum to discuss usages of ViArt and to work as a "Community" to enhance it, not to bitch about it or ask for other carts, suggest that we should use outside add-ins(forum software), etc. I think if we all stopped bitching and complaining, truly look at the great product that we have, and if you want to make customizations to fit YOUR needs, then pay for them, or implement them (this IS open source).
 
I'm sorry, but I'm tired of sitting back hearing people gripe and complain, when in reality, they're just trying to find stuff to complain about. The cart itself for the Enterprise edition is under 350.00. If you pay for customizations, and still end up under 1000.00 then you've still got a steal for what you're getting. You will NOT find as great of a product out there for the cost, and every cart you try you will find at least 1 or 2 things to complain about.
 
Don't advertise other carts here, and stop complaining. Get to a different community and product if that's what you want. I want ViArt, and that's all I want to read about in these forums. If I want to read about other carts, I'll go to their discussion forums!!!

Thanks Chris . What's funny is that only a few of us our business professional and wish to use these forums and products to better our companies and online presence. I believe I can count a handful of people that actually contribute to the actual cart and to the community helping each other out... It's so sad.

Totally agree with you Dan. I wish we could just help each other to get our stores running well and make money online.
 
These forums are so we can all help each other. Yet in all honesty I find that most users here never even contribute with positive feedback or help by giving solutions to issues we have.
 
All I see is the number of people who have visited the forum go up, but on the flip side there are only a handful of users that actually provide any concrete solutions.
 
So many questions just sit there unanswered.
 
So lets go users, tell us what you are doing with your own stores to make it better. The net is a HUGE place and your business will not suffer if you share ideas with others.
 
Way to go Dan.

Every community has topics that create friction Dan. I have never seen one that doesn't have complaints. Maybe you should just focus on what you believe in and not start useless threads that create more debate. A forum can be a double sided sword and the complaints, grievences or points of view that are negative go hand in hand with the good... and there has been plenty of good over the years.

Thanks for your opinion on2dvd. I understand your pain, and I don't mind a "double sided sword", and complaints aren't the way it's supposed to be handled, you should definitely voice an opinion, or comment on how something should work in your opinion, but to keep bringing up third party isn't the best of ways to get this accomplished. I would so much rather have a community of people who are definitely motivated on improving the product and not those whishing to bash it and uptalk other software.
 
Either way, thanks for your input and at least I know people are reading it, for whatever it's worth.

I understand Dan - I have been close to being very aggravated by the negativity, have expressed some feelings, but endeavored to keep a balanced view.
 
Maybe all the ire is vented now and we can make this forum work as a great positive, supportive and profitable community. But I will, like Dan, comment on any thread that keeps talking about how the grass is greener elsewhere; it's so stupid and destructive.
 
foxtrotdomains - you put your finger on a very important point.
 
I believe that there is also an enlightened self interest. I help as much as I can because I realise that when I need help I will not feel that I am just about take.
 
The give is so important, however little. And helping positively encourages more Viart users and that can't be bad for self interest either can it?
 
My shop does a thriving business across Europe in part due to an excellent program. I will continue to concentrate on the good and seek with fellow users how to get better - but not to criticise.
 
Chris

But what of constructive critisism Chris? Those who whisper please are rarely heard. In any forum situation, no-one opinion is more right than the next. Imagine if complaining made the owner of Viart realize they needed to invest more into development, who's to know. It sure can't hurt making the owners know that there are issues that frustrate their loyal users.

I am never sure what is really meant by constructive criticism, an often over-used phrase - Viart will know they have a problem when user start deserting them. In the meantime they may regard those complaining as just being negative as some members of the forum clearly are.
 
The best route, in my [very] humble opinion, is to find a better product and migrate to it.
 
Otherwise I feel that the only sensible and practical solution is to accept the owner's business model and work within it.
 
Let me come clean, I am approaching 65 - I have worked in marketing departments of some major multi nationals as well as smaller businesses as I do now; I cannot ever in all those year recall policy or decision making being made from 'constructive criticism'.
 
But we did always listen to the people with the good ideas and sought suggestions for improvement.
 
You don't have to whisper but, I feel, you do have to be respectful.
 
Finally, when did anyone contact Viart directly about those frustrations you mention. It is the "dirty linen in public" syndrome - if I have a problem with a supplier over their policy I talk to that supplier.
 
The internet, forums and chat rooms have made it easy to complain in public. It does not make it right or decent to do so and there is no integrity in it.
 
Oh well, just my opinion and perhaps I am now just getting too long in the tooth?
 
Chris

Carefull Chris you are starting to look the the "moral police".

It's my considered view

Hey Dan and others,
 
It's nice to see familiar names having this discussion. I appreciate all sorts of past comments and help from each of you.
 
The points are all well expressed. I admit that to me the long discourse about Magento seems quite irrelevant in this forum. I explored it for several days while I was also looking at ViArt in late 2007. I chose ViArt for so many reasons!
 
There are a dozen carts I found appealing in some ways, but I feel it would be irrelevant and improper clutter to have long discussions about them here. (maybe in Holleyland is more appropriate) Personally I would prefer if all the threads stayed mostly along the lines of how to get the most out of this great cart called ViArt.
 
I do appreciate hearing people's experience with complimentary products, like the recent discussion about email sending programs.
 
Clearly opinions vary, and I appreciate each of you who contribute here in whatever ways.
 
Many thanks! Greg

Thanks Greg.
 
ViArt is truly an incredible software peice.
 
Thanks
 
Dan