Template Monster: Public Service Announcement

:blink::blink::blink:

Excuse me? Are you saying that you think you are done? We have only begun to discuss the issues.

First - This forum is not for commercial advertising and you should be contacting all of those folks that have complained privately. Do not begin posting links to revised templates on the forum.

Second, if you are going to donate the template that has been being tested, then it should be released with a GNU/GPL license (or the equivalent) and uploaded to our Downloads library. If you are just going to give it away for free, as a promotional item, then it will not be supported here.

Third, I will reiterate what we expect from a paid template:

1. The ability to drop it in, turn it on and be usable.
2. The ability to configure the side columns, side boxes, and other features that have admin controls using those admin controls.
3. Any template specific settings should be spelled out in writing in the documentation and the page should not cease functioning or be missing any built in features.
4. A template should NOT change any core files that can not be overriden.
5. A template should have the ability to be installed with or without any demo products.
6. A paid template should have FULL support from its maker. (and jmho, a full refund policy)

... those are just the major points. It is still early here and I need more coffee.

to kim thank you for your post.

1. Can we provide SQL file with theme to make theme configuration easier?

2. I can discuss only production process (1-5) and concerning our refund and support policies will talk Tmonster.
   

3. is the theme that we created ready for donation to your site?

4. sure we will not use this forum as advertisement instrument.

fellis,
an sql file should not be required for setup,

folks need to be able to turn things off and on to meet their needs,

The SQL file that was included with the most recent template seemed to be a helpful way for getting the template configured quickly.

Having a SQL file applied that sets default settings for the template doesn't seem like a bad idea. Conversely, text instructions could be provided to the end-user for making all the settings themselves from the admin.

If extra data values and settings are required for the template that are not part of the default ZC data structure, that's not a great thing. If absolutely necessary, then best to put it into a separate isolated table. This would make identification and any future removal easier.

Kim moved your post on purpose. This should be in your thread.

Moderator note: 3 posts were moved from this thread because while they had to do with a TM problem, they were about a very specific problem that is better in its original thread.

Ooos...Sorry Kim. I didn't know that it was moved my the ZC Moderator. I thought I had made a mistake. Sorry for the remove.

I think it is where it needs to be now.

Thanks

Scott

And here's another victim from TemplateMonster! Pop the champagne! :-/ For the second time to be honest, as I bought a template for Zen 1.2 first two years ago, but that was totally crap.

Since there's Zen Cart 1.3.7 I thought these issues were eliminated fully. After all, designing templates in the latest Zen version is 'so increadibly easy'. Was I wrong or what! It's less crap than the first template I bought, but still it's... crap.

You name the trouble, I got the trouble (non-working search bar, hard coded language files - did you know that Dutch equals English? - spreading product boxes all over the screen except in the right lay-out and order, admin not working when choosing 'show picture' or 'show text' in productlist, and guess what: if I change to the basic Zen template everything works fine!). And just as I read before in this thread: their helpdesk treats you like you joined the internet a few minutes ago!

How long would it take to fix al their templates (and how long does it take to get a proper response on my ticket; I only get questions instead of answers).

I think I will upgrade my PHP knowledge and do it myself in the future... I'm hugely disappointed...

Callan:

And here's another victim from TemplateMonster! Pop the champagne! :-/ For the second time to be honest, as I bought a template for Zen 1.2 first two years ago, but that was totally crap.

Since there's Zen Cart 1.3.7 I thought these issues were eliminated fully. After all, designing templates in the latest Zen version is 'so increadibly easy'. Was I wrong or what! It's less crap than the first template I bought, but still it's... crap.

You name the trouble, I got the trouble (non-working search bar, hard coded language files - did you know that Dutch equals English? - spreading product boxes all over the screen except in the right lay-out and order, admin not working when choosing 'show picture' or 'show text' in productlist, and guess what: if I change to the basic Zen template everything works fine!). And just as I read before in this thread: their helpdesk treats you like you joined the internet a few minutes ago!

How long would it take to fix al their templates (and how long does it take to get a proper response on my ticket; I only get questions instead of answers).

I think I will upgrade my PHP knowledge and do it myself in the future... I'm hugely disappointed...

Did you try their template support? Fellis has a pretty good idea now of what's going on now ... :cool:

Callan:

(and how long does it take to get a proper response on my ticket; I only get questions instead of answers).

Hi Testuser,

I did... but that wasn't any helpful so far...

I keep waiting as I insist on getting a proper template...

The jury's still out on whether TM Support will resolve problems, or are even able to resolve, problems without fellis's personal intervention.

We do, of course, hear more of the cases where they don't over here, and there is a tendency to demonize them; but I've still not seen a single instance on this forum of anybody jumping in to say "well actually I had a good experience with them".

Kim:

:blink::blink::blink:

Third, I will reiterate what we expect from a paid template:1. >

2. The ability to drop it in, turn it on and be usable.

3. The ability to configure the side columns, side boxes, and other features that have admin controls using those admin controls.

4. Any template specific settings should be spelled out in writing in the documentation and the page should not cease functioning or be missing any built in features.

5. A template should NOT change any core files that can not be overriden.

6. A template should have the ability to be installed with or without any demo products.

I think we should have these features for all templates. As I understand the demo template that Fellis produced with the assistance of the community members already supports all those features. Not it is time to ask the production team to release a brand new template following the newly developed standard and ensure that the design will be the same quality and look as psd.

Once it is done, we are going to release a plan to rebuild ALL current zen cart templates in stock and produce new ones only according to a new standard.

We will be releasing the current template under GPL license as Kim suggested.

Kim:

2. A paid template should have FULL support from its maker. (and jmho, a full refund policy) ... those are just the major points. It is still early here and I need more coffee.

I agree about the support thing, but as for full refund policy it is not possible, because there is a number of people who ask for a refund for regular templates, then get refund and continue to use the design. Since we deal with intangible products it is very hard to maintain the balance between the customer satisfaction and copyright protection and security. However, I do agree and we will be researching the possibility to work on the issue.
Once we will rebuild old templates we will contact previous buyers and notify them about "Free Upgrade" possibility.

You comments and questions are really appreciated.

Tmonster:

as for full refund policy it is not possible, because there is a number of people who ask for a refund for regular templates, then get refund and continue to use the design.I agree that any refund policy for intangible assets must have strict restrictions to avoid abuse, otherwise it simply attracts abusers.

I suspect that most people in this forum would feel however, that an exchange or refund would be appropriate (even legally required) where the purchaser can demonstrate that the template doesn't work properly, or was sold without fair warning that it was for a version of Zen Cart no longer supported. The forum contains a number of examples of people who have abandoned trying to make one of your products work in anything other than the limited circumstances of your demo environment.

However, your current strategy of working to make your templates work properly is, of course, the best of all. And credit to you for offering you customers a free upgrade to your improved range.

:thumbsup:

Just one note of caution: a number of experienced forum members have offered advice on a number of issues worthy of being addressed in your upgrade. However, despite fellis's requests that we alert him to any problems, I don't believe that anybody has done an exhaustive (and unpaid) analysis of your new template to catch everything. That responsibility rests with your organisation and the professionals that you employ to do this. So I hope that you will ensure that they don't skimp on this step, before releasing your upgraded products.

As my issues are currently being taken care of by TM helpdesk (at least, I hope so as my ticket is showing 'in progress'), can you give us a time frame?

For fixing my recent purchased template I provided all sorts of information I was asked for, but after that I heard nothing. Do I have to wait days, weeks or even months?

Me too really appreciate direct involvement of TM in this thread.

"Once it is done, we are going to release a plan to rebuild ALL current zen cart templates in stock and produce new ones only according to a new standard."

I agree about the support thing, but as for full refund policy it is not possible, because there is a number of people who ask for a refund for regular templates, then get refund and continue to use the design.

What if you offer this people a free upgrade? You may put the remaked version in a server, then offer this people access to the server. The guy may or not to download the new version, but then you've made the offer and it is up to him.

Callan:

As my issues are currently being taken care of by TM helpdesk (at least, I hope so as my ticket is showing 'in progress'), can you give us a time frame?

For fixing my recent purchased template I provided all sorts of information I was asked for, but after that I heard nothing. Do I have to wait days, weeks or even months?

Me too really appreciate direct involvement of TM in this thread.

I've asked Fellis to contact you today and assist you personally. Shouldn't take long time.

kuroi:

The jury's still out on whether TM Support will resolve problems, or are even able to resolve, problems without fellis's personal intervention.

We do, of course, hear more of the cases where they don't over here, and there is a tendency to demonize them; but I've still not seen a single instance on this forum of anybody jumping in to say "well actually I had a good experience with them".

I am keeping an real close eye on this thread for a while now. I must admit that I didn't face any serious problems till now (lucky me:huh:). offcourse there were some issues but after contacting there support team, they fixed it within 8 days...:clap:

I hope that i willnot face any issues is in the future

Has the zip of the Demo been updated? When I downloaded it the other day it had not.

saman:

there were some issues but after contacting there support team, they fixed it within 8 daysDon't think I'd be applauding if a service problem on something as simple as a template took eight days to resolve. But I am glad that it got resolved, and thanks for adding some balance to the discussion.

As an outsider, and not going through all 23 pages, I think the rough and tumble replies and the calm replies by TM, is what is needed.

The people that have a passion for ZC are pushing that the templates meet a standard.

TM looks at is as they are providing a service for customers who dont care how it works, they just want it to work.

You will find this same passion on both sides of the Windows fence. One knows customers dont care if their whole computer system is controlled by Windows, they just want it to do what they want when asked.

Now, the ZC is asking TM to meet the standard, in the end, the customer will still get a great template and ZC, all win. For the customers that know PHP and want to add modules, they will be further ahead.

It looks like TM wants to comply with the standard. The internet needs the two to work together.

I have messed around with VirtueMart and Joomla, and they are way behind where OSC/ZC is, and throw in TM, and it is a good marriage. Joomla has great templates, but the cart is not good to work with. PHP is ugly in it and it is because of Joomla. It was nice seeing inside OSC/ZC a nice clean code.

ZC needs to understand that they need TM because there is way more that just want it to work, than those that want to create, or know how to create.

No, I am usually not a peace maker, but I just thought I would share how there has been a battle going on in this forum, but in the end, I think both sides want the same thing and need each other, so thanks for the tough talked and the listening and adapting.