旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � 1992 SHAREWARE AUTHOR � � Comments About Disk Vendors � � � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � This survey is copyrighted. We grant � � permission for information from this � � survey to be quoted, provided it is � � identified as coming from the Home- � � Craft 1992 Shareware Vendor Survey. � � Larger sections and complete tables � � may be reprinted with the written � � permission of the author. � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� HERE'S HOW SHAREWARE DISK VENDORS CAN IMPROVE - ACCORDING TO SHAREWARE AUTHORS (This is a continuation of the article reporting the results of the 1992 Shareware Author Survey). We also asked whether authors felt disk vendors could improve. 88 authors said vendors could improve. Here's how the yes answers were split among the five groups: Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 # Authors who said vendors 9 19 21 28 11 could improve The following provides all of the comments authors had concerning vendors (in random order). + Improve their catalogs. Most look like they came from a rank amateur. + Faster turn-around on reviews and acceptances. + Proper representation of shareware principle; encourage/pay authors to help them stay current. + Some need better catalogs. Also, it would be nice to get confirmation that my programs is listed in their catalog, or the reason why not. + Notify me when they start distributing my software so I can be sure they have the latest version. + Better business practices. + It would be great if they could provide sales data to authors. + Some still present shareware as free or say payment is optional. + Try CD-ROM disks with "password" codes, like used by Adobe for fonts. + Need to let author know whether they will distribute the program. + Provide the names of who ordered to me. + Spend more time comparing new programs to ones already in their catalog so they can replace old ones with superior programs. + Always state the registration cost. + Provide feedback on distribution. + Out of all the programs they distribute, there is a percentage of users that will not register at first. Wouldn't it be nice if they offered a mailing list of those users? + Be more selective. Include the author's company name in catalog. + Explain "shareware" in ads and card decks. + More professionalism. More interest in handling registrations. + Stop distributing junk! It gives the rest of us a bad name. Quality not quantity. + Send catalogs to the shareware authors. + Not all of them acknowledge receipt of the program. +Respond to author surveys. + Give shareware authors a small royalty for each disk - $0.25 or so. Tell authors how many disks distributed each month. + Testing, I have had many people call complaining that their shareware disk doesn't work and blame me. They need better quality control on their disk duplicating. + Stop selling pornographic software. + Add author's names, better descriptions, sales count. + Offer information on registrations to author. + Take PC-SIG's example and hold down the shipping costs - mailing isn't as high as some charge. + More accurate program descriptions. + I like "Reasonable Solutions" incentives to register by having authors sign a coupon for a free disk when a user registers. + Pay attention to the information I send. I have vendors who: - Advertise new version programs, but with old version numbers. - Ignore update disks and continue to sell old versions. - Fail to list alternative graphic version (EGA/VGA) that are available. - Sell catalog-preparation information disks (menu screen dumps) as if they were part of the program. + Join the ASP and follow those guidelines. + More professional image and catalog production. It's surprising how many don't even have printed stationary. + Respond with a card or letter when we send a disk or update. + Publish surveys about what programs are actually used - copy counts only indicate the quality of the description and marketing. + Handle registrations for authors. + Send authors a list of people that ordered their disk. + A percentage of profits to authors. + My program is combined with others on a disk; and is sometimes incomplete or confusing. + Use official product name; define shareware concept "up-front"; publish registration fees. + Make more effort to get program descriptions accurate. + Advertise in non-computer media. + Subscribe with authors for updates. Sending out disks gets expensive. Or set up BBS for electronic updates. + I have sent my package to 5 vendors and have received no response. Any response, even negative, would be preferred. + Put updates in the catalog - most will put a new product in the next catalog - updates usually take a year or more. We frequently receive calls from shareware vendors who have received complaints from customers about the vendor shipping old versions. In every case we had shipped the vendor on, sometimes two, updates which they never used. + Communicate with authors and sell only current versions. + More information in catalogs. The number of sales per software package. + Inform the public that they are paying for a disk copying service and not the program. + Do away with cumbersome submission sheets when the information requested is on the disk or a flyer. + Quality control. + Acknowledge distribution of our programs either by letter or by sending catalog. + Send notice of receipt. Update new versions in a timely fashion. + Carry registration amounts. + Put updates on the market faster. Acknowledge receipt of updates from authors. + Not all, but most can provide longer software descriptions. + Better program descriptions to help users find programs. + Better communications!!! Better handling of our software! Work with us! + Target markets, (specific catalogs for different types of users), more author services. + Honesty. + Stop giving purchasers the notion that they have "bought" the program. + Provide information on distribution numbers. + Provide some form of reward to the shareware authors. For example, statistics on the number of disks sold per quarter. + In general, they have all been polite, accurate and effective. + Notifying of acceptance or rejection of submissions. + Education. Re: nature of shareware; update disks; get author permission; join the ASP. + More user support for installation. + Offer count of sales. + Fill disks completely - I have gotten half empty disks. + Explain shareware system. + Present a more professional image. + Be sure to get an author's permission before distributing software. + Some discriminate and only put in 2 or 3 of "their" favorites in a category. + Quality of program descriptions. + Depends on the vendor. The good ones are very good. + Stronger education on what shareware is. + Encourage registrations more. + If vendors want fully functional programs without any limitations, they should pay royalties to the authors. + Educate users; write more literate catalogs; contact authors for information and updates. + Everybody can improve, but, on "balance" they do a decent job on high volume stuff. + Confirm receipt and/or listing of programs in catalog. + Better up-front explanation of the shareware concept. + Pay the author a percentage royalty on each disk sold. This would also provide the author with feedback on the number of disks sold. + They should all acknowledge with catalog. (About half don't even say thank-you). + Add indexes to catalogs. + Faster author feedback. + Provide feedback to authors on the number of disks sold for each author.