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A warning before paying for commercial services points

  1. #1
    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    A warning before paying for commercial services points

    A word of warning before considering buying points for commercial services.

    There are issues with the people who participate not receiving the money you've paid ExcelForum, not receiving all the money or receiving it very late from the owners of the site.

    As a result (I suspect), there are an increasing number of threads without resolutions.

    As the forum owners do not respond to emails, PMs (or anything else for that matter), it is extremely unlikely that you'll get a refund should your question not be resolved.

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    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Whilst I do not dispute the difficulties you have outlined for helpers receiving the funds owed to them, a quick scan through the CS forum shows that the vast majority of queries are still resolved and there is no obvious reduction in willingness on the part of helpers to offer solutions.
    Ali


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    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Not so much recently, it used to be pretty much guaranteed that a thread would be locked within an hour or so. 8 of the 14 last posted threads have not been locked, fewer people now participate in CS and were I paying for a solution that's still outstanding from over a week then I don't think I'd be happy.

    Some of the top threads are bumped because people are asking for refunds.

    I've taken great care not to say do not buy points, simply that people should be aware of the situation before deciding to spend their money. I don't know whether regular posters can browse the commercial services without first paying.

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    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    I have not accused you of anything, Kyle, I am just stating what I perceive to be the case in the interest of balance. Quite a number of those able to access the CS section and help there are not active here on the forums at present, and that will also play a part.

    To be completely fair, I would say that at least 70% of the queries posted in the CS section would be resolved more swiftly if posted in the main forum with its wider readership.

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    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    I think you're probably right!

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    I have almost given up getting a response from the owners and tech team of this forum. At best, all I get is " will fix/get back to you, while at worst, I hear nothing back.

    Posted a series of outstanding questions, on Mar 3, this was the reply I got back that same day...
    Shub, 1:19 AM
    Hi Ford

    Let me reply you every point

    If any coding change we need to resolve then I will update you

    I am looking every point you shared and today will update you with deadline
    Other than to tell me how to merge threads (which I already knew), I have - TO DATE - had not a single reply.

    On top of that, I have requested refunds for at least 2 members - nada, even after some sarcastic comments to them.

    So, while I would like to dispute Kyle's comments, I find myself unable to. On the contrary, I probably wont waste my time making any further requests of them.
    1. Use code tags for VBA. [code] Your Code [/code] (or use the # button)
    2. If your question is resolved, mark it SOLVED using the thread tools
    3. Click on the star if you think someone helped you

    Regards
    Ford

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    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    In that case we should actively discourage members from using the CS section by posting a banner at the top of the forum, effectively closing the service. That bit I believe we can do for ourselves, can't we?

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Wish I'd read this before paying money - which is just wasted. CS is just a scam. Buyer beware... enjoy my $20 whoever stole me you won't be getting any more from me.

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexanderBB View Post
    Wish I'd read this before paying money - which is just wasted. CS is just a scam. Buyer beware... enjoy my $20 whoever stole me you won't be getting any more from me.
    Alexander, I fail to see what you are griping about, you have a senior member who is responding to your question??
    https://www.excelforum.com/commercia...font-size.html

    FWIW, CS is NOT a scam, and your money has NOT been stolen - you paid to have a question answered, and it IS being answered, so I would thank you for minding your words in future. The CS forum has provided help to well over 2 500 satisfied members!

    It appears, however, that you have added more code, which has caused the provided solution to no longer work.
    Thank you Phuocam, I see the changes and could replicate the fix. But as I added more code it broke again.
    Im sure that Phuocam will respond soon to see what can be done, I will contact him and request further response.

    1 thing to keep in mind with the CS forum. I am not sure how long Phoucam worked on your question (potentially 2 hours based on the time between posts), so that means you basically paid $10/hour (of, given the benefit of the doubt $20/hour) to have someone answer your question. Most programmers charge upwards of $50-$100 or more/hour, I think you got off cheap?

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    I just had a response from Shub, so lets hold off on the banner for a while.

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    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    OK, so whilst we have his attention ...

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Was the response “I’m looking into it”?
    Rory

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Bet it wasn’t...

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    He responded to 5 requests.

    1. he had already taken care of (min 10 posts down to 5), but now WE have the option to change that in the MOD
    2. not corrected as he said it was, but that could have been misunderstanding of my request (changing default setting on ban screen)
    3. regarding no url's in titles - reply was "i am working on it and will let you know once its Done, ETA : by tomorrow EOD"
    4. merge threads - "some functionality issue on merge thread . i share the update with you on point 3 and 4 by tomorrow"

    regarding CS threads needing refunds - did not resolve it yet.

  15. #15
    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Some progress, then ... Well done!

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    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Anything back yet on when people will get the money they are owed?

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    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Take it there's still no word on payouts? I'm still out of pocket

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Kyle - apologies no

  19. #19
    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Still nothing?

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    I will let you know if I hear anything.

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    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    bump......

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    I noticed that Vib was busying himself in the development and testing forum yesterday or the day before ...

  23. #23
    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Yeah, I replied to one of his threads the other day, he ignored me...

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Ooh, post a link - I'll badger him, too.

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    I have been informed that 2 members who posted in CS, have been refunded.

  26. #26
    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Any feedback on when I'll get paid?

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Did you PM Vib?

    It's time that we boycotted the CS section.

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Ali, we as Guru's can indeed refuse to take part in CS but how to prevent members from buying points ?

    Risking a long and painful refund process.
    Avoid using Select, Selection and Activate in your code. Use With ... End With instead.
    You can show your appreciation for those that have helped you by clicking the * at the bottom left of any of their posts.

  29. #29
    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Tricky, however a big, bold banner at the top saying DON'T BUY CS POINTS should deter most. I'm not an admin, so can't implement this.

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    I don't "refuse" to take part in CS.... However, as a matter of principle, I decline my "right" to do so. This is for two reasons. Firstly (and more importantly), once money becomes an issue, it ceases to be something that one does, simply "for fun". I do private work (in my area of expertise - totally unrelated to Excel and ahave sought legal advice concerning my responsibilities) and charge for it. The EF, and spreasheeting is simply for fun. Secondly, I always have doubts about one's legal liability in the event that paid advice could be the subject of litigation, however remote that possibility might seem. Should CS responders take out professional indemnity insurance??

    In addition to "Caveat emptor" do we not need to consider "Caveat venditor"??
    Glenn




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    Forum Guru Kyle123's Avatar
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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Bump, any news yet?

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    Kyle, just so that I know what to push for here, for you - you have requested payment of your CS points, correct?

    Can you PM me with the approximate amount, so I have something to talk about, please?

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    Re: A warning before paying for commercial services points

    It's been a while since this "drama" here, but I'm fairly new to the site. I'm an old-school Pascal, C++, HTML/JavaScript coder but VBA is not exactly in my wheelhouse so I'd like to pay for some help on a project. However, if my fellow coders are not being paid for their help here then I feel there's not much point to my posting.

    Did ya'll get the payments to helpers resolved?

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