Suggestions for commercial scripts

[Osterling]

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

The fact is it is already happening. If Jelsoft ignores it and acts like it isn't happening, or to attempts to stifle that aspect of what is already happening THAT could ruin the board, IMO.

When what is already happening?

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

When someone like Brian or Cinq or The Geek takes their codes off of vb.org and posts them solely on their sites what affect does THAT have on this site? If instead they work with the authors, and allow them the ability to advertise their sites as well as work within the community by offering beta versions to people here that will increase the quality of the hacks, and people will have an input on their development (and will also learn a thing or three about coding).

They allow The Geek to advertise his website; through signature just like I am able to do.

Let me just add, with this thread and the "vB Auto Linker banned here?" thread I think The Geek got enough publicity for his paid hack

[FleaBag]

My input from the other thread.

I think the directory is a good idea. I'm a bit of a fan of paid hacks - don't get me wrong free ones are great - but paid hacks allow a new level, and in my experience a great level of support [e.g. Brian and Zack @ vBA]. I've bought everything on vBAdvanced, and now finding The Geek's site I intend to buy all the hacks there... They are valuable additions to my site! A directory would be a great idea, as The Geek says, for regular BB owners like me to access great software I wouldn't otherwise know about. Perhaps hack authors could even make a donation to charity to be allowed to list their hack here? A rating system for the directory would be great also - I know lots of people have been ripped off by indie vB sites in the past - many because they simply weren't allowed to discuss the sites in detail here and never had a chance to be told any different - an official directory would certainly thwart the cowboys - if they aren't allowed in [or are slated in] a directory - you'd know to steer clear!

Have to admit though, hearing Kirby say a directory here may cause him to leave is alarming. Maybe a directory isn't such a good idea if it will cause users to leave in this way - I see him as a valuable asset to this community, together with many other members (who I wouldn't want to see leave).

[Osterling]

Originally Posted by MarcoH64

Now what would happen if any coder can easily release their work as a paid hack, and can also easily take care of things like advertising by posting here at vb.org? Would they still release their 'small' (no disrespect intended, i made a lot of small things myself) hacks for free? Or would they think, hey i can ask $5 for this one, hmm this is bigger, well what the heck, let's ask 25 for this? Would we still have a community that mostly has free hacks?

I know some coders would always be relesing most of their work for free, but what percentage would that be?

Just some things to think about.

A coder that would charge 5 dollars for a hack wouldn't charge, but how good is the hack (no disrespect to small hacks). What I am saying is, major hacks such as the Arcade, the CMS could become paid hacks because the authors know they would be able to make some money off of there code.

On the other side. Coders should be able to charge for there work, as they do not owe anything to anyone here. However letting hackers use vB.org as a way to advertise only makes it more appeasing to release it paid hacks since they would have a way to advertise.

you forgot a point here, and a major one in the situation... you mess Commercial and Paid...

Paid scripts are addons, modules, hacks released by vB coders that want to be paid for their job...

Commercial Addons are from companies that expand their capabilities by adding vBulletin as a integrated part, or the opposite...

basically, Commercial stuff is not a single way advertised here... i for one, released a ±userplane addon last month, and nobody was aware of such a tool until i build the small addon for it... that company offer a range of softwares to add features to vBulletin, but are not a single way related to vB.org... they even did not know about the existence of this site the day before i release the addon... so how can they register here and release their addon if they are not informed of the fact ?!

you know, Esvon ?!... one of a big company that produce a range of softwares related to classified and cms... they have a addon to connect to vBulletin users table and share the users database... noone here is informed because Esvon can't advertise... but Esvon are not vB coders, they are a company that provide extra work for vB owners... how these vB owners can be informed of that possibility if Esvon can't advertise on the site where all vBowners go for their addons ?!

this is the way i see this... i don't care about vB coders that want to be paid for their job.. the Services Request forum is there for the ones wanting to be paid... i'm more interested to find more resources in the future... actually, i do my search myself, but 99% of vB owners will not have the time or don't know how to search...

EDIT: and for one, only charge $$ for hacks that will provide profits for the client that request the hack... a simple hack that modify a display or add a functionality don't have to be paid if requested by the community... but i know that a classified system with paid subscriptions would bring profits to the site owner, so i would charge for it... logically... my 2¢ on profits.. lol

[FleaBag]

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

I like the feedback/rating idea.

And in regard to this, I think a moderation system would be ideal. All feedback or ratings open a 'Feeback Ticket' - a member of vB staff discusses a grievance with the user and evidence is supplied. If the moderator sees the negative feeback as being valid - it can be posted as public. Then similar to how eBay works - the hack author would be able to respond to negative feedback with reasoning/justification.

Just an idea.

But I think this thread is more for arguments for an against, than implimentation, so I'll shush now.

[The Geek]

I think saying that a solution for commercial enhancments would make someone not want to come here is a bit heavy.

Though I totally agree that you wouldnt want a solution that would drive people away from releasing something for free just because they could make a fiver on it - I think that would be a rarity. Regardless - if the quality is there and the demand... who cares? Is it that some peoples time isnt worth anything and others something? I cant see someone charging a fiver for a template change is it has to be hosted, supported, promoted and sold on a seperate site. The headache of all those hoops would be enough to prevent that from happening.
Lets face it, the strongest driving force behind this site will always remain intact and should be. Its not like everyone is going to stop producing FOC stuff. With commercial solutions usually comes FOC solutions of similar ilk.

I think nex's points are some of the best. Hell, I dont know of a tiny fraction of companies that can offer me solutions to enhance my site - which I guess is part of the reason for a request like this.

Oh, and I think the publicity comment was a bit lame. I started this thread on the suggestion of a moderator. I was hoping that thread would get buried rather quickly. This isnt a discussion about me or my work - this is a discussion about offering a much needed solution for Jelsofts customers.

[Boofo]

I disagree. Some of the coders here that are charging for hacks got a lot of their coding skills for free on here. And I don't think charging for what they learned for free is any way to pay back what they've gained.

There are many coders on here that put in just as much time coding (and some even more time) free hacks as those that complain "I just can't do it for free anymore".

If they want to charge for their hacks, then they need to do it somewhere else other than a free, learning and sharing site.

[spence2]

How about simply a list called 3rd Party Resources (or something like that) ... commercial coders/designers can submit their URL with a sentence regarding their product.

No rating system.
No feedback.
No politics.
No liability for Jelsoft.
No recommendation implied.
Buyer beware.

You know ... kind of like the real world.

[FleaBag]

That being said Boofo, maybe Jelsoft should provide a new, seperate site with a directory - keep it away from the free community here at vB.org but link to it from here and vbulletin.com?

[GoTTi]

Originally Posted by KirbyDE

As already said in the other Thread:
I don't like the idea of having any commercial stuff here, be it a directory or whatever.
If this is going to happen, it might be a hard decision if I am going to stay.
But that is just my personal opinion as a User.

i find this comment to be uncalled for to threaten us if we as a community choose to pay for hacks on here or whatever...

this community is no more yours then it is ours. we all have licenses on here and we all pay the costs. to put the staff in a spot of choosing you over us is wrong and if thats your stance on things, who really runs and contributes to this site? the staff or the coders? to me, everyone runs this site. and thats how it should be since we contribute things on here to help out forums, make them look :speechless: and create things that others can use.

if your gunna go cuz a directory or commercial hacks will be implemented on here, then sorry to see you go, but adios.