Template Monster: Public Service Announcement

lib99:

At least this thread allows others to vent a bit. Somewhere along the way about 150 posts and 2 months ago we lost all dialog with the 2 Template Monster representatives (fellis and TMonster) in this forum thread. They simply vanished.

My guess is they've made their business decision that Zen Cart is just not worthwhile, but will keep selling what they've already created. Oddly, Zen Cart continues to increase it's position, and there is clearly a market for well designed and attractive templates. After trying to help a friend with one of these monstrosities my guess is that the Template Monster reps disappeared because they are unwilling to admit that they are SUPREMELY unqualified to sell templates for ZenCart.. COWARDS!!!:censored:

I have a friend who is no longer speaking to me because she said I was too hard on the TM techs when I was trying to get HER issues resolved.. I wasn't hard on them.. I just refused to give them FTP or admin access for issues I could demonstrate was the fault of their template..

She is now stuck waiting for them to give her an update of some very MAJOR screw ups they made with her template.. and she has NO IDEA, that I only scratched the surface with my testing.. I found 7 issues just testing a few random things. I did not take the cart through a full battery of QA tests.. There's probably more half working or non working features yet to be discovered..

So yes there is a market for better looking templates.. Yes I know there's the http://(sorry, site offline)/ site, but many of those templates are only a start, and need LOTS of work to improve the aesthetics.. It's not hard, but it would be nice to have working templates with a slicker look (like the Apple Zen template) I hope to see a company step up to the plate soon with this offering and show TM how it's supposed to be done.. I hope some of these TM customers start suing TM.. Maybe THEN they'll get the message.. At the VERY least they seem guilty of false or misleading advertising..

Here's a niche business strategy for you php experts: Set up a consulting service specializing in fixing Template Monster templates so that they work correctly. :wink:

thomasw98:

Here's a niche business strategy for you php experts: Set up a consulting service specializing in fixing Template Monster templates so that they work correctly. :wink:

Good idea ... if it were profitable. Nobody buying TM templates wants to pay the actual costs of fixing the templates designed contrary to proper operation. Repair costs will cost more than the cost of the TM template itself in most cases.

OK, I can't resist:

Then TM should raise the price of their templates so that the consulting costs to fix the templates do not seem so large in comparison to the template price.

:wink::wink::wink:

thomasw98:

OK, I can't resist:

Then TM should raise the price of their templates so that the consulting costs to fix the templates do not seem so large in comparison to the template price.

LOL cute!

To be fair to template monster they do have bugs,

but their support fixed the ones I reported and now.....

mine works ok, some of the functions dont work, but it makes the site look alot better and I can put up with the lost functions.

Bit worried if it wont work with newer versions of php, but we shall see.

and what happens next month when you decide you want the functions that they removed,

Just out of curiosity (and this has prob been asked before) why doesn't ZC sell templates, it could then monitor the designers to make sure they stick to the rules and create some income by splitting the sale price 50/50 with the designer.

Its a win win situation, plus it allows ZC users to be able to buy from somewhere other then TM.

:blink:

all I can think of is Time,
there dosnt seem to be enough of it to go around

Yep, selling templates means being responsible for supporting them, and even if they are good (bug-free) there will be requests for mods and various other help...

*** business decisions will be made by the team thank you***

phil99:

To be fair to template monster they do have bugs,

but their support fixed the ones I reported and now.....

mine works ok, some of the functions dont work, but it makes the site look alot better and I can put up with the lost functions.

Bit worried if it wont work with newer versions of php, but we shall see. Well this is fine if style is more important than function.. I happen to believe that you should get both.. I would prefer to have a kick assed design and still have my cart working as it was designed.. This my friend is where Template Monster fails..

Sorry Kim I apologies, I did not mean to cause offence.

lib99:

At least this thread allows others to vent a bit. Somewhere along the way about 150 posts and 2 months ago we lost all dialog with the 2 Template Monster representatives (fellis and TMonster) in this forum thread. They simply vanished.

My guess is they've made their business decision that Zen Cart is just not worthwhile, but will keep selling what they've already created. Oddly, Zen Cart continues to increase it's position, and there is clearly a market for well designed and attractive templates.

My wife was helping me, and I let her roam free to get a template that looked good to play with.

bzz

Were screwed.

I'll give em the short offer to fix it, then dispute the charge with my bank.

gemohler:

My wife was helping me, and I let her roam free to get a template that looked good to play with.

bzz

Were screwed.

I'll give em the short offer to fix it, then dispute the charge with my bank.

:smartalec: This has to be one of the smartest decisions I've read in this thread ... Congrats!

I think they clearly (and smartly) stated that the template may NOT work :D
You may not get your money back, but good luck, and let us know how it goes.

gemohler:

My wife was helping me, and I let her roam free to get a template that looked good to play with.

bzz

Were screwed.

I'll give em the short offer to fix it, then dispute the charge with my bank.

the really funny thing is that by adding that statement they opened them selves up to more liability,

its kinda like having a beware of dog sign up, them your dog bites someone,
it proves that you had foreknowledge........

Merlinpa1969:

the really funny thing is that by adding that statement they opened them selves up to more liability,

its kinda like having a beware of dog sign up, them your dog bites someone,
it proves that you had foreknowledge........

:lamo: Awesome! Gotta love it!

Merlinpa1969:

its kinda like having a beware of dog sign up, them your dog bites someone,
it proves that you had foreknowledge........ Though if you trespass in someone's yard after being warned (i.e. via a "Beware of Dog" sign), you can't get mad or cry foul when you get bitten..

In the case of Template Monster, unless they EXPLICITLY state that their templates are not guaranteed to work with Zen Cart, and that you buy the templates at your your own risk (which they DO NOT DO) they are absolutely on the hook for what they sell..

And we guarantee the high quality of our Zen Cart Templates. Be sure that the ZenCart Template that you purchase is a premium design and contains all the necessary files for easy installation and customization. Now imagine - you can create your own ecommerce store in no time and start earning money right away. The only thing you need to do is browse our collection of Zen Cart templates and choose the one that meets your needs and wishes.

Our database of Zen Cart Skins is regularly updated in order to meet our customers’ needs. We will continue to offer the largest selection of Zen Cart Templates on the Web with new and updated product lines added continually. **If you have any problems with our Zen Cart Templates please feel free to contact the Template Monster Support Team. **It will give you quick and professional support and answer all your questions concerning our Zen Cart Skins.

actually if you nreak into a hopuse that has a beware of dog sign and you get bit, you can STILL file against the owner and they are liable,

just so you are NOT under the wrong impression,

Look up the gentleman that robbed a house,
went into the garage and couldnt get back in the house, and coudnt get out of the Garage,
was stuck drinking Diet Soda and eating Dog food for the weekend,

files an unlawful imprisonment suit against the home owner and WON