[AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as well-connected as JC

Rocky Smolin - Beach Access Software bchacc at san.rr.com
Wed Mar 31 10:53:11 CST 2004


Drew:

Just tried to send you The Sleep Doctor and got rejected.  Is there a better
address?  The attachment is <1.5MB

Rocky Smolin
Beach Access Software
http://www.e-z-mrp.com



   ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<DWUTKA at marlow.com>
    (reason: 554 <bchacc at san.rr.com>: Sender address rejected: Access
denied)

   ----- Transcript of session follows -----
... while talking to main2.marlow.com.:
>>> DATA
<<< 554 <bchacc at san.rr.com>: Sender address rejected: Access denied
554 5.0.0 Service unavailable
<<< 554 Error: no valid recipients

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <DWUTKA at marlow.com>
To: <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 8:22 AM
Subject: RE: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as well-connected as
JC


> LOL.  Rocky, Life has been nothing short of hectic for the last few
months.
> I KNOW you sent me a test to run, but quite frankly, I know I've rebuilt
my
> machine since then, and can't find it.
>
> Any way you'll give me another chance to be a beta tester?
>
> By the way, and I know this is off topic, but I have an odd 'symptom' I
> discovered.  I've noticed that when I sleep with my CPAP machine, I don't
> remember my dreams when I wake up.  However, when I don't sleep with it,
> then I can vividly remember my dreams for as long as I want (I can think
> about them the whole day if I want too).
>
> Drew
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Rocky Smolin -
> Beach Access Software
> Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 12:07 AM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as well-connected
> as JC
>
>
> John:
>
> Do you snore?  Loudly?  Are you very tired upon waking up in the morning?
> Is you neck circumference over 16 inches?  Might you fall asleep while
> watching TV?  Does your wife say you stop breathing or gasp for air while
> you sleep?  Is you body mass index over 26?
>
> If you answered yes to any of the above questions you need to be a Sleep
> Doctor beta tester.  Let The Sleep Doctor help.  Simply reply to
> bchacc at san.rr.com and say 'I wanna be a beta tester!'.  Operators are
> standing by...
>
> Rocky Smolin
> Beach Access Software
> http://www.e-z-mrp.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Bartow" <john at winhaven.net>
> To: "Access Developers discussion and problem solving"
> <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 8:55 PM
> Subject: RE: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as well-connected as
> JC
>
>
> > Good thing my wife doesn't read this or she'd order a copy to analyze me
> > right now :o)
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Rocky Smolin -
> > Beach Access Software
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 10:39 PM
> > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as well-connected
> > as JC
> >
> >
> > Sure.  I estimate it will take to the end of the year before I see any
> real
> > results.
> >
> > I've got another product cooking as well - analyzes sleep disorders.
Been
> > working on it with an expert in the field for 4-5 years (not
continuously,
> > of course).  Might be able to launch it this year.
> >
> > Do you want to be a beta tester?
> >
> > Rocky
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Kath Pelletti" <SDSSoftware at optusnet.com.au>
> > To: "Access Developers discussion and problem solving"
> > <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 8:23 PM
> > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as well-connected
as
> > JC
> >
> >
> > Well I wish you the very best of luck...can you let us know how the
sales
> > go?
> >
> > Kath
> >   ----- Original Message -----
> >   From: Rocky Smolin - Beach Access Software
> >   To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> >   Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 9:42 AM
> >   Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as
well-connected
> as
> > JC
> >
> >
> >   Kath:
> >
> >   In the 'old' days when I was flogging this package in DOS, I thought
> that
> >   some of them would be sold by word of mouth, people seeing it, or the
> >   reports that got passed around (which all had my company name in the
> >   footer).  So I always wanted everyone to have the latest version.  So
I
> >   didn't charge for it.  It was in my self-interest to have them use the
> > most
> >   recent release.  And I'm still going to keep to that policy for this
new
> >   version.
> >
> >   If I add a module, like Order Entry, everybody will get it at no cost.
> > With
> >   distribution by web, there really is no overhead cost to me to
> distribute
> >   it.  And good product sells more product.
> >
> >   I promote the product support as a 'free phone in consulting service
on
> > any
> >   question related to the software OR manufacturing systems' for the
first
> >   year, and $300 a year after that (about 10% of the purchase price).
> >
> >   In the past I had a lot of conversations with people about
manufacturing
> >   issues - how to structure a bill of materials, how to make up a part
> >   numbering scheme, how to solve a particular work order problem, etc -
> and
> >   very few questions about how to actually run the software.  This added
a
> > LOT
> >   of value to the product and didn't really take very much time.
> >
> >   The key is to make a product which is so user stupid that anybody who
> can
> >   read and count to 20 can run it.  Then you don't get the same question
> 20
> >   times a day, like 'how do I run a costed inventory report?'.
> >
> >   If a user doesn't want to pay the yearly maintenance then they don't
get
> > the
> >   phone support.  I could tell them they don't get the new releases as
> well
> >   but that works against me salewise.  Many people didn't pay for the
> > support
> >   after the first couple of years because they never called me for
> anything.
> >
> >   The other key, of course, it goes without saying, is to make the
product
> > so
> >   solid that it doesn't generate bugs and errors.  Then you don't get
any
> >   support calls.
> >
> >   BTW - I'm not a marketer or salesy type person, either.  But if you
have
> >   something you believe in it's not really selling.  And I really
believe
> in
> >   this product (why not, I invented it?).  I just present the product
and
> if
> >   they like it fine.  They buy it.  If not, it's like pushing on a
string.
> >
> >   I always wanted people to feel like they got more than they expected
and
> >   when you sell hard you overhype, raise expectations, and end up with
> >   customers who expect more than you have to give.
> >
> >   When people buy E-Z-MRP they feel like they just bought a dollar for
> fifty
> >   cents.  That makes selling a lot easier, too.
> >
> >   I suppose that's why I'm successful but not rich. :)
> >
> >   HTH
> >
> >   Rocky Smolin
> >   Beach Access Software
> >   http://www.e-z-mrp.com
> >
> >
> >
> >   ----- Original Message -----
> >   From: "Kath Pelletti" <SDSSoftware at optusnet.com.au>
> >   To: "Access Developers discussion and problem solving"
> >   <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> >   Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 2:59 PM
> >   Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as
well-connected
> as
> >   JC
> >
> >
> >   Rocky - out of interest - what support arrangements / fees are you
> > offering?
> >
> >   Kath
> >     ----- Original Message -----
> >     From: Rocky Smolin - Beach Access Software
> >     To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> >     Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 8:48 AM
> >     Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as
> well-connected
> > as
> >   JC
> >
> >
> >     Andy:
> >
> >     Don't envy me. They jury's still out.  I've got a bit of a buffer so
> we
> >     won't miss any meals, but that can't go on forever.  I've had two
good
> >     products and several bad ones.  At least this time I'm starting in
an
> >     economy that's on the upswing.
> >
> >     But I've always been a bootstrap kind of guy - we're doing a mailing
> in
> >   San
> >     Diego county this month.  Hopefully snag two or three systems.  Then
> use
> >     that money to mail again in another county.  Build it up slowly.
> > Instead
> >   of
> >     mortgaging the house.
> >
> >     I'm still doing some fee-for-service as well. So that keeps some of
> the
> >     lights on.
> >
> >     It's a high wire act for sure.  But when it does work, it's a thing
of
> >     beauty.
> >
> >     Rocky
> >
> >     > -----Original Message-----
> >     > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> >     > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Andy
Lacey
> >     > Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 1:18 PM
> >     > To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
> >     > Subject: RE: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as
> > well-connected
> >     > as JC
> >     >
> >     >
> >     > I envy Rocky (sort of) but won't be trying to emulate him. Been
> there,
> >     tried
> >     > that, and failed. Problem with the product thing is that you have
to
> >     > metamorphose from developer into marketer, and I couldn't. Not my
> > thing
> >   at
> >     > all. Plus IME it involves sinking money into advertising, mailing,
> >     > brochures, websites nd so on. You have to be prepared to risk big
> > outlay
> >     > against no guarantee of return. Done that 2 or 3 times to great
cost
> > and
> >     no
> >     > great return. Won't be doing it again.
> >     >
> >     > -- Andy Lacey
> >     > http://www.minstersystems.co.uk
> >     >
> >     > > -----Original Message-----
> >     > > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> >     > > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of
> >     > > Steven W. Erbach
> >     > > Sent: 30 March 2004 04:16
> >     > > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> >     > > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as
> >     > > well-connected as JC
> >     > >
> >     > >
> >     > > William,
> >     > >
> >     > > >> ...don't take this the wrong way <<
> >     > >
> >     > > I won't. I appreciate your point of view. I have gotten
> >     > > caught up in the tools as if owning the right brand of socket
> >     > > wrench will guarantee me a living.
> >     > >
> >     > > But I hear you on the client-centered approach. I've worked
> >     > > on lots of things that were outside of my skill-set comfort
zone.
> >     > >
> >     > > I talked with a friend recently about my business and he
> >     > > asked if there was anything I specialized in. I told him no;
> >     > > my business is producing custom solutions to solve customer
> >     > > problems. He recommended a product-centered approach, like
> >     > > what Rocky is aiming for. I have a long-term care facility
> >     > > marketing and donations program I wrote that might fill the
> >     > > bill. We'll see.
> >     > >
> >     > > >> ...but I'm just me and don't have any intention of ever
> >     > > working hard
> >     > > >> again <<
> >     > >
> >     > > Not really an option for me as we're having some tough times
> >     > > financially. I can dig the varietal nature of your work,
> >     > > though. Thanks.
> >     > >
> >     > > Regards,
> >     > >
> >     > > Steve Erbach
> >     > > Scientific Marketing
> >     > > Neenah, WI
> >     > >
> >     > > "You must be an intellectual. No normal person would say a
> >     > > thing like that." - George Orwell
> >     > >
> >     > > --
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> >     > > Website:
> >     > > http://www.databaseadvisors.com
> >     > >
> >     > >
> >     >
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