I am sure it originally stated something like PHYSICAL PRODUCTS

I dont remember it ever stating anything else, though i do remember Scott and the proverbial coming SOON

I would really like to know what % of SCC or SCCP customers are having successful sales, regular orders etc.

Only from my own experience, Cubecart and Majento never produced me many actual sales, and Will you know my opinion regarding selling in Ebay, volume YES , quality NO

I did suggest some time back that CC do a customer survey on this , happy customers seldom communicate, disgruntled one often do.

My sales are still constantly on an increase, which to me is what SCCP is all about, selling products not CC ability to sell SCCP with applications it didn't have at the outset.

Having said all of that, Will you are 100% correct CC will lose clients to the opposition and they won't come back.

I desperately need a major update , a change to the way my product categories are displayed and unless the new product they advertised recently resolves that , I may too have to look elsewhere.

I can't, don't, won't, code, so as it stands SCCP can't do what i need and SOON wont cut it for me with this update requiring urgent attention or i too will be loosing customers who won't come back (most only buy a crest engraved ring once)

Off to make 5 orders that came in yesterday

My 2 cents...Coming to CoffeeCup I found just what I was looking for at the time. Simple, easy, and free updates for life. I really like that part! That said, I understand that sustainability in a company means new products, not just upgrades to old products. Many CoffeeCup programs need features that other software provides in order to remain competitive. Times change. I would like to see CoffeeCup go in the direction of Wordpress. Keep the programs simple for those that like or need simple. Free updates, or upgrades. Develop 'plug-ins' for those that want more advanced features. Such as coupons or additional text areas. Sell those plug-ins to those that need them. More, give users the ability to develop their own plug-ins and sell them on a 'Users Plug-In' page at CoffeeCup. Might take some of the burden off CoffeeCup for development and let them concentrate on the core product. There are many ways this could go. Just my opinion.

Well see that's one of the things I see a few people say about "plugins" or "make a new Super Pro" product etc. But where the cart software is concerned they already did that. One of the reasons most of the customers purchased the Pro version was because it was supposed to be a ton more features. Granted there are more, but the users really were told that the items that we've been discussing would be coming "soon" *smacks Scott and his soon* lol. They were already told that the features would be added to the Pro version, so they really shouldn't be expected to pay for a plugin or even the upgrade for it since it should have been in there years ago in most of their eyes, well mine too if I'm honest about it. I don't use it anymore (not any cart software as I don't do a shop at all) so it's not so detrimental for me, I just hate to see them lose the customers as the program really is a great thing if they would complete it.

Regular plain old CC shopping cart was working fine for me. Then, a super duper sale was offered on SCCPro, with the pitch that the special features I need - like coupons, etc. were being rapidly developed as we worked, and would be included in the SOON TO BE RELEASED update to Pro - but not in plain old shopping cart. So, I bought Pro, like a good boy, so it would be all set up and ready when the new stuff was released. I paid extra money for a version I didn't really need so the developers could do their stuff and I would get what I wanted. Pro was a little different/better - but not much.

Then I waited. I waited some more. I even waited some more, more. CC kept sending me keen new email offers for more and better 'other' stuff. Not my promised stuff, but more keen neat new stuff. I would be able to change colors and type fonts. It would be fab. I waited some more.

Pay extra for what???? I have now set my heels firmly in the sand that says, "I'm not buying a penny's worth more from CC until they make good on their hinted developement for SCCP over two years ago. Old business rule: "You can shear a sheep a thousand times, but you can only skin it once."

I actually sold quite a few people on CC, due to my great experience with the software I had purchased. I consult with small shops all over the country by phone and email every day. They 'need' something like CC. Getting updates free was one reason I freely brought up the CC group. So, I have paid. If they change their offer, then they will have put one more marble in the pan labeled 'Who cares about loyalty. We hope you care more about us than we care about you.' and I'll shop around even more freely next time.

I really hate this. CC has been so good. Why have they seemingly abandoned the small shop business? There are alternatives, but I so much enjoyed the CC approach. It was perfect for small operators like me - and there are a ton more little guys with a few bucks to spend than there are giants with heavy handed purchasing agents. Ask IBM....

So, I'm still waiting a little while longer. This fall is my time to write another book, and make some training videos this winter. Will I sell them through CC? Or will I do it another way??? I'm waiting....

The promises for Pro just have not occurred -- too bad. As it is now, it is just not a professional cart. Except for one instance where I use it as a catalog feeding to CafePress I have moved on -- could not wait any longer.

Maybe someday they will bring it forward with the promises completed - hope so - if they do I'm sure I will consider using it in some project again, mainly because I have an affinity for Coffee Cup software, but unfortunately things move on and one can't wait forever for the things needed and must then look elsewhere.

So what's the going rate for a paid upgrade? The most expensive piece of software that I've ever bought costs £250 and it is upgraded once a year at a cost of £80, so that's around about 30% of cost. I don't have a problem with that, it's a cracking graphics program that I use on a daily basis to earn a living. The upgrade is a gesture of loyalty in some respects but there are always new features that make it worthwhile.

I bought SCC Pro and SCD Pro thinking that this was "the future". If a paid upgrade came out, I would only consider it if I needed it but certainly would not buy out of loyalty to this particular product as it's not lived up to expectations and there are lots of similar products out there, some of which are free and have more features.

Where does this leave Coffeecup? A half-hearted upgrade that would have to be free because of the free for life pledge when it was sold wouldn't do SCC any favours, people would not go for it. Without an upgrade, SCC will just sink into obscurity, leaving those who bought it unhappy bunnies because of the initial high outlay. Biting the bullet and discontinuing the product is tantamount to an admission of failure, not good for business!

What would I do... go back to the drawing board, bring out a new eCommerce program with all the bells and whistles plus paid upgrades and offer existing SCC customers a massive discount (like 75% or more) to make so attractive, they will go for it. SCC will then retire gracefully and there is a future.

Whist on the topic of paid upgrades, I think that, given Coffeecup are going to go down that line, it's worth thinking about an upgrade regime that is more regimented than the current ad-hoc CC one. Twelve months free upgrades from when you buy, Super Dooper Shopping Cart is updated every Spring, then we know what we're doing!

Yeah I agree with most of what you've said Woody except the part of coming out with a new program that has all the bells and whistles. That's what the "Pro" version was supposed to be and hasn't hit that standard yet for many still waiting on features that were promised to them, so.... I certainly don't think it would be fair to those people that they should have to pay "again" for the features they were already promised. Pro version shouldn't be outdone with some even higher version in order to accommodate the things that were supposed to be in the Pro version don't you think? Just sayin'. I know I wouldn't want to pay again for something that was supposed to be in the version that I currently own if I were a shop owner (which I was and was waiting on those same features everyone else has been, gave up the shop completely though).

I'd imagine the only way to get round the free updates for life would be to have a new product. I wouldn't think that it is possible to draw a line in the sand and say, " All new SCC purchases from here on in will be subject to paid updates". That said, if there was a new Super SCC published, someone might say that the previous version was sold under false pretences as it promised future updated facilities which have not come to fruition and want their money back! Arghh!!! Dread to think... Scotty takes big gulp of breath and wipes perspiration from sweaty brow! Simplest way would be a new product with very minimal opening offer upgrade fo $5!

I bought SCC & SCD Pro specifically on the promise of coupons, coupon codes, promo codes!
CC uses coupon codes in every email they send us, why can't we use them in our cart?
They must not be using CoffeeCup Shopping cart Creator Pro to build there own website.

The swag shop is built with it.
http://swag.coffeecup.com/